Rugby League World Cup: Australia vs Italy, Azzurri’s horror week, Latrell Mitchell’s Kangaroos dream

Italy’s preparations for the Kangaroos clash hit a massive snag this week, with 12 players seeking hospital treatment. But Nathan Brown’s side is determined to do the Azzurri jersey proud.

Latrell Mitchell should be a Kangaroos veteran by now, but because of Covid he’s played just five games so far in his career. Picture: Getty Images.

Italy’s bid to produce the biggest upset in rugby league history against the Kangaroos will be fuelled by a diet of hope, optimism and antibiotics.

Up to a dozen Italian players, including captain Nathan Brown, will take their place against Australia having been forced to seek hospital treatment for infections resulting from playing on a synthetic pitch in Newcastle in their opening two games.

Brown was left in such a bad state, he could barely walk for five days after grazes suffered in their first game against Scotland became infected.

He wasn’t the only one. The Scots managed to field a side in defeat against Fiji but now comes their biggest test – a meeting with the all-conquering Kangaroos at Totally Wicked Stadium in St Helens on Sunday morning (AEDT).

Brown knows better than anyone what awaits.

Italy face the daunting task of taking on Australia after a horror week of preparation. But Nathan Brown is determined his team will do the jersey proud. Picture: Getty Images.

“Best in the world – we have the mentality of doing the jersey proud, playing for 80 minutes, playing for each other and see what happens,” Brown said.

“We just want everyone to have a crack. You don’t go into any game wanting to lose. We just want to have a crack and have a go for each other.”

Brown will lead from the front, albeit with his knee heavily strapped as he takes care to avoid inflaming his wounds.

“I didn’t really feel it after the game until the following day,” he said.

“I couldn’t walk to be honest. For five days it was a bit of a weird situation. I went to the hospital here and got on antibiotics.

“It was pretty annoying. Then I had to play on it again last week. I was limping around. I couldn’t really bend my knee because it was right on my knee.

“Everything was swollen and tightened up.”

Parramatta forward and Italy captain Nathan Brown has needed antibiotics for a knee infection suffered during the Rugby League World Cup. Credit: Supplied.

Safely on the mend, he is looking forward to renewing acquaintances with friend and former Italy teammate James Tedesco.

The Kangaroos captain was offered the opportunity to sit out the game by coach Mal Meninga but wanted to play out of respect to the nation he represented with Brown at the World Cup five years ago.

“This week I told him I am not talking to him,” he said.

“It is obviously good coming up against your friends. It is going to be good. We see each other a bit … still messaging each other.

“I am proud of him – captained NSW, captained Australia, he has done it all in the game. We started off our careers at the same club together.

“To see him grow to become one of the best players in the world and grow to become a man, as mates I am really proud.

“To come up against him on the weekend will be pretty cool. He is one of the best players in the world.

“I enjoyed my time playing with a player like that. It was a good camp (in 2017) – met a few boys we still keep in contact with now. Every moment you get playing with one of the best players in the world, you cherish it.”

It’s a big ask, but the Azzurri will need to shutdown former Italy fullback James Tedesco if they want to slow down the Kangaroos attack. Picture: Getty Images.

Tedesco is part of the reason that Italy will start the game as the rankest of rank outsiders. They were 250-1 at one point this week but their odds have since been shaved by bookmakers, perhaps out of sympathy for the rugby league minnows.

The sides have only met twice in their history – the last time was more than 40 years ago in a pair of Tests players in Italy and won comprehensively by the Kangaroos.

It would be a major surprise if the result wasn’t lopsided again on Sunday morning (AEDT). Among those hoping the score doesn’t get out of hand will be Brown’s nonna, who famously chastised her grandson three years ago after he was in trouble with the NRL judiciary.

Asked whether she would be in tears, Brown said: “She always cries to be honest. Every time she sees me she cries.

“I used to see her every day and now I see her when she cans. At the start she didn’t really know what was going on – she was telling me to get jobs or go study.”

As for her advice, it is pretty straightforward.

“Just make sure I am a good boy, that is all she says,” he said.

‘I WANT TO BE A LEGEND’: LATRELL READY TO MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME

Latrell Mitchell has studied the honour board in the team room at the Australian hotel. He likes what he sees.

“You see all those fellas on the board – you have Darren Lockyer at 50 [Tests],” Mitchell said.

“You want to be there on that board. Hopefully the NRL and international footy can live on and be strong again, and I can get a few more under my belt.

“I know a lot of fellas want to. It is awesome to be here and wear this jersey. We have everything on the wall – all the responsibilities and care factor, everything is on that wall.

“All those legends as well. I definitely want to be one of those legends and I want to be up there and have my name so the next generation can see what I have achieved.

“I know everyone else wants to be doing the same. That is why it is so good to be in this team because everyone wants to be the best.”

Latrell Mitchell should be a Kangaroos veteran by now, but because of Covid he’s played just five games so far in his career. Picture: Getty Images.

Mitchell has played five Tests, one less than James Tedesco. By now, both should be easily in double figures.

Covid-19 cost them three years of international football and it is time they can never get back. The only thing they can do is make the most of the present.

That means enjoying every moment in a green and gold jersey. Not just on game day, but when they get time off. That’s exactly what the Kangaroos have been doing.

The players went to Scotland earlier this week and immersed themselves in the culture. They played golf and toured castles.

No doubt, they enjoyed the odd pint. Even those who hesitated over touring are glad they came. As an outsider looking in, they appear to be a happy camp.

One of the happiest this columnist can remember. They genuinely enjoy each other’s company, no doubt in part because they are relishing being in Australian camp again after a long wait.

Much of the credit for that goes to coach Mal Meninga, whose standing in the game means he commands immense respect from the playing group and the wider public.

Latrell Mitchell has his eyes on joining the Kangaroos greats on the Australian honour boards, and if he stays injury free he still has time to end up on there. Picture: Getty Images.

Meninga is among the names on the wall that Mitchell is attempting to emulate, having played 46 Tests and toured with the Kangaroos on four occasions. He is a living legend in the north of England, where he won over some of the game’s most demanding supporters during a stint at St Helens, scoring 38 tries in 31 games.

“He walks down the street and everyone wants to get a photo with him,” Mitchell said.

“When he walks in you listen, you know he’s there. He is very enjoyable to be around. We don’t call it team meetings any more – we call it team chats.

“He loves a talk and a yarn about how people are feeling. We are all away from home and all missing family but it is great to have those conversations together all as one.

“Anything I have on my chest I can say to him and the same for him.”

Meninga has warned Mitchell to be prepared to play fullback this weekend. At some point, Tedesco will be given a rest and Mitchell will slot into his preferred position.

It will only be temporary and Mitchell is happy with that. It doesn’t matter where he plays, as long as he is here.

Mal Meninga is one of the people Latrell Mitchell wants to emulate. Picture: Getty Images.

There was a point when he was among the players who was vacillating over making himself available for the tour.

Had he sat it out, it would have been a crying shame. Mitchell has the potential to be on the wall but it means avoiding injury, making himself available, and working his away up the list.

He is coming to the end of a year which may be remembered as the defining 12 months of his career. He has become a statesman-like figure in the game, comfortable enough in his own skin to have a voice and use it to make positive change.

The jeering that was tipped to come from the English public has never eventuated. Mitchell may have already won them over. For those who haven’t been taken in by Mitchell’s magic, there is still time.

There are four more Tests left on this tour and you get the feeling Mitchell would be happy to play in every one of them. Every appearance takes him one game closer to getting himself higher up the honour roll.

“Everyone wants to be playing footy,” Mitchell said.

“You want to be there to help your mates out and show the coaches that when you put that jersey on, you are willing to do what it takes.

“I know for myself I don’t want to be not playing, I want to be playing for our country and be proud of that.”

Originally published as Rugby League World Cup: Australia vs Italy, Azzurri’s horror week, Latrell Mitchell’s Kangaroos dream