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WIGAN – Nathan Cleary will be kept on as Kangaroos goalkicker despite a less-than-stellar World Cup with the boot, with Mal Meninga saying that slightly different balls might be the reason for his failings.
Mal said the footy was “a bit lighter and a bit smaller” than the Steedens used in Australia, while the halfback admitted that he was off his best, describing his “shit kicking” at the tournament.
Meninga suggested that Cleary was putting the extra efforts on the training field and the players would have the final say on any potential change.
“I’ll let the players sort that out,” said Mal. “They’re the confident ones. They’re the ones hitting them at training. Nathan probably over-practises at times doesn’t he? We’re leaving him behind now, he practises that bloody long; we want to get back for lunch.
“We’ll let them sort that out. Nathan is a mid-80s goalkicker. The balls are different over here. He’s working his butt off to get it right.”
England have kept up their excellent start to the Women’s World Cup with another big win, defeating Canada 54-4 at the DW Stadium.
Tara Jane Stanley was the star, scoring a hat trick and running for 228m, while five eighth Georgia Roche had a hand in three tries alongside scoring a superb solo effort.
Canada were physical but limited against a strong England side that is now safely through to the semi-finals after today’s result.
They will be joined there by the PNG Orchids, who smashed debutants Brazil 70-0 at Hull. They will face England next week with the winner likely to face the Kiwi Ferns and the loser on a collision course with the formidable Jillaroos.
Lebanon coach Michael Cheika says he’s open to coaching the Cedars at the next Rugby League World Cup after bowing out to Australia.
Cheika’s side were no match for the Kangaroos in the quarter-final in Huddersfield with their campaign ending in a 48-4 loss.
It marked the end of an impressive maiden stint coaching in the 13-man-game, with Lebanon winning praise for their unorthodox and flamboyant approach.
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Cheika had little time to reflect on the Cedars’ finish in the last eight, which guarantees them qualification for 2025, as he must head off to his day job as head coach of Argentina’s rugby union team.
But the former Wallabies mentor said he was keen to continue working with the Lebanese national team into the future.
“It’s been one of the best things I’ve done in footy ever,” Cheika said.
“Nothing is set in stone but it’s a great experience to be a part of and it’s been a great, great experience for myself personally.
“I wouldn’t hesitate to put my hand up if they wanted me to come back again.”
Cheika was unsure when Lebanon would next play but said he and his side had agreed to all travel to the nation over the next 12 months.
The Australian had just six hours between leaving Huddersfield and travelling to London for Argentina duty to celebrate with his players.
“I’d like to think the best is still to come, if I have the honour of being involved with them again,” he said.
“(It’s helped my) reconnection with the homeland of my parents, and to live that experience and share experience about what it’s like to grow up as an ethnic kid playing sport, it’s been unreal.”
With AAP