Mal Meninga’s Kids: Zach Meninga, Elijah Meninga, Tamika Meninga, Eva Meninga and Josh Meninga

Malcolm Norman Meninga, widely known as Mal Meninga, is an Australian rugby league Immortal and one of the sport’s most celebrated figures.

Born on July 8, 1960, in Bundaberg, Queensland, he grew up in a working-class family with strong rugby league ties.

His father, Norman Meninga, was of South Sea Islander heritage and worked as a cane cutter and rugby player, while his mother, Leona Meninga, was of white Australian descent. He has a brother named Bevan Meninga.

Although often misidentified as Aboriginal, Meninga’s roots trace back to Tanna in Vanuatu, a cultural identity he has embraced in later years. Faith has also been central to his life, with Meninga often crediting his Catholic background for shaping his personal values and relationships.

He attended Maroochydore State High School, completing his Junior Certificate in 1975 before enrolling at the Queensland Police Academy, where he finished his Senior Certificate and briefly served as a police officer.

Choosing rugby league as his true calling, Meninga went on to become one of the game’s most dominant players, captaining Australia to multiple World Cup victories and leading Queensland in the State of Origin.

Standing at 184 cm (6 ft 0 in), he was both a powerful athlete and an inspiring leader. In June 2025, he added another milestone to his career when he was named the inaugural coach of the Perth Bears, the NRL’s newest expansion team.

Meninga’s personal life has been just as eventful as his career. His first marriage to Debbie Meninga resulted in two children: Tamika Meninga, born around 1987, and Josh Meninga, born around 1988.

After their separation, he later married Amanda Meninga, an Australian businesswoman and philanthropist, in 2012.

To grow their family, Meninga underwent a reverse vasectomy in 2011, and together they welcomed three children: Elijah Henry Brooklyn, born in 2013, Zach Meninga, born in 2014, and Eva Meninga, born in 2015. Amanda also brought a son from a previous relationship, creating a blended family home on the Gold Coast.

Beyond his marriages, Meninga also fathered a daughter in England during the 1982 Kangaroo tour, meeting her for the first time in 1994. In total, he is the proud father of six children from different stages of his life.

Despite his legendary status in rugby league, Meninga has often said that family is his greatest achievement. He speaks openly about the joy of raising his younger children later in life and how fatherhood keeps him grounded while balancing a high-profile career.

Josh Meninga

Josh Meninga, born around 1988, is Meninga‘s eldest son from his first marriage. Now in his late 30s, Josh has maintained a private life away from the public eye, a choice that aligns with the Meninga family’s preference for discretion.

Growing up during his father’s peak playing years with the Canberra Raiders and Australian Kangaroos, Josh experienced the intensity of rugby league firsthand. Meninga has spoken about how his early family life, including time with Josh and Tamika, taught him balance amid the demands of professional sport.

He represents the foundational chapter of Meninga‘s fatherhood. As Meninga steps into his new role with the Perth Bears in 2025, Josh‘s presence in the family underscores the enduring bonds that have supported the legend through decades of change.

Elijah Meninga

Elijah Henry Brooklyn Meninga, born in February 2013, marked a new beginning for Meninga at age 53.

As the first child with Amanda, Elijah‘s arrival coincided with Meninga‘s ongoing success as Queensland’s State of Origin coach.

Now around 12 years old, Elijah has grown up in a household filled with rugby tales and family adventures. The family relocated to the Gold Coast in 2018 for Meninga‘s role with the Titans, providing a sunny, active environment for Elijah and his siblings.

Meninga has described Elijah as full of spirit, often sharing anecdotes about his son’s curiosity and energy. Raised with the same core values of respect and hard work that Meninga learned from his South Sea Islander roots, Elijah is part of a tight-knit group that includes Zach and Eva.

In recent years, as Meninga explores his heritage more deeply, Elijah benefits from a father committed to passing on cultural pride alongside life lessons from the field.

Zach Meninga

Born in early 2014, just a year after Elijah, Zach Meninga brought double the delight to the family.

Meninga famously recounted in a 2014 interview the “pure magic” of holding newborn Zach while celebrating Elijah‘s first birthday.

Now about 11 years old, Zach has thrived in the family’s Gold Coast lifestyle, surrounded by siblings and the influence of his father’s storied career. Like his brother, Zach is being raised with an emphasis on family and resilience.

Tamika Meninga

Tamika Meninga, born around 1987, is Meninga‘s eldest child and daughter from his first marriage to Debbie.

Now in her late 30s, Tamika has chosen to maintain a low profile, staying out of the public spotlight that often accompanies her father’s fame.

Growing up during Meninga‘s illustrious playing career with the Canberra Raiders and the Australian Kangaroos, she experienced the world of professional rugby league from a young age.

Tamika represents the early foundation of Meninga’s family life, highlighting his commitment to fatherhood even amid the demands of stardom.

Eva Meninga

Eva Meninga, born on October 19, 2015, is the youngest child of Mal and Amanda, and their only daughter together.

Arriving as the fifth child overall for Meninga, Eva‘s birth completed the trio of young siblings with Elijah and Zach.

Now nearly 10 years old, Eva has grown up in a loving, active family environment on the Gold Coast, where beach days and family bonding are staples.

Meninga has often highlighted the special joy Eva brings to the household, describing her as a vibrant addition that rounds out their blended family.

Raised with the same principles of discipline and community from Meninga‘s South Sea Islander heritage, Eva embodies the renewal that fatherhood brought to Meninga in his later years.

Meninga, who at 65 continues to make headlines with his coaching appointments, credits his younger children, like Zach, for keeping him youthful and focused.