The Kangaroos are facing a front-row crisis at the Rugby League World Cup after David Klemmer and Aaron Woods were put on report during their 34-0 walkover of Lebanon.
Klemmer was penalised for knocking out Cedars second-rower Chris Saab midway through the first half on Saturday, with his shoulder making contact with Saab’s head.
Woods also faces a nervous wait after getting booked for a dangerous lifting tackle on Tim Mannah in the second half of their final pool game.
Their status for a likely final-eight clash against Samoa in Darwin won’t be the only concern for coach Mal Meninga, whose side needed another big second half to overcome their slow start.
Cameron Munster recorded another double in just his second Test, while James Maloney, Boyd Cordner, Dane Gagai and Tom Trbojevic also got on the scoresheet.
After committing three turnovers inside the opening 25 minutes at Allianz Stadium, Maloney finished his first outing of the tournament with a try and two try assists.
Lebanon will face Tonga in their quarter-final should England beat France on Sunday.
However coach Brad Fittler may have problems of his own with Michael Lichaa (cramps) and Mitchell Moses (shoulder) joining Saab in failing to finish the match.
Spurred on by most of the raucous crowd of 21,127, a determined Cedars outfit held the defending champions to a 10-0 lead at halftime.
Munster began the scoring with an easy try in the eighth minute, but that failed to deter an energetic Lebanon defence that pressured Australia into eight first-half errors.
Arguably the biggest cheer of the night was when Abbas Miski denied doppelganger Josh Mansour a certain try with a one-on-one strip in the 21st minute.
But it didn’t take long for Australia to double their advantage on Maloney’s try, set up by an offload from his future Penrith teammate Reagan Campbell-Gillard.
Back-to-back penalties put Lebanon on the back foot early in the second half, and Munster made them pay by slicing through for a soft try off the restart.
Cordner finished off a Maloney grubber in the 55th minute, before Gagai and Trbojevic completed the rout with tries in the final five minutes.
Skipper Cameron Smith also got his first major rest of the tournament after being substituted for utility Ben Hunt at halftime.
Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga admitted his team struggled in attack but was frustrated by the combined 21 penalties blown during the game.
“It was a very frustrating game, very slow,” he said.
“Very happy with our defence. Made a few errors with the footy. Our execution was down a bit, so I was a little bit disappointed in that area.
“Overall we got through the game well, no injuries. But it was frustrating, probably one of the slowest games I’ve seen for a while.”
Lebanon coach Brad Fittler said he was proud of his team to battle through injuries.
“Yeah but a little bit disappointed as well. I suppose it didn’t help we had a few blokes knocked out and we didn’t have anyone on the sideline at the end of the game,” he said.
“We were a little disappointed in our last ten minutes. Seventy minutes, it was 20 points. The fact we didn’t score a try was disappointing as well. Just got outpowered, really.”
Andrew
Guest
Against Samoa, they Could put James Maloney in the middle of the field, and still win, so any suspension will be of little consequence as neither would draw more than a week. RCG has been the best performing prop thus far for the tournament anyway. He deserves to start ahead of the two facing suspension and Josh McGuire can cover as a bench front rower.
Edward Kelly
Roar Guru
Should be sweet if a biter can get nothing for biting, just make sure Saab doesn't turn up. Wink wick.
Raugeee
Guest
I really hope for the Kangaroos sake the judiciary rub Woods out for the rest of the tournament. At best he is a passenger, but last night we was a complete liability. When he performed the lifting tackle, which could've resulted in a send off, he had given away two other penalties - yes three penalties in a row. He is so soft in the middle for the Kangaroos, he doesn't bend the line at all. A hard side like Tonga, or even NZ will make mince meat of him. He should be nowhere near a rep side. I am happy for him to play for NSW - advantage QLD - but the Kangaroos? What is Meninga thinking? I do notice he has a neat catch and pass game, but that is not what you want from an international prop. Come on judiciary, do the right thing. Rub him out!
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
A week? In the NRL that shoulder charge would be a minimum Grade 2, 350 points Grade 2 is the minimum Grade as his shoulder DID come in to contact with his opponents head. Klemmer would get a 2 to 4-week suspension, depending on whether he had a clean record, carryover points and/or an early guilty plea! Woods would be a Grade 1 or maybe a Grade 2, so a fine OR a 1-week suspension.
Fred
Guest
Yeah you could see once Woods realised what was happening he did his best to hold him up.
Nat
Roar Guru
Wouldn't be surprised if Klemmer sits out a week. There are contributing factors but contact with the head happened. However, Woods would be unlucky. Above the horizontal for sure but IMO Mannah drops his head and Woods literally holds him up. He wasn't put down let alone driven. Penalty sufficient.