Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga’s generous salary is set to be slashed by around $250,000 due to the lack of international rugby league matches being played.
According to Channel 9 rugby league reporter Danny Weidler, the NRL will this week give Meninga a “take-it-or-leave-it” offer that will see his pay packet more than halved.
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Under a deal established by the previous NRL administration, Meninga reportedly earns $450,000 a year in his role coaching Australia’s rugby league side.
The lucrative salary reportedly hasn’t gone down well among NRL ranks, with many believing Meninga is being overpaid for a job requiring only a few weeks of work a year, especially when the football departments of clubs have been hit hard financially by Covid.
And his workload has been reduced significantly because the Kangaroos haven’t played a match for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic’s impact on schedules and international tours.
The NRL will reportedly confirm the new pay arrangements at a meeting with Meninga this week, with the rugby league Immortal’s salary expected to be cut from $450,000 to a base wage of $125,000.
With performance incentives included, Meninga will only be able to earn a maximum of $200,000.
Meninga has been coach of the Kangaroos since 2016 and steered the national side to victory at the 2017 rugby league World Cup.
The 61-year-old, who coached Queensland to a record eight consecutive State of Origin series victories between 2006 and 2013, is now head of performance and culture at the Gold Coast Titans.
It is unclear when Meninga will next coach the Kangaroos in a match, after the rugby league World Cup scheduled for October and November in the UK was postponed a year due to Australia and New Zealand’s decision to withdraw from the tournament.
The Australia Rugby League Commission (ARLC) and New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) pulled out on July 23 amid growing concerns for player welfare.
“In the current environment, the risks to the safety, health and wellbeing of the players and officials travelling from Australia to participate in the tournament this year are insurmountable,” ARLC chair Peter V’landys said.
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