MENINGA My Life In Football

Mal Meninga, with Alan Clarkson (First Edition 1995)

This is an autobiography of one of Australia's most popular football players, Mal Meninga. It looks at the stories behind his achievements, the racial slurs he has faced throughout his career, and what he considers it takes to be a success in football and in life.

CONTENTS:

·         The Long Farewell

·         My Father’s Son

·         Souths and Saints

·         Mate Against Mate

·         Travelling South

·         Green And Gold

·         Champions!

·         The Winning Edge

·         One Town One Team

·         Australian Captain

·         Super League

·         Epilogue

·         Career Record

FACT FILE: MALCOLM NORMAN MENINGA AM (born  Bundaberg 8 July 1960) is an Australian rugby league coach and former player, currently the head coach of the Australian National Team. Meninga is widely regarded as one of the finest players in the game's history. He enjoyed a long career in both Australia and England, playing mainly as a goal-kicking centre, but also on the wing. After retiring, Meninga has enjoyed success as a coach, and is currently the head coach of Australia.

Meninga broke numerous rugby league records during his playing career. He retired with the most appearances in the history of the Australian national team, and became the top-point scorer ever in State of Origin football. He has since been honoured as a Member of the Order of Australia, has been inducted into the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame and has also been named in both Queensland and Australia’s teams of the century.

Meninga is the only player in history to be selected for four Kangaroo Tours. He toured with the Kangaroos in 1982, 1986, 1990 and 1994, appearing in every test match against Great Britain and France on all four tours. He is also the only player to captain two Kangaroo Tours, in 1990 and 1994. Additionally he is one of five players, along with Wally Lewis, Peter Sterling, Brett Kenny and Gene Miles, who were members of the undefeated 1982 and 1986 tours, known as 'the Invincibles' and 'the Unbeatables' respectively. .

As a coach, he began with the Canberra Raiders, before coaching Queensland to nine State of Origin titles between 2006 and 2015. He became coach of Australia in 2016 and led the Kangaroos to win the 2017 World Cup.