Sports · Other Sports · 2 hrs ago
Michael Cheika juggles Waratahs role with Roosters and Lebanon duties
Michael Cheika has taken charge of the Waratahs, the Sydney rugby union team he is tasked with returning to the top.
He arrived at the club less than 48 hours after helping the Sydney Roosters win the NRL title as an assistant to coach Trent Robinson.
Cheika also coaches Lebanon, known as the Cedars, at the Rugby League World Cup.
Lebanon lost its opening match 42-18 to Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby.
The team is now preparing to face Tonga, which beat England 30-12 in its opening game.
Cheika says he is comfortable with Lebanon being an underdog, and the team faces Tonga on Friday.
Michael Cheika is balancing his new role as Waratahs coach with work for the Sydney Roosters and Lebanon’s World Cup campaign.
Less than 48 hours after helping the Roosters win the NRL title, he visited the Waratahs’ training base at Daceyville.
The Roosters beat the Knights 19-18 to claim their first NRL title since 2019.
Cheika had been announced as the Waratahs’ next coach six weeks earlier.
Lebanon, coached by Cheika, lost its World Cup opener 42-18 to Papua New Guinea and was due to face Tonga on Friday.
- Who
- Michael Cheika, the Waratahs’ new coach and a member of the Sydney Roosters coaching staff. He is also overseeing Lebanon’s World Cup campaign.
- What
- Cheika is managing duties with the Waratahs, Roosters and Lebanon.
- When
- The article was published on October 22, 2026. He visited the Waratahs less than 48 hours after the Roosters’ title win.
- Where
- Daceyville in Sydney’s inner south, the Waratahs’ base. Lebanon’s World Cup campaign is also part of the story.
- Why
- Cheika said he wanted to show the Waratahs players he meant business. A broader reason for taking on the roles is not stated.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Cheika was announced as the Waratahs’ next coach.
Cheika arrived at the Waratahs’ Daceyville base less than 48 hours after helping the Roosters win the NRL title.
Lebanon lost 42-18 to Papua New Guinea.
The article reported that Cheika was overseeing Lebanon’s World Cup campaign while starting his Waratahs role.
Lebanon was due to face Tonga.
- Roosters final
- Beat the Knights 19-18
- Roosters title
- First NRL title since 2019
- Waratahs announcement
- Six weeks before October 22, 2026
- Waratahs base
- Daceyville, Sydney’s inner south
- Lebanon opener
- Lost 42-18 to Papua New Guinea
- Lebanon next match
- Tonga on Friday
What people are saying
We’ve got a job to do.
I wanted to show them I mean business.
We’ll be the underdog for pretty much every game we play, but that’s OK.
Who says I won’t go back?