Michael Cheika makes shock return to coaching

Cheika, who left Leicester Tigers at the end of the season, has been quietly building his rugby league credentials behind the scenes with the Sydney Roosters.

But that stint looks set to be short-lived. The Roosters are already preparing for his departure, with the experienced coach eyeing a long-overdue crack at a top NRL job.

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Cheika’s stocks have risen significantly since guiding Lebanon to the quarter-finals of the 2022 Rugby League World Cup, and he is now believed to be leading the race for the Dragons gig.

The club is in desperate need of a reset, having failed to reach the finals for six straight seasons.

Roosters head coach Trent Robinson has thrown his full support behind Cheika, insisting it’s only a matter of time before he lands a top job.

“It’s pretty clear” Cheika has what it takes to be an NRL head coach, Robinson said, suggesting the next move lies with club bosses willing to take a chance.

Despite being repeatedly linked with NRL vacancies over the years, Cheika has yet to land the top job in rugby league.

That’s in stark contrast to his decorated career elsewhere, with success at international level with Lebanon in league and high-profile roles with Australia and Argentina in rugby union.

Cheika previously worked with the Roosters as a consultant in 2020 and has since returned in a specialist role focusing on the forwards.

Now, with momentum building and a vacancy open, his long-awaited NRL opportunity could finally be within reach.