Rugby League Immortal Mal Meninga and decorated Jillaroo Renae Kunst spoke passionately about their respective international experiences at last weekend’s Ross Livermore Memorial Lecture at QRL.
Meninga and Kunst discussed the importance of international rugby league and their many experiences while wearing the green and gold.
'Big Mal' played 46 Tests for Australia, 24 as captain, and is the only man to have made four Kangaroo tours of Britain and France.
Kunst featured in three World Cups for the Jillaroos.
Meninga was Australian coach from 2016 to 2024, only stepping aside after he was appointed inaugural coach of the Perth Bears franchise which enters the NRL next year.
Kunst is the Mackay-based QRL North Region Manager.
Kunst paid tribute to the late Graham Murray for his role in shaping the future of the Australian women’s team as head coach.
QRL History Committee Chair, Steve Ricketts
“He was certainly very influential in those early days and a great advocate for the women’s game,” Kunst said.
Meninga spoke about a range of topics, from his initial appointment as Kangaroos coach to his match up against England coach Wayne Bennett in the famous 2017 World Cup final, won 6-0 by Meninga’s Kangaroos in Brisbane.
“What resonates with the players, more than anything else, is the history, the passion and the pride of putting on that Australian jersey,” Meninga said.
The Livermore Lecture has been held annually since 2010 and is named after former QRL Managing Director, the late Ross Livermore.
Previous speakers include Wayne Bennett, Wally Lewis, Tony Currie, Michael Hagan, Jo Barrett, Adrian McGregor, John Grant, Hugh Lunn, Ben Ikin, John Ribot, Geoff Mines and John Lang.
