'I'm still reeling from that loss': Meninga admits Pacific Cup hammering still hurts 06:05

Hasn't it been a big week for Mal Meninga and the Australian Kangaroos because Australia will host the 2026 Rugby League World Cup alongside Papua New Guinea and earlier this week it was announced that Mal, the Rugby League Immortal, is returning to the Canberra Raiders to work in a number of roles. I'm pleased to say the Kangaroos coach and Rugby League Immortal is on the line right now. G'day Mal.

Afternoon, Mark. How are you? Mate, I'm very well. Lovely to catch up as always. How exciting, mate. 2026 Rugby League World Cup, Australia and PNG. Bring it on, eh? Yeah, absolutely. So it gives us some certainty, which is fantastic. So we've got something to plan towards. So yeah, looking forward to...

in the next three years. But just on the back of just what I'd heard, please, I don't need any advice from your team. What, have you got any problems you want me to help you with, Mel? I've got plenty of problems. We'll learn that from you, big man. Fair enough. Hey, mate, just on the test matches, and congratulations on this. You've had an unbelievable career on the field, off the field, the whole thing. When's the next time Australia do play a test, mate? Is it one coming up at the end of the year?

No, there's the Pacific Champs at the end of the year. So Samoa heads over to... This is for the men's and women's. So I know Alana's there as well. So men's and women's. So we've got Samoa going over to England, obviously, and then we've got Tonga and New Zealand...

And us, we're playing the Pacific Championships. And then you've got, pardon me, Guinea, Fiji, and the Cook Islands playing in the Pacific Plate. So, yeah, men's and women's at the end of the year through October into November. Now, last year, the Aussies were beaten by New Zealand in that final. You obviously played the Kiwis two weeks in a row and got them the first week. But unfortunately, the final were beaten. So where's that? Is Australia ranked number two at the moment? Or where's our ranking? No, we're still one, Gail. So, yeah, I mean, that was...

Yeah, we're still trying to get over that, to be honest with you. The players can jump back on the bike and move on with their club commitments, but I'm still reeling from that situation.

Yeah, a loss obviously. So there's a bit of work to do, you know, in it all. So still trying to work out what went wrong. But, you know, we're still ranked one, so we want to stay that way. Yeah, nice, man. One thing I've been wondering the past couple of years, I used to love playing in an Anzac Test before the Origin Series. Now, there hasn't been one played for a couple of years. Are they going to come back at all, do you know?

No, it's all the national program at the end of the year now. So obviously with Origin, we go 27 rounds now in the National Rugby League. So unless it's obviously we have more teams in the comp and we're sort of, as Andrew Abdo mentioned, through the week, they could look at a reduced competition. But where it stands at the moment is the international program will be through October and November after the season finishes.

Hey, Mal, we recently heard of your recruitment back to the Raiders. I tell you what, my husband is a Raiders fan. He's absolutely pumped about it. Was it Sticky that called you to rope you in, or how did it all come about? Well, as you're probably all aware, I still live in Canberra, so I catch up with Ricky all the time. And, you know, we've been having a bit of a yarn about the club, obviously, but Donny Furnham, the board, and Ricky, obviously...

I felt that I could be an asset to the club. I'm rated through and through the green machine and I'm very, very happy to help out. Not quite sure. There's a whole multitude of opportunities there, obviously, but ambassadors or whatever that means, mentoring, leadership, that sort of stuff, I can help out.

in some ways. So I just get called upon to do whatever is needed. I hopefully can help out. Mate, I think it's great news for you and the Raiders. I mean, it's where you belong, I think. I mean, I'm pretty sure that's where your heart's always been. And I think it's wonderful that you're doing it. I actually was with a Bulldogs ambassador the other day, Terry Lamb.

So I'll give you a tip what he said he does. He drinks and plays golf. So that's basically all he does. That's what an ambassador does. So you may have to take that up. Well, mate, that's two things I probably won't do. First and foremost, it's too cold. Have any of those down in Canberra. Maybe coffee. Maybe coffee and some sort of indoor sport would be good. Oh, stop it.

I'm so happy. When I read it, I thought this is perfect. Makes sense, doesn't it? Your rate is legend. I think it's where your heart's always been and I think it's a great appointment. And you know what else too, Darrell? I had Don Ferner on my sports program during the week and I said to Don, I said, you know, Mal's the perfect person to have involved in the club. One, he's a club legend. He's a rugby league immortal, but

And, you know, through your work with Fox, you probably watch more football than you ever had. So you've got a real good feel for the game. You understand the game better than most as an immortal and legend of the game. But you're familiar with all of the young blokes out there and those who need mentoring and a bit of guidance. And that's your role.

I appreciate all the nice comments with these guys. I mean, yeah, I feel comfortable. I'm excited with it all. I'm just privileged and honoured that they asked me to be involved and it wasn't too hard a question for them to actually put to me. So, I mean, I said yes more or less straight away. And I do watch...

a little bit of football, not only with the Fox commitments, but obviously with my Australian Kangaroos commitment as well. So, yeah, I mean, it's a nice fit. I live down there and I'm looking forward to helping out in some way. Great stuff. Well, Mal, congratulations, mate. Great news for Australia hosting the 2026 Rugby League World Cup alongside PNG. And there's plenty of excitement up there at the moment.

given the impending addition to the National Rugby League. And, of course, with that news of you heading back to the Raiders, celebrated by a lot of the fans, including those who even watched your play back in the day. Congratulations, mate, and thanks for joining us.

Thanks, team. Appreciate it. Thank you. Good on you, mate. If you need any advice, you know where to come, okay? Yeah, absolutely. We've got plenty of advice. We've got plenty of that. Oh, God. Oh, geez. All right. Okay. Thank you. See you, buddy. There he is, Mal Meninga, the Kangaroos coach. And, of course, these days you see him on Fox as well.