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LEEDS – Australia made their long-awaited return to international rugby league with a 42-8 victory over a tough Fiji team to open their campaign in the Rugby League World Cup.
Even though the final scoreline does not reflect it, the Kangaroos were made to work for their win, especially in the first half where Fiji shocked them to open the scoring and then defended for their lives.
At times, Australia looked like a team that hadn’t played together before, but as was always likely to happen, their class showed through in the end with the left edge connection of Cameron Munster, Latrell Mitchell and Josh Addo-Carr able to turn on the style.
The Foxx, in particular, was superb: he scored a try that will live long in the memory of the 13,366 Leeds faithful who turned out, breaking down the left to go the length through a raft of tacklers, before creating one for Latrell Mitchell and securing a second late on after a Harry Grant kick.
“We were a bit clunky with the footy but I was really happy with our defence, which means our attitude is good. The effort levels were excellent,” said coach Mal Meninga.
“That’s our first hit out, we had seven debutants and a lot of players who haven’t played together before off a week’s preparation, so I think we can get better definitely. Our debutants played really well.
“The effort from all the team was really good. They scored two tries off kicks on the back of poor discipline by us. All in all, it was a pretty good first hit out.”
The burning questions for Meninga might not have been answered. Daly Cherry-Evans was fine and nothing more at halfback – former international Corey Parker on Fox League questioned his place in the team for later in the tournament.
“I don’t know if Daly Cherry-Evans will play another game at halfback,” he said.
“Provided everything goes well in terms of players not getting injury, how do you dislodge somebody like Nathan Cleary? Cleary is still yet to prove himself in an Australian jersey, but Daly Cherry-Evans has been there for a long period of time.
“It was a mixed bag from him (Cherry-Evans). A couple of kicks didn’t go where he needed. A couple of passes didn’t go where he needed. And from your halfback you really need that.
(Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images for RLWC)
“Cleary will get an opportunity against Scotland and I’m sure he will make the most of that, but it is only a short preparation. Yes they are the best players in the world the Australians, but you need cohesion.”
Meninga will be heartened that the Queensland hooker rotation worked again, with Ben Hunt controlling early before Grant injected himself to take the game away late in the first half.
They lost Reuben Cotter to a nasty head clash with Tui Kamikamica that saw both leave the field under concussion protocols and, with mandatory 11-day stand-down periods, will see both miss the next round of fixtures. Meninga later confirmed that Cotter will not feature against Scotland next week.
Fiji showed marked improvement on their 50-0 thrashing by England in last week’s warm-up match. Given the adversity that they have faced – losing wingers Mikaele Ravalawa and Pio Seci to injury, then coach Joe Rabele who is hospitalised with a foot complaint – this was an impressive outing.
Stand-in coach Wise Kativerata was proud of his boys, but said they didn’t help themselves.
“We started really well but just gave up too much possession,” he said. “We still hung in there. We need to work on keeping it simple and then we will push every nation. It was our basics that let us down today.”
They took the fight to the Kangaroos early on and grabbed the first points, Raiders speedster Semi Valemei winning the race for the ball after a smart kick from Sitiveni Moceidreke.
Australia enjoyed the bulk of the ball thereafter, but their attack looked like that of a side that had played together infrequently. Fiji managed to keep them at bay for several sets before breaking, with Jeremiah Nanai able to cut against the line and step Penrith’s Sunia Turuva for a first international try.
Addo-Carr then broke the game wide open with a trademark solo effort. Fiji had built some pressure and trapped James Tedesco under his own posts, but a smart shift on play two released the Foxx, who weaved his way through several tacklers to run 100m to the line.
Fiji’s errors began to mount. Brandon Wakeham might have scored, but failed to grasp the ball over the line and, again, they were punished as Angus Crichton was able to reach out of a tackle and ground.
The left side connection continued to purr after the break. Addo-Carr broke through, fed Cherry-Evans and he found Mitchell to score.
(Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images for RLWC)
Grant then imposed himself, kicking a superb 40/20 before touching down after using the left edge as a decoy and nipping through himself.
Cotter then departed with a concussion before James Tedesco, who had been quiet, was able to step his way through the line from close range. Grant then turned provider again with a break through the middle that fed Addo-Carr for his second.
Fiji did get a consolation, with Turuva able to hack on a kick for himself and reach the ball before the dead ball line.