An NRL coach previously named St Helens’ “number one target” is being strongly linked with a new position Down Under.
Penrith Panthers assistant and Samoan national team head coach Ben Gardiner is the latest name to be linked with a role at the NRL’s 18th club Perth Bears, set to join the competition in 2027.
The Bears confirmed rugby league legend Mal Meninga as their head coach last week with Meninga sacrificing his role as head coach of Australia with immediate effect to take on the Perth role.
That means uncertain ground for who will lead Australia in the Ashes, however, it has provided assurance for Warrington Wolves and Leeds Rhinos with Sam Burgess and Brad Arthur both possible candidates to coach at the Bears.
Next for Perth is to confirm their assistant coaches and according to Australian journalist Michael Chammas, both Burgess and Arthur have no interest there but the St Helens-linked Gardiner possibly does.
Coach named previously as St Helens’ “number one target” in talks for Perth Bears gig
Speaking on Channel Nine’s 100% Footy show, Chammas explained: “There’s been noise around Matt King and obviously he’s knocked it back. The NRL went to Sam Burgess and Brad Arthur to see if they’d be interested but they’re obviously coaching in the Super League and have head coach aspirations.
“It seems tonight that there are conversations ongoing with Ben Gardiner, the Samoa coach who is also the assistant coach at the Penrith Panthers. He’s won a couple of premierships there under Ivan Cleary.
“He’s in the box seat to go over there and work with Mal Meninga and the Perth Bears.”
Gardiner was previously described as the “number one target” for St Helens at a time when the pressure has high on Paul Wellens. The club would alleviate that with convincing wins over Catalans Dragons and Huddersfield Giants, however, the loss to Hull KR in Round 13 was another low point.
Asked about those reports, Paul Wellens commented at the time: “Obviously I’ve heard the reports, but I can’t get caught up in things that may or may not happen. My focus has to be solely on the playing team, getting and supporting the players through what is a tough period at this moment in time.
“Some people may not believe that I’m a person who can get us out of the situation that we’re in at the moment and people are quite entitled to their opinion there, but I believe I am and I’ve got the full support of the team as well.”
It seems that Gardiner may not even be an option for St Helens to consider given how valuable he could be to the Bears, with Chammas noting his strong recruitment links for the start-up team.
“Ben Gardiner is one of those options,” he confirmed when talking about assistants to Meninga, before adding: “The Samoa link is probably something that is going to be important going forward. There’s obviously talk that Payne Haas is going to be playing for Samoa.
“Payne Haas has had conversations with Ben Gardiner and was going to play last year before he got injured so I imagine as a recruitment tool someone who has coached at the Penrith Panthers and is coaching at Samoa then it will help Mal Meninga as well.”
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