"I'll be back": Cheika keen to return to League at later stage

11 years after leaving his role as coach of the NSW Waratahs, Michael Cheika is once again in charge of the Super Rugby club on a one-year deal.

But the former Wallabies coach has declared that he will return to rugby league at some stage.

Since leaving the national side in 2019, the 59-year-old has found himself working in a variety of roles across both Rugby League and Union.

Within League, Cheika has spent two different stints as an assistant coach at the Sydney Roosters, seeing him pick up a premiership this season, alongside becoming head coach of the Lebanon national team for the last two World Cups, which saw them make the quarter-finals in the 2021 edition (held in 2022).

While Cheika has made the decision to switch codes once again, he is still open to remaining involved in both codes.

“Yeah, definitely,” Cheika told SEN’s Front Office with Vossy.

“I said it in the presser after the Rugby League World Cup; I have no doubt I'll be back in some capacity somewhere along the line in the future.

“I loved it, I loved the game, I've always loved the game.

“I've always played and loved the game, and I've loved rugby just as much.

“So, I'm very lucky to have been accepted in both and given the opportunity to do things in both.

“And without a doubt, the experience I've just had the first time at (the) Roosters and then this last (season) and especially getting full value for money (and) going all the way, getting every week in, being able to experience finals footy and just that whole buzz around it.

“I think for all young Aussies, you grow up loving all the codes and in particular league and union, you usually play them both, and I don't see any reason why you can't be involved in both on a regular basis.”

Cheika’s first game in charge of the Waratahs takes place on February 12 against the ACT Brumbies at GIO Stadium.