SALFORD – Mal Meninga has revealed that the Panthers connection between Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo and Liam Martin was the crucial factor in the Penrith halfback beating out Daly Cherry-Evans into the Kangaroos starting team.
Speaking ahead of training on Thursday morning (UK time), Meninga revealed how he had made his decision, and how he had informed Cherry-Evans of his thinking.
“I gave him that reason,” said the coach. “It’s probably a poor one when you think about it, but it came down to those connections at club level which swung it the way of Nathan. (DCE) is disappointed, but you never know what will happen in this tournament.”
Though the team had been revealed several days ago, Meninga was yet to speak on the issue as he had been bed bound with a bad bout of vertigo.
“I had some sleepless nights and that’s maybe why I’m so crook at the moment,” joked Mal.
“It’s hard to explain to the person why they missed out. I noticed through the week that he (Cleary) started to talk a lot more and he’s started to take control of the team a lot more.
“It’s his jersey now, it’s the start of his career playing for Australia and I’d like to see him have it for a long period of time.
It had been expected that a decision would be made earlier in the week, but after weeks of prevarication by various means, the world was forced to wait another day by Mal’s sickness.
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First, there was the squad numbers gimmick that Australia used to avoid naming a halfback in the 7 jumper – unlike everyone else – and then several weeks of listing the squad alphabetically to remove any indication of who would pull the strings on the field.
Against Italy, with both DCE and Cleary in the team, they split the halves pairing with each playing 40 minutes as halfback and 40 minutes at five eighth. Now, the weeks of speculation are over.
Cherry-Evans remains in the squad with regular starting hooker Ben Hunt rested and Harry Grant, usually the bench hooker, elevated to the starting squad.
“Nathan is playing seven,” said Meninga. “We made that decision. We just put everything in alphabetical order because everyone else does. But yeah, Nathan is starting at seven. DCE is at 14 this week. We have given Harry Grant 80 minutes of footy this week to get his match fitness up.
“We will make a decision whether we go with both hookers next week against New Zealand. I like that combo.
“DCE is mainly on the bench. There is a little bit of doubt on Nath and there are some injury issues with Cameron Munster and James Tedesco. He is just sitting there in case we need him.
“Nathan is a bit ill at the moment – we’re not quite sure how he is going to come through. Cameron Munster and James Tedesco have some niggly injuries so we might need to rest them through the game.”
Nat
Roar Guru
That chocolate is sweet from the worst team ever... ;)
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Sorry so it would be more accurate to say that Walker has the tackle efficiency of Dufty. Sure hope Queensland pick him and DCE 5/8 and Munster rested for all future series
Nat
Roar Guru
Walker makes more tackles a game than Dufty did in his career. About even on attempts though...
Mike Meehall Wood
Editor
You draw a line between Australia, or more accurately, the ARLC, who think the NRL is RL, and Australians, who tend to like international footy. England are not blameless but there's levels of blame. Australia didn't play for three years and barely played before covid.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Sam Walker tackles like Dufty.
Titanic
Roar Rookie
I hate the cotton-picking (can I still say that) numbering system but in an effort to be “modern” like ‘what has rugby league ever done for me’ Meninga why don’t we just do away with numbers all together? I suggest each jersey has a different colored X on it (front and back). Then all the deeply offended woke community won’t have to pick on the poor old Sea-Eagles and their anti-rainbow warriors.
mushi
Roar Guru
Wow, so the way we’ve been doing the numbering before now was a betrayal of the world. Who knew. Let’s take all the Australian nationals out of the cup given how horrible we are as international citizens.
Cam
Roar Rookie
Fun fact, 91 of the 96 players representing Tonga, Samoa, New Zealand and the Kangaroos all play in the NRL.
Cam
Roar Rookie
Not inconceivable to think if Sam Walker keeps developing at his current rate, he will give Cleary a red-hot run for his money. Especially if he is operating behind a dominant Roosters/QLD pack for the next 3 or 4 years.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
The numbering system is dumb. Full stop. Yet to see a genuine reason for adopting it. And to be fair Australia do only play International League under duress. If we are being honest, if Australia pulled the pin, the international game would die. In about 3 weeks. They provide the vast majority of players in this RLWC. The NRL clubs, allowing their players to compete, are keeping the international game alive. I’m all for the International game. I love watching it. But other nations need to step up. England have been pathetic for 3 decades. Quite possibly longer. They were once a force. And the only reason why they can be again, is due to their players getting exposure in the significantly superior NRL. Or they convince players to detect (eg Radley). You’d have to be a special kind of simple to believe the international game would have any chance of surviving without Australia having input.
Mike Meehall Wood
Editor
General view would be: Typical Aussie sense of entitlement where Aus think it's done one way, so everyone else has to do it that way, even though literally every other nation understands how this works (as do soccer teams in Aus). Nobody thinks Australia is the good global citizen and this just confirms it. Australia has a lot, a lot a lot, to do to repair its international reputation (and not just among UK fans, also Pacific) after the last three years. Most people think the ARLC is run by the NRL clubs, and that they only play international footy under duress.
JennyFromPenny
Guest
Still lost in NSW to translation, I think. Luai in #6, Cleary playing next to him in #14.
matth
Roar Guru
How disappointing. What will we all have to write about now that Mal has come clean? :laughing: :laughing:
Nat
Roar Guru
It’s a joke, inferring he cannot be the 2nd best as there is no 2nd…
Albo
Roar Rookie
But he did have a handy windfall with his 10 year contract ! :happy:
Albo
Roar Rookie
But we got Jack Cogger to cover now !! :silly:
JennyFromPenny
Guest
Not sure how to answer because not understanding. 14 for Penrith, playing halfback, would be a great way of pointing out to the Kangaroos where they can stick their numbering system.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Even then Mal doesn't concede that Cleary has been playing the far better consistent football over the last 3 years, but in his own words 'poorly' reasons it away to Penrith combinations. Certainly can't doubt Mal's loyalty to his loyal.
Nat
Roar Guru
I wish Cleary well. This jumper will be his now for a long time but he has to keep improving. He will most likely see off Hunt and DCE but Hynes and Moses will be there and Walker will start to make the conversation soon enough. It is a highly accountable position that is very reliant on how the team is travelling. All of this fell in his favour this time but things change just as they did for DCE.
Nat
Roar Guru
Unlikely. Didn’t the Dolphins buy your next best 2 halves? I think Brandy might the next closest qualified…