Former Wallabies, NSW Waratahs and Argentina rugby union coach Michael Cheika has spoken about his new NRL role at the Sydney Roosters, explaining he won’t be a ‘normal assistant’ for Trent Robinson.
In a wide-ranging conversation with Josh Mansour on the Unscripted podcast, the 58-year-old explained his 2026 position with the Roosters will be the first time in his coaching career he hasn’t been the man in charge.
“I’ve always been a head coach, in fact the only time I’ve ever taken an assistant or consultant role before was once with the Roosters after the 2019 Rugby World Cup,” Cheika said.
Whilst best known for his time in rugby union, Cheika explained he grew up as a ‘league kid’ and went to a rugby league school in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs.
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Significantly, Cheika has also known Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson for nearly 15 years.
“I’ve known Trent since 2011 when he was coaching in France and I was coaching at Stade Français (Paris rugby union team), we’ve had a relationship since then,” he said.
‘Are teams going to be interested in something different?’
As for why he was interested in making the switch to club rugby league?
Cheika explained he felt the time was right after finishing a one-season stint with English rugby giants Leicester—but finding the ‘right’ rugby league club was a different story.
“It’s one thing me wanting to come and cross over (as a rugby league coach), but are teams going to be interested in looking at something different?” He posed, confirming he interviewed with the Parramatta Eels in 2024 and also received an initial call from the Newcastle Knights earlier this year.
“I’ve had interest from league teams before, (but often) they’re thinking ‘it could be risky because this guy’s from a different sport’.”
Cheika explained that situations like his new role with the Roosters only work when the person in charge has a clear picture of what they want in their assistants and their team.
“When Trent came and saw me, he saw something that I could help bring to them—and I felt that I could contribute to them as well in what they want to achieve (in 2026),” he said.
“It all happened pretty quickly, a matter of a couple of conversations, I didn’t really need much convincing, I think it’s a great opportunity.”
‘I won’t take on the role of a normal assistant coach’
Asked specifically about his responsibilities at the Roosters next season, Cheika explained he’d likely be working predominantly with the forwards on both sides of the ball.
“He (Robinson) knows my coaching strengths, so he knows I won’t take on the role of a normal assistant coach. There’s different things that I’ve got that he’ll want to use, alongside the other assistants that are there.”
In addition to his NRL commitments, Cheika also spoke glowingly of his time as head coach of the Lebanon national rugby league team, a position he’s held since 2020 and has already seen him take the Cedars to the 2022 World Cup in England with a squad that included Mitchell Moses, Adam Doueihi, Josh Mansour and Jacob Kiraz.
He says plans are already afoot for the 2026 World Cup in Australia and PNG.
“I’m doing everything I can to get a match played in Lebanon in the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup,” he said.
“Not only will it be great as far as preparation is concerned for a lot of the squad who aren’t playing NRL finals, culturally it will just be an unbelievable experience.”