Mal Meninga, the newly appointed head coach of the Perth Bears, has reportedly identified a candidate to join his coaching staff for the club's inaugural NRL season in 2027.
The coaching announcement was officially unveiled last week, confirming Meninga's decision to step down from his long-standing role as Kangaroos head coach.
Given that he hasn’t coached full-time at first grade level in over two decades, Meninga has acknowledged the importance of surrounding himself with experienced and capable assistants.
The NRL approached several high-profile names, including Matt King, Brad Arthur, and Sam Burgess, who all reportedly declined the opportunity to work alongside Meninga in Perth.
MORE NRL: Bears target Titans duo for maiden roster
According to Nine’s Michael Chammas, one name who has emerged as the early front-runner is Ben Gardiner, a current Penrith Panthers assistant coach and head coach of Samoa’s international rugby league team.
"There's conversations ongoing with Ben Gardiner - he's won a couple of premierships under Ivan Cleary and he's in the box seat to go over and work with Mal Meninga," Chammas said on 100% Footy on Monday night.
"Ben Gardiner is one of those options and the Samoa link is something that will be important going forward. There's talk that Payne Haas is going to be playing for Samoa and he's had conversations with Ben Gardiner," the journalist said.
"I'd imagine as a recruitment tool, if you've got someone who is coach at the Panthers and coaching at Samoa, it will help Mal Meninga. He's highly regarded for what he knows off the field as well," Chammas said.
Gardiner brings a wealth of experience, having worked with a number of NRL clubs including the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Wests Tigers before joining Penrith, where he has been part of the club’s recent premiership success under Ivan Cleary.
MORE NRL: Mitch Moses comments on Dylan Brown suspension
He also served on the New Zealand Kiwis coaching staff and has been the head coach of Samoa since 2022.
Gardiner, who previously balanced coaching with teaching at Marcellin College Randwick, is well-respected within league circles for his extensive knowledge and development-focused approach.
"He's done a long apprenticeship," said Phil Gould.
"He's probably been in the game for 22 or 23 years around some of the best coaches and best systems. He knows his stuff, he's very highly regarded," the Bulldogs general manager said.
As the Perth Bears prepare for their highly anticipated entry into the NRL, the appointment of a strong and strategic coaching team will be crucial to their long-term success.
With Gardiner potentially joining forces with Meninga, the club could benefit from a blend of international and premiership-winning experience.