It takes longer to boil an egg than to forge out a career in politics - just ask Mal

Play golf? Give something back to the kids by coaching, perhaps? Or maybe even open a pub? It’s a question that must keep the average run of the mill sports stars awake at night. Let’s face it by the time you’ve reached your mid-30s you’re a has-been, you’re past it and in the twilight of your sporting career.

However, what if you were the ‘Chosen One’ of your sporting generation, what on earth would you get up to next? You’ve ruled the sport of your choice for your entire career, won everything on offer and been heaped with praise at every junction.

You want something more than just a crappy pub in Eastbourne (no offence Jimmy Greaves). Coaching and management don’t really interest you and you’re shit at golf.

It’s a dilemma that many top sportsmen and women will arrive at. How about politics? Manny Pacquiao looks certain to rule the Philippines once he smashes Floyd Mayweather up and decides to retire.

If Manny has any doubts about a political voyage he should learn the lessons of one Mal Meninga. Virtually unknown on these shores, Mal is an absolute legend in Australia for his Rugby League prowess’. So much so that the main grandstand at Canberra Stadium is named the “Mal Meninga Stand” in his honour.

Big Mal spent 9 months cutting his political teeth with the best spin doctors around for it all to end after 28 seconds. A well rehearsed and planned answer and question session with a local radio station went horribly wrong when Mal inexplicably uttered “I’m buggered” when losing track of what he was actually talking about.

Check out the video below to view Mal Meninga’s political suicide in all of its glory.

With thanks to Dean “no goals” Hudson for bringing the story to our attention at HS.