Inside Meninga's first meeting to return Raiders to former glory

NRL immortal Mal Meninga has taken us inside his first meeting at the Canberra Raiders after rejoining the club where he won three premierships with this week.

Meninga signed with the Raiders in an ambassador role after most recently departing the Gold Coast Titans, where he was in a similar position, to help Ricky Stuart and the club try and claim their first premiership since 1994.

The current Australian Kangaroos coach and legendary Queensland Maroons State of Origin player and coach spoke to SEN’s own Jimmy Smith fresh off his first meeting back with the Raiders.

“I’ve just come from a little meeting with the coaching staff and all the football department guys and its an exciting prospect, it’s a rebuilding phase for them,” he said on SEN 1170 The Throwdown.

“They’ve bought some really key signings in around their junior development programs, their junior club systems are going great, recruitments going great, we’ve got some exciting young talent already playing in first great and some great older players.

“(It was) more fact finding, listening, I think that’s really important. You add value and that’s what I’m trying to do and that’s what they want me to do… but just listening about how it’s all set up.

“They took me through their values which is excellent it’s around team first, attitude and humility and working hard and I think those attributes are pretty special.

“We talked a little bit about the history of the club and where it comes from how the club does celebrate that.

“Ricky is a stalwart in that area like all the players and staff understand the history of the club which, to me, is critical and then we spoke about where they want to head.

“Everyone wants to win a premiership and that’s obviously the focus but it’s how you get there… and we talked about the players.”

While Meninga is arguably the greatest player to ever wear a Raiders jersey, he also said he was “taken back” by the approach from Stuart and the club.

“I’m honestly privileged and honoured to go back and help out the mighty Raiders, obviously I live in the area, I’m a resident of Canberra and I follow the Raiders, forever green so when I had the opportunity to go back and help them in any capacity really,” he said.

“It’s around looking at the profile of the club, it’s the only country club in the competition, helping them with their rosters and mentoring – whatever I can do I’m willing to help out.

“It’s a minor role but I’m really excited about it all.

“(The approach was) initially through Ricky and Ricky actually had a conversation with he game too so I’ve got to thank Peter V’landys and Andrew Abdo to allow me to do this as well which is great because obviously I’m still coaching the Kangaroos.

“But initially Ricky then Don (Furner) and the board and chairman through Dennis Richardson and it all come to fruition.

“I was taken back a little bit because you know, it is my club, I love the club and to have some sort of influence or formal role within the club really excites me.”

The Raiders host South Sydney at home on Sunday afternoon in a crucial clash for both side's finals hopes.