Josh Addo-Carr scores five tries in World Cup quarterfinal bloodbath

Australia has booked its place in the Rugby League World Cup semi-finals on the back of one of the great performances from a winger.

The Usain Bolt for the “fastest man on earth”. Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Josh Addo-Carr has torn Lebanon to shreds in a 48-4 demolition to book Australia’s place in the Rugby League World Cup semi-finals.

But while the scoreline was impressive, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for Australia after an injury scare for captain James Tedesco and what former Aussie star Corey Parker called “their worst performance of the tournament”.

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Australia was impressive to kick off the match as the left hand side put the game nearly beyond doubt within the opening 20 minutes.

Addo-Carr had the first three tries, before Latrell Mitchell scored the fourth in the 23rd minute, blowing the Cedars off the park.

Lebanon did have some NRL talent thanks to the likes of captain Mitchell Moses and Adam Doueihi but also had plenty of inexperienced players at the top level who held their own against the might of Australia.

At halftime, the Kangaroos also put captain James Tedesco on ice. Heading into the match he had a niggling knee injury and was seen on the sidelines icing his right knee, although it was believed to be a cork.

No James Tedesco in the 2nd half for the Kangaroos, off with ice above his left knee. Likely dealing with a contusion/cork, precautionary more than anything. Should be fine moving forward #RLWC2021pic.twitter.com/D81t8kceRU

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) November 4, 2022

Australia were disjointed in the second half, falling off the pace after a 30-0 lead at halftime, letting in a try via a mistake from Cameron Munster at the back and falling just short of bringing up the half century on the scoreboard.

Josh Addo-Carr was deadly. Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images

While it was an impressive scoreline for Australia, the big test begins from next week as the winner of World No. 1 New Zealand and Fiji will meet the Kangaroos in the semi-final.

The likes of England, Tonga or Samoa will await the winner in the final.

Parker said Australia have a lot to build on after that performance.

“Coming into the game the Australians had built quite nicely but I call it like I see it I think this is their worst performance of the tournament so far,” he said on Fox League.

“Fourteen errors for the Australians … the cohesion, some of the ball movement that we saw, some of the basic errors we saw, it just wasn’t up to standard for the Australians, particularly when it looks like they’ll play the Kiwis next week.

“They got the job done but I’m not sure if Mal Meninga will be impressed by that, particularly the second half, I mean 14 errors is just not good enough.

“I just thought at different stages Australia looked way off.”

Panthers legend Greg Alexander agreed.

“Clunky is the word we’ve used quite often throughout the tournament but I thought the second half was as poorly as they’ve played,” he said.

“Some of the errors were basic, it kept Lebanon in the game.

“I thought Cameron Munster provided some pieces of genius play for Josh Addo-Carr, but whenever someone scores five tries in a game, that’s the highlight of the game for me.

“I think the improvement is there, this is a team of great players, I’m sure when they line up against the Kiwis next week it will be a better performance.”

Australia have some work to do. Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP

Addo-Carr was named the man of the match for his performance and said it was a difficult finish to the match.

“I just think it was ill-discipline, a couple of calls didn’t go our way,” Addo-Carr said after the match.

“Once we started completing at the back end of the game, we started scoring points but it is what it is.

“I’m grateful for the five tries. I’m just grateful to be on the wing and all I’ve got to do is catch the ball and put it down.”

Asked if he felt it was redemption for his State of Origin snub for NSW, Addo-Carr said “it just wasn’t my time this year to play Origin”.