Mal Meninga, new Perth Bears coach, aims to replicate Raiders' early success for NRL's 18th team.
New Perth Bears coach Mal Meninga aims to leverage his experiences from the Canberra Raiders' early years to establish the NRL's 18th team by 2027.
According to nrl.com.au, the Raiders, alongside the Illawarra Steelers, were the first expansion teams to join the premiership from outside Sydney in 1982.
Meninga, a rugby league Immortal and three-time premiership-winning captain, played a crucial role in transforming the Raiders into a formidable force.
Reflecting on his past, Meninga highlighted that the Raiders' initial achievements would serve as a guiding model for the Bears.