RLWC News: Cheika leaves door open for NRL switch, Kangaroos unpopular in UK, Young gun to make debut

Former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika is open to potentially switching to rugby league if the right opportunity came up in the NRL.

The Australian rugby stalwart will coach Lebanon at the World Cup in the UK starting with this weekend’s opening clash against top-ranked New Zealand.

He will also guide Argentina’s men’s rugby team into battle against England at Twickenham on November 6.

Cheika could have his hands full if the Cedars progress from the group stage after their games against the Kiwis, Ireland and Jamaica because the quarter-finals will be held on the same weekend as the Pumas’ Test.

The 55-year-old workaholic, who is also director of rugby at the NEC Green Rockets franchise in Japan, grew up in Sydney following league and has worked at the Sydney Roosters as a coaching consultant.

(Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images for Rugby League World Cup)

“If the opportunity came up, you’d be mad not to look at it because it’s a great game and in Australia it’s huge,” he told reporters when asked about taking on a role in the NRL.

“It’s a staple part of our diets. All the rugby boys know about league, growing up with it, and I obviously grew up as a league fella.

“But I’ve never been a huge planner as far as all that type of stuff is concerned. I think if you do the right thing, you do the best you can and show what you’ve got on a day-to-day basis, then all good things come your way.”

Cheika is relishing the chance to honour his Lebanese heritage by coaching a team capable of upsetting the contenders with the likes of Eels halfback Mitchell Moses, Rabbitohs veteran Josh Mansour, Bulldogs winger Jacob Kiraz and Tigers five-eighth Adam Doueihi.

“When my Dad left Lebanon it was because he wanted a better life for his family,” he said. 

“He was the one that taught me that life is about taking a chance, about pushing yourself and taking risks. To be able to coach a team at a World Cup of the country where my Mum and Dad were born, that’s something pretty special, those chances don’t come around very often. I suppose it’s a passion project but it’s about more than that too.

“I never thought an opportunity would come round where I could do something for my heritage in my chosen field. But my family know I love throwing myself into everything at any chance I get.

“It’s been challenging, for my wife Stephanie mostly, as I’ve been away a lot, but she’s an absolute champion. Hopefully, she and our four kids will be here soon to watch a few games and enjoy the experience of a Rugby League World Cup.”

Aussies need to repair image

An unpopular Australia will return to the international rugby league arena for the first time in nearly three years, aiming to restore its global reputation.

The Kangaroos play Fiji in Leeds on Saturday (Sunday AEDT) in their Rugby League World Cup opener a year later than originally intended.

Australia led the charge for the postponement of the tournament as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and there is still a strong sense of ill-feeling over their handling of the decision to withdraw.

Rugby Football League chairman Simon Johnson described the NRL as “selfish, parochial and cowardly” at the time. 

The decision of the Kangaroos to hand out jersey numbers based on the number of caps rather than their likely positions hasn’t endered them to anyone either.

The general consensus in the UK is Australia, who have won all but one World Cup since 1972, treats the international game with disdain. 

(Photo by Karl Bridgeman/Getty Images for Rugby League World Cup)

The critics give credence to the fact Australia have played just four matches since their 2017 World Cup final victory.

Captain James Tedesco has only four caps in a squad with 13 debutants. New Zealand, by contrast, have played 13 Tests in that same period and are Australia’s closest challengers for the title. 

The Wallabies, Socceroos and Matildas have played more than 50 games each in that same five-year span.  

“It’s all come pretty quickly from making my debut to becoming captain,” Tedesco told AAP.

“We haven’t had a tour planned so it’s definitely annoying missing out on the chance to play for Australia.

“That’s made me hungrier to go out and represent well and lead by example.”

Since Australia’s last outing – a loss to Tonga in 2019 – the complexion of the international game has changed.

In the meantime Samoa have become a potential dark horse for the tournament as they and Tonga picked off some of the Kangaroos’ likely selections.

There are many who believe the green and gold jersey has diminished as a result of Australia’s self-imposed exile and the fact players have turned down the Kangaroos for so-called smaller nations.

“You can pick it apart and look at it that way, but I’m really excited that those guys are going back to play for their countries,” said Australia hooker Ben Hunt.

“I think that’s fantastic for the World Cup and really strengthens their teams and will make it a really good World Cup.”

Kiwis pack can take them all the way 

New Zealand prop Joe Tapine failed to finish training with a knee complaint as the Kiwis stepped up preparations for their Rugby League World Cup opener with Lebanon.

Tapine received attention from the Kiwis medical team on Thursday after pulling up during an intense drill in the build-up to their tournament opener against Lebanon in Warrington on Sunday (Monday AEDT).

Coach Michael Maguire insisted, however, that the injury was nothing to worry about and the depths of New Zealand’s talent means they will have no issue covering if they take a cautious approach with the Canberra prop. 

Despite the question marks over Tapine, Maguire cut a relaxed figure as the Kiwis were put through their paces at top North Yorkshire private school Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate.

Jesse Bromwich. (Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)

“I still haven’t seen him smile yet – did someone take a photo of it?” joked halfback Jahrome Hughes.

“He has got us really prepared and he’s holding us to high standards and that’s going to make us better as a team.”

Maguire, who was sacked by the Wests Tigers midway through this year, will have reason to smile in six weeks time if New Zealand fulfil their immense potential and win only their second World Cup, and their first since 2008.

Maguire has slowly set about regenerating the Kiwis in the aftermath of the 2017 tournament when they were beaten by Tonga in the group stages and got knocked out in the quarter-finals by Fiji.

Now he has arguably the tournament’s strongest forward pack at his disposal and a spine comprising Brandon Smith, Hughes, Dylan Brown and fullback Joey Manu that has the Kiwis dreaming of taking home the trophy.

“This core group has been together for a while,” Hughes said.

“We have some really talented players in our team but that’s not going to get you over the line.

“For us to take the World Cup back home to New Zealand would be great for our country and the people of our country.”

Jared Waerea-Hargreaves will miss the Lebanon and Jamaica games with suspension but will be cleared for their final group game with Ireland.

The Kiwis are likely to partner Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Peta Hiku in the centres as Manu returns to the No. 1 spot that he covets.

“I love playing in the fullback position,” Manu said.

“You’re always on the ball and fullback is a lot different (to centre), it’s a challenge for myself.

“I think off the back of this forward pack and the whole team I can really thrive.”

Young gun called up by England

Dom Young took the plunge two years ago to leave home in the north of England at the age of 19 and move to Newcastle in the NRL as a complete unknown quantity.

That decision now looks to have been a masterstroke, given Young has been named by England head coach Shaun Wane to start in the Rugby League World Cup opener against Samoa in Newcastle on Saturday (Sunday AEDT).

Such was his form in his international debut against Fiji last week, he edged out England’s all-time top tryscorer Ryan Hall for a wing spot against the Samoans.

It caps a heady rise for the 21-year-old, who was a standout for a struggling Newcastle side this year.

Young’s journey is unorthodox given Super League players are usually picked off by NRL clubs after proving themselves in Test matches and when they are in their mid 20s.

But after just two first team appearances for Huddersfield, all 200cm of Young’s towering frame was on a plane to the other side of the world.

His approach was simple; what do I have to lose? “You can always go back to England,” he told AAP.

“I reckon the best thing to do is throw yourself in at the deep end and get the best out of yourself. I know a lot of players come out when they are more established, but I thought, ‘why not me?’ I really wanted that challenge.”

It’s a move which has resulted in him scoring 18 tries in 26 NRL games and catapulting his way into England’s starting side after previously only considering a call-up for his ancestral nation of Jamaica.

His form last week against Fiji has made him the talk of the tournament and if he continues that against Samoa then he looms as a poster boy of the English game for a long time to come.