Rugby league legend, Mal Meninga, named as new Australian coach

Australian rugby league legend Mal Meninga will take the reins of the national team, the Kangaroos, ending his storied 10-year stint as Queensland State-of-Origin coach.

Meninga, who captained the Kangaroos for 23 Tests during his playing days, signed a four-year coaching deal on Thursday, replacing 2014 World Cup winning coach Tim Sheens.

Addressing the media after the announcement, Meninga said it had always been his goal to transition from Australian captain to coach.

"For the players, it is the ultimate privilege to the wear the colors of your country, and it is something that they all aspire to," Meninga said on Thursday.

"For me, it's always been something I've wanted to do. It is truly an honor to be in this position, as the new coach of the Kangaroos."

The 55-year-old was weighing up his options on Wednesday after fielding two coaching offers, with Queensland's state representative side, the Maroons, also trying to retain his services.

Meninga leaves the Maroons as their most successful coach in history, leading his home state to nine series wins in State of Origin -- the sport's state representative competition between Queensland and New South Wales -- in ten years.

According to various reports circulated in the Australian media, it took a bumper 220,000 U.S. dollar annual contract to unseat Meninga from his beloved Queensland role. Despite Sheens only commanding an estimated 36,500 U.S. dollars annually for his services.

One of the most decorated players of his generation -- named in the ARL's Team of the Century -- Meninga's appointment was popular with the players, receiving the endorsement of Kangaroos captain Cameron Smith. Endi