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'I'll be back': Cheika won't rule out league return
Annabelle Banfield, AAP • November 2nd, 2026 9:19 am
Lebanon head coach Michael Cheika has promised he'll be back in rugby league in the future | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
On the eve of a much-anticipated rugby union comeback, Michael Cheika has declared himself open to any future opportunities in league.
The new Waratahs coach has spent the year as an assistant coach for the premiership-winning Sydney Roosters, before a World Cup campaign with Lebanon.
The Cedars finished the tournament on Sunday with a chaotic 24-20 golden-point win over France, sending Cheika off from the 13-man code in style.
Lebanon's Cedars sent their coach off happy with their golden-point win over France | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
"I'll be back at some stage," the former Wallabies coach promised.
"I've had such a great experience, starting off at Roosters the first time in 2020 when I had a chance to be there.
"Then with the Lebanese team in 2022 was awesome, and Roosters again last year."
Returning to a head coaching role in Super Rugby after a year as a second-in-charge, Cheika believes that heading up the Lebanon team has prepared him well for that transition.
"It's helped me get my head-coach legs back," said the 59-year-old.
"I've had to be an assistant for the last year, which has been really interesting for me. New, but a great experience with some great people."
The dual-code coach led Lebanon to the quarter-finals at the 2022 World Cup, but bowed out before the knockout phase of this smaller tournament.
The joy his players felt with their golden-point triumph thrilled the Lebanon coach | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
Despite a "pretty average" performance, Cheika is incredibly proud of his team for the courage showed to get their lone win of the competition, especially since he doesn't see a future leading Lebanon.
"I doubt very much that I'll go again with Lebs so it was just such a beautiful way to remember the group and be connected to these guys forever," he said.
"This team here has been a special time for me, in particular."
"We weren't great from a footy perspective, but we chased some things when we needed to, some possibly lost causes."
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