Rugby League World Cup: Australia Kangaroos win 84-0 over Scotland Bravehearts, Josh Addo-Carr scores incredible try
Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga has praised Bulldogs stars Josh Addo-Carr and Matt Burton, after they combined to score one of the Kangaroos’ greatest ever tries.
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Mal Meninga knows a thing or two about scoring iconic tries in a green and gold jersey. More than 30 years after the Kangaroos coach scored a classic to save the Ashes from falling into English hands, Australia produced another moment of magic at Coventry Building Society Arena on Saturday morning (AEDT).
There wasn’t as much at stake - Australia went on to win 84-0 against an outclassed Scotland - but it was an eye-catching end to a night when the Kangaroos flexed their muscle against a rugby league minnow.
The try began with what Ben Hunt described as one of the worst kicks of his career and culminated in Josh Addo-Carr celebrating his fourth try of the night by high-fiving the awe-struck crowd and telling them that he was a “freaky, freaky man”.
In between, debutant Matt Burton produced a breathless piece of skill that had those present gasping in disbelief.
“It was magnificent,” Meninga said.
“That is what happens when you have talented players. Burton through the legs, back to Fox. Fox kicks down the sideline … and scores in the corner.
“Try of the tournament, isn’t it? There have been many great tries scored in international rugby league. That is right up there.”
Ironically, a moment that will be etched in time began with an eminently forgettable kick. Hunt saw a chance out wide but the ball didn’t come cleanly off his boot. It skewed wide of its target.
“I put in a bad kick,” Hunt said.
“It wasn’t really planned. I saw Fox (Addo-Carr) out wide. I kicked it off my shin, it was a shocker. Luckily Burton and Fox have a bit of skill.”
🤯 STOP THAT!
— Rugby League World Cup 2021 (@RLWC2021) October 21, 2022
Matt Burton with an unreal pass to Addo-Carr, who finishes a stunner#RLWC2021 | #AUSSCO | @BBCSportpic.twitter.com/sSdDBIOxNE
The ball was bouncing towards the sideline and then over it when Burton produced his moment of inspiration. The Bulldogs utility, making his Test debut, jumped over the sideline with both feet in the air and flicked it back infield through his legs.
“I didn’t really have to do much,” Burton said.
“I just flicked it under (my legs) and hoped for the best, and he (Addo-Carr) finished it off. It was all him - he gets the credit there.”
Hunt added: “Very special from Matt. He is one of the most skilful young players I have played with to be honest.”
No doubt, Addo-Carr is another. The Kangaroos winger already had three tries to his name when Burton diced with the sideline.
He was hungry for a fourth. Having grasped the Burton flick, Addo-Carr backed his speed and skill - he kicked for himself and then remarkably won the race to the ball only centimetres from the dead-ball line.
“I thought he was going to kick it inside,” Hunt said.
”Obviously he has the pace and skill to make anything happen.”
He let the crowd know about it.
“He was yelling at the crowd, ‘I am a freaky man, I am a freaky man’,” Burton said.
“You can’t beat speed. He is too fast. He was outstanding tonight - four tries, he deserved them all.”
As the Kangaroos awaited confirmation from the video booth, Burton was wracked with doubt.
“I knew (I was in) when I flicked it back in,” Burton said.
“Then when they went to video ref I was thinking, gees I hope my foot is in.”
He needn’t worry. The try was awarded and the World Cup had a classic try on its hands. A rival for Meninga’s moment of magic in 1990 or Greg Inglis’ miracle flick for Mark Gasnier to score in the Centenary Test in 2008.
“As soon as we got back in the sheds I thought I have seen that before somewhere - I remember GI’s flick back in,” Burton said.
“It is pretty crazy how that works.”
MATCH REPORT: HISTORIC WIN AS KANGAROOS ANNIHILATE BRAVEHEARTS
The Nathan Cleary era began with a massacre at Coventry Building Society Arena on Saturday morning (AEDT). Cleary has been a star in the NRL in recent years but there was still a question mark over how his talents would transfer to the International stage.
The answer was there for all to see in the opening half against an outgunned and outclassed Scotland as Australia maintained their undefeated start to the World Cup.
By the time the game was 30 minutes old, Cleary already had three try assists and a try of his own. Scotland were being surgically sliced to shreds and Cleary was the man with the scalpel in his hands.
All the focus in the lead-up to the World Cup, at least from an Australian perspective, was on who would play halfback given Daly Cherry-Evans was the incumbent and the captain of the victorious Queensland State of Origin team.
Cherry-Evans was given first shot in the opening game against Fiji but Cleary will take some beating after he began his Test career with a 28-point haul on a cold and wet night in the West Midlands of England.
Another two points and he would have equaled Andrew Johns’ record for the most points by a player on debut. Never mind. The way he is going it is about the only record he won’t have by the end of his career.
“It still feels a bit surreal that I played for Australia,” Cleary said.
“I woke up and had the butterfly feeling. I didn’t think I was going to get nervous but woke up and had it. I think once I got through the game and got through the warm-up and was looking around at the players alongside me, it gave me confidence and I was just keen to play.
“Once you get out there you are playing footy and playing on instinct.”
CLEARY’S MASTERCLASS
Cleary’s day started with an emotional jersey presentation. Most Kangaroos rookies have had family take in their jersey presentation via zoom. Cleary’s parents, Ivan and Bec Cleary, were in attendance at the team hotel.
“It was an emotional morning,” Cleary said.
“I got my jersey this morning and it was a crazy feeling to get out there and play a game like that. It was good fun and very grateful.
”It makes it more special to have family here, Mum and dad have been there every step of the way.”
Cleary channelled that emotion into one of the finest performances of his career.
The writing was on the wall from the second minute as Cleary won the race to a Harry Grant kick, only to have the try ruled out by the video referee.
Minutes later, Cleary turned provider and the Kangaroos were off and running. The classy Penrith playmaker floated a cut-out pass which hit Josh Addo-Carr on the chest and he did the rest, crossing in the corner.
Two minutes later, Jack Wighton ran into a hole off a Cleary pass and the Kangaroos were on the march. Cleary’s kicking game then came to the fore as his bomb was dropped and Angus Crichton was on hand to dine on the scraps.
He was then involved in the Kangaroos’ fourth try midway through the half, playing his part in a backline movement that finished with Campbell Graham scoring on debut.
Everything he touched turned to gold.
Nathan Cleary with the 2nd most points on debut for Australia, just 2 behind Andrew Johns' effort against South Africa in 1995 🔥#RLWC2021pic.twitter.com/U3Ngyw5Xtu
— Roast (@thenrlroast) October 21, 2022
“He feels part of the team now,” coach Mal Meninga said.
“He is in there and he is talking and he is joking. He certainly had a great game tonight. He is in a position where the team relies on him.”
Meninga wouldn’t be drawn in on who had their nose in front for the halfback spot.
“We are being patient with it,” Meninga said.
THE ROOKIES
Cleary wasn’t the only Kangaroos player to make his debut against Scotland. Penrith teammate Isaah Yeo grabbed a try in the dying embers of the game. Matt Burton helped himself to one as well. Liam Martin wreaked havoc at times. Lindsay Collins ran for more than 100 metres.
The pick of the rookies was South Sydney centre Campbell Graham, who finished with a hat trick as he carved up the nation he was going to represent before the was called up by Meninga.
Graham had loads of family in the crowd with divided loyalties but there was no wavering in his commitment as he tormented the Scots.
He has given Meninga a genuine headache as he looks to finalise his strongest team for the finals.
Scotland coach Nathan Graham finished with a headache as well, conceding afterwards that it was painful to watch Campbell Graham tear his side apart.
“That’s nasty that, isn’t it?!” He quipped. Graham, however, hasn’t given up hope of one day seeing his namesake in a Scottish jersey.
“We’ve always known the situation with Campbell,” Graham said.
“If he wasn’t getting in the Australia squad, he would be in ours. That’s the relationship we’ve had.
“As soon as he got picked, I phoned him up and wished him well. That’s the country of his birth. I know in future, he does want to represent his heritage, so we’ll see how that goes.”
THE BIG MEN
Reagan Campbell-Gillard had to wait five years to get another shot at a Kangaroos jersey but he made up for lost time by ripping into the Scottish forward pack.
By the time he was given a break with 10 minutes remaining in the opening half, Campbell-Gillard had run for more than 100 metres.
He finished the match running for 134 metres - front row partner Patrick Carrigan was the only forward who ran for more.
Collins also came off the bench and made a genuine impact as he ran for 100 metres.
“We talked about how we wanted to play,” Meninga said.
“We excelled tonight. I was very, very happy with the performance in defence and attack. I can’t criticise anything.
“We came with a clear plan and we stuck to our plan. Look at the conditions - our ball control in those conditions were fantastic.
“All those little things we are doing really well. We were relentless with it as well.”
THE FLYING FOX
Josh Addo-Carr has played both games at the World Cup so far and each appearance has prompted the same quizzical response: What was Brad Fittler thinking when he overlooked the Canterbury flyer for the NSW team this year.
Addo-Carr was devastating against Scotland. His breathtaking speed and nose for the tryline was on full show. He scored his first try in the sixth minute when he took a floated Cleary pass and won the trace to the corner.
His second arrived when the ball hit the deck. Angus Crichton and Matt Burton summed up the situation in rapid-fire time and gave Addo-Car the ball in space. He did the rest.
His third came 12 minutes into the second half after some smart work from Jack Wighton. Then the fourth landed and what a try it was as Burton flicked the ball in field and Addo-Carr kicked for himself.
It was a moment of magic from one of the game’s most exciting players.
“Unbelievable,” captain James Tedesco said.
“Foxxy does things that not many players in the world can do. Great to have him on our team.”
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