It was hard to wipe the smile off the many rookies’ faces when they assembled on Saturday for the Kangaroos’ first Four Nations training session.
Still, coach Tim Sheens thought he’d give it a try.
Excitement soon turned to exhaustion – and in poor Boyd Cordner’s case, much worse – as Sheens cracked the whip in brutally hot conditions in Brisbane.
For almost two hours, Sheens hammered his depleted squad in an opening training session to remember – for all the wrong reasons, unfortunately, for Cordner.
While many appeared green around the gills as Sheens demanded drill after drill, Cordner was the poor soul who finally relented and was physically ill in front of everyone.
“That’s good. We must be doing something right if someone is spewing,” Sheens bellowed while clapping his hands.
And when Cordner finally regained his composure, the Sydney Roosters’ back-rower was required to complete the wrestling drill he missed out on while being ill.
It was fair to say it was a baptism of fire for the 11 rookies in the 24-strong Kangaroos squad ahead of their Four Nations opener next Saturday against New Zealand.
“At the first session back, they gave it to us but what do you expect? We are getting ready for a Test match,” rookie and fellow Rooster Aidan Guerra said.
“Thankfully, there were no up-and-unders from me.
“I have been coached by a few in my time and, obviously, everyone has their different ways.
“There’s nothing like a welcome to camp like today – that was hard work.”
Even team practical joker Sam Thaiday kept his head down as any thought that Sheens would go easy on his rookie-riddled squad was quickly dismissed.
“I do feel really old coming into this camp and I haven’t hit 30 yet,” Thaiday said of the many new faces.
It was a huge reality check for the likes of Newcastle’s Sione Mata’utia who is poised to become the youngest Test player in Australian league history, having been picked at 18 and after just seven NRL games.
“I am shocked. I am still shivering,” Mata’utia told reporters.
“Tim Sheens rang to tell me I was in the team and straight away he said ‘it’s not a prank’.”
Yet, Sheens reckons the teenager wasn’t the most excited coming into camp.
“Daly Cherry-Evans – he was over the moon,” he said.
“He reminded me of Cooper Cronk when he got his first chance after Darren Lockyer retired – there was no one more excited than Daly Cherry-Evans.”
Alex L
Roar Rookie
I do wish the 4th nation was a bit stronger, but honestly Samoa have the players to give other squads a nasty surprise even if they're a bit short handed in the halves the forwards and outside backs are capable of making it very competitive at least. Not sure why England is perceived as especially strong, if you pick the best players for each position their only area of clear dominance over anyone is props (Burgess Twins and Graham beat any of the other teams 3 best props) but that's offset by inferiorities against the other two major teams in terms of Fullbacks, Halves (Widdop cannot carry a team on his own), Rakes (huge with the top 2 sitting at home), and the Second Row (Australia literally has 6 second row forwards in the squad who could make the English starting side).
Ben Lewis
Guest
You have a point, but does it seem to anybody else that the fourth nation always seems to be nothing more than cannon fodder? I'm really looking forward to the day where all 4 nations are equally matched but I think I could be waiting a while :P
maximillian
Guest
NZ will win the tournament so Shaun Johnson is a good chance for player of the series.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
Samoa defeated Fiji for the 4th position in a mid-year game. Given Samoa beat France and PNG in the RLWC last year, and Ireland got thumped by Fiji in the same tournament, there's no real issue here -- I'd say Samoa fields the most competitive side of the other available teams.
Ben Lewis
Guest
I agree I'm putting in my bet for England to edge out New Zealand as favorites... but who the hell decided to have Toa Samoa as the fourth nation over Papua New Guinea, France, Ireland etc.?
Ben Lewis
Guest
I'm personally betting on Inglis for MOTS... Cherry-Evans doesn't have close to the skill, leadership, or respect that Inglis has. Plus Cherry-Evans plays for Manly; it'd be a disgrace to have somebody like that as our country hero ;)
da plane
Guest
England would start faves i suggest with all the withdrawals from the Roos/Kiwi's Squads- one may say if England dont win this 4 nations palying against depleted Roos/KiwI'S Squads and the reggies Samoan squad when will they ever win a series????
up in the north
Guest
I'm all for this generational change.
The eye
Guest
Yep,Cherry..if you could bet on a man of the series I'd be backing him..fresh environment,a few wrongs to right,country looking for a new hero..destiny is screaming at him..
Boomshanka
Guest
With a headline like that, I was expecting a match report from last night's Juniors game in Auckland. A tight game with the kiwis piping the roos with a last minute field goal to win 15-14. Back to your article though: i find it disappointing (although not unexpected) that the same vitriol plastered at the kiwis mid year for bringing in so many rookies (with cries of a mis match and the death of international league) is not matched by the media here at this time. It does however highlight the importance of playing for your country and love of the jersey. Bring it on!