Mal Meninga has admitted he sees pink flags across the South Sydney teaching job, involved about the way in which the Jason Demetriou scenario has been dealt with.
With strain rising on Demetriou, Meninga has made no secret of the very fact he’s within the Rabbitohs position on an interim foundation, if it turns into obtainable.
The Kangaroos coach will head to Vanuatu on a household vacation this week, and has indicated he’ll weigh up his choices whereas abroad.
He and the Rabbitohs have denied there was any official strategy, nonetheless it’s obvious the Canberra legend has been sounded out by a 3rd get together.
However within the hours earlier than South Sydney’s gutsy 34-22 loss to Cronulla on Saturday evening, Meninga was starting to lift issues.
He questioned a perceived lack of help for Demetriou and readability round his future, after the coach’s 27-second press convention on Friday.
“That’s a pink flag for me as effectively, if nobody’s prepared to step up and speak on behalf of the membership and (say) precisely what’s occurring, notably with Jason,” Meninga mentioned on Fox League.
“That to me is an indication that you just perhaps shouldn’t become involved with the membership.”
Meninga additionally admitted issues about his title being leaked as a possible possibility, and mentioned he had sympathy for the Rabbitohs mentor.
“I haven’t been approached and hastily my title is related to the story,” he mentioned.
“That sends some poor alerts from someplace. Is it the board or no matter?”
Meninga mentioned if he did take over from Demetriou as interim boss, he can be headed to Souths with an eye fixed on profitable a premiership.
Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou. (Picture by Matt King/Getty Pictures)
However he’s adamant any change wouldn’t come on the expense of his Kangaroos job, and that he wouldn’t tackle the Souths position if the ARL Fee didn’t permit him to do each.
“It hasn’t obtained to that (dialogue), but when it involves that Kangaroos duties are firstly in my thoughts,” Meninga mentioned.
“I wish to go to a 3rd World Cup … so if it’s going to impinge on me teaching the Australian facet, it’s a giant fats no from me.”
Meninga recommended the choice was weighing closely on his thoughts.
“You’ve obtained to do it for the fitting causes. You don’t do it for the cash in it, status or as an ego-driven factor,” he mentioned.
“It’s extra, ‘Can I do it, and do I wish to do it? And might I do the perfect I presumably can?’. If I’m going to do the job, I would like them to win a premiership.”
Meninga’s feedback got here as Benji Marshall revealed on Saturday he had reached out to Demetriou to supply help.
The Tigers coach performed beneath then-assistant Demetriou at St George Illawarra, Brisbane and South Sydney.
“I reached out to him, despatched him a message to ensure he was OK, however he’ll be OK,” Marshall mentioned.
“He’s a really sensible man, on the subject of teaching.”
© AAP
