Morgan Turinui has voiced his belief that Michael Cheika would excel as a coach in the NRL, especially as he considers his next career move. Cheika’s recent tenure with the Leicester Tigers concluded dramatically after a heated reaction to a yellow card issued to Dan Cole during their 23-21 Premiership final loss to Bath.
This week, Cheika is set to return to Sydney, where he is keenly contemplating opportunities within the NRL. He is currently leading Lebanon’s national league team and had expressed interest in taking over from Joe Schmidt as Australia’s national coach, a position Rugby Australia ultimately filled with Queensland Reds’ Les Kiss instead.
Turinui, speaking on Stan Sport’s Between Two Posts, referred to Cheika as having one of the most distinguished coaching resumes in Australian rugby. He believes Cheika’s coaching style would greatly benefit the NRL and it would be unfortunate if players were to compete against a team he coached. Turinui underscored Cheika’s extensive international experience in various rugby environments, equipping him well for the rigours of the NRL.
In his previous season with Leicester, Cheika transformed the team from a lowly finish to notable improvement, although they struggled initially. Prior to this, he led Argentina to the semi-finals of the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Turinui highlighted Cheika’s unique personality, noting that it meshes well with NRL’s demands. He commended Cheika’s ability to motivate players, his rugby acumen, and his knack for surrounding himself with talented staff, such as David Kidwell during his Leicester stint.
Cheika has remarked in recent discussions that, due to waning interest in rugby within Australia, his prospects in that arena are limited, making the NRL a probable avenue for his continued coaching career. He mentioned that he wouldn’t apply for every available role but would pursue opportunities where his skill set aligns with a club’s needs.
He expressed enthusiasm about the challenge of coaching in the NRL, realising the potential for personal and professional growth in that setting. Cheika has positioned himself as a capable candidate, eager for the right fit, should a club see the value of what he can bring to the table in league. The prospect of him tackling this challenge is seen as exciting and potentially beneficial for both Cheika and the NRL.