The Queensland State of Origin coach Mal Meninga has refused to apologise to New South Wales rugby league identities who threatened him with legal action over his explosive Sunday Mail column.
Meninga says he stands by his printed reaction to what he called unfair off-field behaviour against himself and his team.
The former star says the NSW identities have called him a ranter, a raver, a weirdo and mad but he claims the people of Queensland needed to be made aware of the hurdles that their team had to overcome to bring them victory.
Meninga was particularly angered during the interstate series by newspaper stories saying he was simply a figurehead and others were responsible for the exploits of the winning team.
He had until end of business Thursday to notify NRL match review chairman Greg McCallum whether he intended delivering an unreserved apology and front page retraction for his stinging comments in last weekend's Sunday Mail or face possible legal action.
