Rugby League World Cup: Aussies looking forward to challenge of stopping Samoan young gun
Premierships, Origins and Dally M medals, James Tedesco has won pretty much everything there is to win in rugby league – but Sunday morning’s World Cup final will top them all.
World Cup
Don't miss out on the headlines from World Cup. Followed categories will be added to My News.
James Tedesco has a cabinet full of trophies and individual honours but he has put Sunday morning’s (AEDT) World Cup final into perspective by declaring the game against Samoa the biggest moment of his stellar career.
Tedesco, having been appointed Kangaroos skipper before the tournament began, will lead out an Australian side regarded as the hottest of favourites against their Pacific Island opponents.
He will do so with an overwhelming sense of pride after taking the reins from Boyd Cordner as international rugby league made its return after a three-year absence.
“I don’t think there is a bigger moment in my career for sure,” Tedesco said.
“I have had a lot of individual honours and team achievements, but leading your country out in a World Cup final at Old Trafford it doesn’t get much bigger than that.
“At the end of the day it is just another game I want to win. So I guess when I look back on my career, it will be cool to have this on my resume.”
The Kangaroos are likely to head into the game with an unchanged side after coach Mal Meninga named the same 19 players for the second week in a row.
Daly Cherry-Evans is once again be in the extended squad but Nathan Cleary will be the halfback – the Penrith star has had a quiet tournament but he has the backing of halves partner Cameron Munster as he prepares to face in-form Penrith teammate Jarome Luai on Thursday night (AEDT).
“Everyone is expecting him to blast it out of the water but everyone has to understand we are different players and the best of the best in our positions,” Munster said.
“At times, myself or Teddy or even Harry [Grant} or Hunty (Ben Hunt) will have different ideas to what he is thinking.
“I remember talking to Teddy a couple of times in games and saying that I couldn’t get myself into games because players around me were doing such a great job.
“Nate knows that. At such a young age he has done a lot in the game. Now he is in a World Cup final against one of his best mates.
“I am sure it will be a bit of challenge for him but I am sure he will take it with both hands. You will see the best of Nathan Cleary on Saturday, you watch.”
Australia are counting on it. If Cleary fires, the Kangaroos will be well on their way to victory against a Samoan side that have captured the imagination any the World Cup.
As much as they will be outsiders with the bookies on Sunday morning, Samoa will be overwhelming favourites among those in attendance at Old Trafford.
Tedesco concedes the Kangaroos need to seize the initiative.
“It is on us to go out to create it,” Tedesco said.
“We can’t expect to win. We know it is going to be a fight, we know it is going to be a battle. At the end of the day we have to fight for each other…. we’re playing for each other.
“To get here, to lead the team to the final, that was obviously the first goal. But now I don’t want to turn it into disappointment. I want it to end in excitement and happiness and celebrations.
“So hopefully we can do that.”
ROOS SINGLE OUT ‘SAVAGE’ STAR FOR WORLD CUP FINAL
Joseph Suaalii turned down the chance to play for Australia but he finds himself at the forefront of the Kangaroos’ thoughts on Wednesday night (AEDT) as they ramped up their preparations for the World Cup final.
The Kangaroos performed a series of defensive drills and two names were ringing around the Sale Sharks training facility, where Australia have been based in recent weeks.
One was Samoan captain Junior Paulo. The other was the 19-year-old sensation who has confirmed at this World Cup what many already knew – if he isn’t already a superstar, he will be soon enough.
It is why Meninga was keen to have Suaalii tour with the Kangaroos, only for the teenager to elect to play for the country of his heritage. After a rocky start against England, he has been unstoppable in the weeks since and the Kangaroos have clearly identified Suaalii as one of the players they need to stop if they are to beat Samoa at Old Trafford this weekend.
“He’s an animal but we know what their threats are and we’re ready to go,” Suallii’s Sydney Roosters teammate Angus Crichton said.
“In my time in the sport I’ve never seen a kid like Joseph, he’s a quality player and a quality person too.
“As soon as he steps over that white line he’s a savage and that’s what I like about him. It’s my first time playing against Joey so it should be good.
“There’s no chance he’s going to be overwhelmed by it. I know he’s going to turn up. I know he’s going to play because I know the kid, I know how he works. He’s diligent, looks after his body, looks after his mind.
“I’ve never seen a 19-year-old who does that kind of thing in my whole career so he’s a special kid, a special talent.”
Crichton is merely the latest in a long line of Kangaroos players and officials to sing Suaalii’s praises. Meninga spoke about the danger presented by Suaalii earlier this week when he was asked about his decision to play for Samoa rather than Australia.
In Suaalii’s defence, he now finds himself in a World Cup final in his preferred position as fullback. Had he toured with the Kangaroos, he wouldn’t have had the chance to play fullback and there is every chance he would have missed the cut for the final given the Kangaroos have Josh Addo-Carr and Valentine Holmes on the wing.
Suaalii would have been forced to wait in line. Having chosen Samoa, he has been a driving force behind their charge to the final.
Against England in the semi-final, he ran for 211 metres and made four tackle busts. The week before against Tonga he ran for 212 metres and had six tackle busts.
Against France, he ran for only 132 meters but had three try assists. Australia know stopping him will go a long way towards ensuring they defend the World Cup.
“He has been great,” Kangaroos forward Jake Trbojevic said.
“He had a great year for the Roosters and his tournament has been outstanding. He is a quality player. He is only 19 – the way he plays is unbelievable.
“We have a big job on our hands.”
Crichton added: “I’d say Joseph is the man he is today from his own work. I’ve never seen a kid with a head on his shoulders that works that hard.
“I’ve also got to say that probably the Roosters got the best out of him as well. I think he’d say that if you asked him.
“He’s a smart kid, works hard and is a classic player.”
Meanwhile, Meninga once again kept everyone guessing on the makeup of his side after naming an unchanged 19-man squad in alphabetical order. He is expected to play the same side that beat New Zealand in the semi-finals.
9. Josh Addo-Carr, 6 Reagan Campbell-Gillard, 13. Pat Carrigan, 2. Daly Cherry-Evans, 14. Nathan Cleary, 16. Reuben Cotter, 17. Angus Crichton, 18. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, 20. Harry Grant, 4. Valentine Holmes, 3. Ben Hunt, 21. Liam Martin, 8. Latrell Mitchell, 7. Cameron Munster, 11. Cameron Murray (vc), 1. James Tedesco (c), 5. Jake Trbojevic, 10. Jack Wighton, 24. Isaah Yeo (vc)
MENINGA OUT TO EMULATE BOZO AND CREATE WORLD CUP HISTORY
Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga has the backing of ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys chair as he hedges his bets on coaching the Australian side at the next World Cup.
V’landys gave Meninga a glowing endorsement in the lead-up to Saturday night’s (AEDT) final at Old Trafford, where the long-time Australian coach will look to emulate the feat of the great Bob Fulton by winning two World Cups.
Meninga agreed a contract extension earlier this year to take him through until the end of next season but he was coy on his future beyond that when he spoke to the Australian media this week, insisting he wanted to complete the job at the World Cup and then make a call.
V’landys gave every indication that the ARL Commission would be open to extending Meninga’s deal if and when he wanted to open talks over the future.
“Mal has the strong support of me and the commission,” V’landys said.
“Mal has done a tremendous job and we are very pleased with him. I have told him that personally. We are strong supporters of Mal.
“He has done a fantastic job.”
Meninga has a remarkable record as coach of the Kangaroos and he stands on the cusp of history as he prepares for the World Cup final against Samoa on Saturday night.
Since taking over in 2016, he has lost only two games as coach of the Australian side – only Don Furner has a better record at the helm of the Kangaroos among those to have been in charge for more than 10 matches.
Asked whether he planned to remain in charge until the next World Cup in France, Meninga gave the idea short shrift.
“I don’t know – we will see what happens,” he said.
“I am getting on.”
The 62-year-old may be getting on but this World Cup has shown Meninga remains as effective as ever at the helm of the Australia side.
He has seemingly mastered the art of bringing together the best players in the game and turning them into an irresistible force.
He has done it by giving them the chance to enjoy themselves, while at the same time ensuring they are ready for their opponents on a weekly basis.
Granted, some of those challenges haven’t been that difficult. Italy and Scotland aren’t exactly giants in the world of rugby league.
Yet you can only beat what is in front of you and the Kangaroos have done just that as they prepare to meet Samoa in the World Cup decider.
Meninga paid homage to Fulton – his coach on the 1990 and 1994 Kangaroo tours – as he spoke about the art of coaching this week.
“I had a really good friendship with Bozo throughout the coach-captaincy days,” Meninga said.
“He was an exceptional coach with much respect around what he achieved in the game. He managed to bring teams together.
“Part of Bozo’s aura was that he had a good sense of fun – teams had a good sense of fun under his coaching.
“I kind of hope I bring a bit of that to the group. It is not all business. I think I got that from him. I think Bozo knew how to bring representative teams together as well.
“I know he was a great club coach as well but he just had this way about him where he could meld a team and they could respond really well.”
Storm star turns back on Kiwis to keep Origin dream alive
The injury plagued Kiwis have suffered a massive blow ahead of the Pacific Championships, with a young star rejecting New Zealand to keep his Maroons Origin dream alive.
Mal promises emotion won’t cloud his call on Ponga and Kangaroos
Kalyn Ponga is still a chance to be called up for the Kangaroos Pacific Test series despite the saga surrounding his initial desire to sit out the games.