Rugby League World Cup 2022 results: Mitchell Moses opens up on grand final pain as he eyes Kangaroos date with destiny
Just weeks after the pain of Parramatta’s grand final defeat to Penrith, Mitchell Moses is throwing everything into Lebanon’s World Cup campaign.
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Parramatta star Mitchell Moses is still stinging after losing the NRL grand final but he is hoping to ease some of that pain by setting up a quarter-final date with destiny against the Kangaroos at the World Cup.
A matter of weeks after being part of the Parramatta side that lost to Penrith in the NRL decider, Moses led Lebanon into their World Cup opener against New Zealand at the weekend.
The Cedars were beaten but they walked off with their heads held high, fueling hopes that they can beat Luke Keary-led Ireland, finish second in their pool and set up a showdown in the finals against the Kangaroos.
“For the blokes in this team it would be unbelievable,” Moses said.
“We don’t want to look too far ahead but you are versing players that these boys have watched since they were young.
“To be able to [play] them is unbelievable. It was the same against the Kiwis. These boys have looked up to the blokes and now they are going toe to toe with the best in the game,
“It is exciting. The boys will love it.”
Moses knows exactly how they feel. Five years ago, his career was in its formative stages when he was a member of the Lebanon side at the World Cup under Brad Fittler.
It was a pivotal moment in his career and helped convince him to pull on the Lebanon jersey again, only weeks after he welcomed his daughter Aspyn into the world.
Lebanon coach Michael Cheika gave Moses the opportunity to join the squad late so he could spend more time with his daughter.
Moses insisted on being in England for the opening game and his presence is set to take on even more importance given Lebanon’s other star Adam Doueihi is facing a one-game ban for using abusive language to a match official.
“He has been unbelievable, outstanding,” Cheika said.
“That is why he is a good footballer, because he not only has the skills, he has great character, He knows where he has come from. He is leading the other guys around.
“I gave him the option to have more time off, no stress at all. You have to want to do things. I gave him a few days and he said I want to be there for the games.
“That will all come back to him in the end. When you behave like that, you get good things back. Hopefully he will get a premiership.”
Moses no doubt agrees given the wounds from Parramatta’s defeat to Penrith are still fresh. He is hurting and it is a pain he wants to take into next season as he chases an elusive premiership.
“It still hurts, it still hurts just thinking about it,” Moses said.
“It was a tough one. It took a bit to sink in. I want to take that hurt into the pre-season and remember how it feels.
“I have a different job here to do. This squad is really young. I feel like there are a lot of NRL scouts out there watching because we have a lot of young kids in there.
“I know how much I got out of playing at the 2017 World Cup. I got so much out of playing with these boys who were in that squad.
“I knew I could have that influence, come back and help out the new generation. I was happy to do that.”
DOUEIHI’S F-BOMB SEND-OFF SLEDGE REVEALED
By Fatima Kdouh
A foul-mouthed sledge aimed at referee Grant Atkins is believed to be the reason Adam Doueihi was sensationally sent-off, as Lebanon coach Michael Cheika requests audio of the incident.
Atkins marched Doueihi in the 60th minute of Lebanon’s 34-12 loss to New Zealand for what was described as ‘foul and abusive language’ by officials during the game.
The exact nature, and severity, of the exchange was not picked up by Atkins’ on-field mic at the time.
But it is believed Doueihi used foul language to question the referees decision making.
Words to the effect of ‘when are you going to give us some f*****g calls’ were used by Doueihi.
Atkins took exception to the protest from the Cedars vice-captain and banished him from the field.
A ban for Doueihi would be a huge blow to Lebanon’s chances of progressing into the quarterfinals with next week’s group C clash against Ireland shaping as a must-win for the Cedars.
A long-term suspension could then have ramifications for the Wests Tigers and Doueihi’s availability for round one next season.
Cheika told reporters at Halliwell Jones Stadium Doueihi’s dissent was an “accumulation of frustration” over Atkins perceived lack of policing the ruck and kick-blocking tactics.
“The World Cup hasn’t given us any footage, we have asked for it,” Cheika told AAP.
“We’re all a bit in the dark. It’s a shame we can’t make that decision now because they’re unable to find that footage with the audio on it.”
Cedars trainer Robbie Farah was on the field when Doueihi was sent off but it’s not believed Farah’s involvement goes further beyond that.
During the match, it appeared that Farah was also being asked to leave the field in the confusing incident.
“I think the trainer Robbie Farah has been sent off here,” Fox League’s Andrew Voss said during the game.
“Robbie Farah has been sent off by referee Atkins.
“Well this is interesting Adam Doueihi is going to the sideline. What has happened here?
“Doueihi has been sent off. Adam Doueihi has gone off the field, so there is some drama here for Lebanon and they are down a man now.
“Was it dissent? You can only imagine that he got both barrels from both player and trainer I’m not sure.”
A few minutes later, Voss revealed Doueihi had been sent off for dissent.
“Confirmation it was dissent from Adam Doueihi,” Voss said.
“It must have been quite the gobful.
“I just wonder about the circumstances of it. It was a short kick-off and play was just going to keep going, but Grant Atkins reacted.”
MANU MAGIC CREATES ROOSTERS HEADACHE
- By Fatima Kdouh
Joey Manu ran rings around Lebanon but the real headache will be Trent Robinson’s selection dilemma, as the New Zealand fullback rubber stamped his credentials as a playmaker.
With the no.1 on his back Manu took Monday morning’s 34-12 win against the Cedars by the scruff of the neck, setting up a try to Dylan Brown and scoring a brilliant individual chip and chase try to put Michael Cheika’s side to the sword in the second half.
While Manu won’t be usurping James Tedesco from fullback at the Roosters anytime soon, there is no doubt the 26-year-old centre needs to be closer to the action in the spine after also starring for the Roosters in his appearances as a five-eighth.
Manu’s ability to create opportunities by using his power to take the ball deep into the defensive line puts the outside back squarely in the conversation about a switch into the halves for the Roosters.
Manu delivered a man-of-the-match performance, finishing with 202 metres, 12 tackle busts, three offloads, two line assists and three try assists.
DOUEIHI SENT OFF
Lebanon vice captain Adam Doueihi’s night ended on a sour note.
Doueihi was sensationally sent-off in the 60th minute for ‘foul and abusive language’ by referee Grant Atkins in a head-scratching chain of events.
Atkins sent Doueihi marching after the five-eighth and Lebanon trainer Robbie Farah reportedly traded words with the referee.
At first, it appeared Farah was the one being told to leave the field by a ‘frustrated’ Atkins.
“I think the trainer Robbie Farah has been sent off here,” Fox League Andrew Voss said.
“Robbie Farah has been sent off by referee Atkins.
“Well this is interesting Adam Doueihi is going to the sideline. What has happened here?
“Doueihi has been sent off. Adam Doueihi has gone off the field, so there is some drama here for Lebanon and they are down a man now.”
A few minutes later, Voss revealed Doueihi had been sent off for dissent.
“It must have been quite the gobful,” Voss said.
“I just wonder about the circumstances of it. It was a short kick-off and play was just going to keep going, but Grant Atkins reacted.
In the end, Michael Cheika’s troops were simply outclassed by New Zealand’s star-studded side. But the Cedars did not lose any admirers, putting in a gallant performance, refusing to throw in the towel.
“Losing a man, a player in his position, got us out of sorts,” Cheika said.
“We have the passion, but that’s not enough sometimes. We need to be able to deliver consistency.”
SIXES AND SEVENS
Parramatta’s halves allegiance was split at Halliwell Jones Stadium with halfback Mitchell Moses in the red of Lebanon and Dylan Brown in the black of New Zealand. But it was Wests Tigers fans that potentially got a glimpse of what a halves pairing between Doueihi and Moses would look like as they guided the Cedars around the park.
Moses was a late arrival into Cedars camp meaning the duo had limited time to hone their World Cup combination but looked comfortable alongside each other in their respective roles.
The kicking game of both players helped keep Lebanon in the game. Doueihi’s 40-20 kick to start the second half laid a platform for winger Abbas Miski to hit back with a try.
Moses has played down rumours the Tigers are interested in making a play to bring him back to Concord, but after missing out Cameron Munster the club does have the cash to splash.
For the Kiwis, the stop-start nature of the game early on kept Kieran Foran and Brown out of the contest early but they were able to better assert themselves in the second half.
LIGHTNING ROD
It didn’t take long for Kiwi big man Nelson Asofa-Solomona to take on the villain tag after a number of run-ins with the Cedars. The first came after he collected Canterbury young gun Jacob Kiraz with a swinging forearm to the head.
Asofa-Solomona found himself in the thick of it again not long after, getting into a scuffle, off the ball, with Lebanon prop Kayne Kalache sparking an all-in push and shove.
Friendly fire from Asofa-Solomona left Joe Tapine with a suspected broken nose after a head clash between the forwards. Tapine is facing an 11-day mandatory stand-down if he is deemed to have suffered a concussion in the contact.
HOT SAUCE
South Sydney veteran Josh ‘Sauce’ Mansour pounced on a loose ball for Lebanon to take a shock lead after 60 seconds. Mansour finished a grubber kick play from Moses to open the scoring.
For Mansour, the World Cup is a chance to secure his playing future beyond season 2022 with scouts from clubs both in England and Australia eagerly keeping an eye on proceedings.
The 32-year old is a free agent and uncontracted for next season in the NRL.
He finished the game with 132 metres and a linebreak. Wing counterpart, and look-alike, Miski also ran for 142 metres, made four tackle busts and scored a try.
IRISH RAMPAGE
Earlier in the day, New Zealand’s Group C rivals Ireland ran out easy 48-2 winners over Jamaica, twins Louis and Innes Senior both dotting down, as well as brothers George and Toby King.
Ireland and Sydney Roosters five-eighth Luke Keary starred as Brendan O’Hagan, James McDonnell, Ed Chamberlain, James Bentley and Frankie Halton also scored in the 10-try win.
THE ITALIAN JOB
In Group B, winger Jake Maizen scored a hat-trick to make up for an early fluff-up to help Italy to a 28-4 win over Scotland.
“I’m more stoked with the win, scoring tries is great but the result is what we are here for and I’m buzzing,” said Maizen, who has been used more as a centre by the Sunshine Coast Falcons at Queensland Cup level this year.
“It did rattle me a bit (dropping the ball), I’ll be honest. You’ve got to finish those ones in these big games but that’s football, you’ve got to brush those things off and if you are not 100 percent then you are doing your team nothing.”
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