Meninga to open account at Hunter

 SYDNEY: Mel Meninga’s first game as Kangaroos coach will be played at Newcastle’s Hunter Stadium when Australia take on New Zealand in May.

The May 6 trans-Tasman Test is the highlight of the 2016 rugby league representative weekend, which will also feature a Pacific double-header involving Samoa, Tonga, Fiji and PNG at Pirtek Stadium in Parramatta.

Meninga will be coaching the Kangaroos for the first time since taking over from Tim Sheens after guiding Queensland to a decade of dominance in State of Origin.

“The Trans-Tasman Test will be an extremely important match for both teams, in a Four Nations year, and the fact it will be Mal’s first match in charge of the Kangaroos will ensure it is a little more special,” NRL head of football Todd Greenberg said.

The NSW City v Country match will be held at Tamworth’s Scully Park on May 8.

The representative round gives NRL teams a one-week break between rounds nine and 10 of their competition.

Representative Fixtures: May 6 – Australia v New Zealand, Hunter Stadium, Newcastle; May 6 – Jillaroos v Kiwi Ferns, Hunter Stadium, Newcastle; May 7 – Pacific double header, Pirtek Stadium, Parramatta; May 7 – Junior Kangaroos v Junior Kiwis, Pirtek Stadium, Parramatta;  May 8 – AAMI Country v City, Scully Park, Tamworth. – NRL.com