Rugby League World Cup: Nathan Cleary’s goalkicking woes a worry for Kangaroos
Nathan Cleary has won the battle to play halfback for the Kangaroos, but he’s at danger of losing the goalkicking job as he struggles to adjust to UK conditions.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Nathan Cleary is suffering from a crisis of goal kicking confidence, apparently brought on by the lighter and smaller balls used in England, as the Kangaroos prepare for the semi-finals of the World Cup.
Cleary has missed nine shots at goal over the three games he has played at the tournament and concedes he may be forced to hand over the goal kicking duties unless he can reset his radar.
The concern for Cleary is that several of those attempts haven’t even made the distance, coach Mal Meninga laying the blame for his halfback’s wayward boot on the balls being used at the tournament.
Cleary is reluctant to hand over the duties but the Kangaroos have options, most notably North Queensland’s Valentine Holmes. Holmes kicked in the opening game of the World Cup and kicked seven from seven.
“I need to watch it back and work it out,” Cleary said.
“I think there are little things I can adjust. We will do it this week. I can’t blame the balls. It is pretty cold but it is not dissimilar to Penrith.
“It was just – excuse my French – shit kicking. I will work hard on it and try to get better. If it keeps going that way, we have pretty good goal kickers in the team as well.”
Meninga said he was happy for the players to decide who should own the goal kicking.
“I’ll let the players sort that out,” Meninga said.
“They’re the confident ones. They’re the ones hitting them at training. Nathan probably over practices at times doesn’t he?
“We’re leaving him behind now he practises that bloody long. We want to get back for lunch. The balls are different over here.
“He’s working his butt off to get it right. They’re a bit lighter. They’re a bit smaller. Just a fraction smaller and a fraction lighter than what we have in Australia.”
Cleary is confident he can turn it around. Having won the battle for the Kangaroos’ halfback spot, he produced a solid performance in the win over Lebanon but walked away unhappy, the perfectionist in him frustrated with his goal kicking.
“Yeah, you always go through slumps goal kicking,” Cleary said.
“It is just another one to work your way through. I suppose it is just going to be at training this week, I am going to make some slight adjustments and if it works, then I will feel confident to kick, If I am not striking them too well, then as I said there are great goal kickers in the team.”
Cleary also praised Daly Cherry-Evans for his response this week after being told that Cleary had beaten him to the halfback job.
Cherry-Evans played off the interchange bench against Lebanon and didn’t let anyone down.
“It was pretty crazy,” Cleary said.
“Obviously very surreal and very grateful for that opportunity. Daly was such a man about it as well – he came up to me straight away and said anything you need I will help you out.
“I was grateful for that. He is such a legend. I was glad he got to play tonight as well.”
ADDO-CARR EYES RECORD AS KANGAROOS THRASH LEBANON
Josh Addo-Carr continued his try-scoring rampage at the World Cup on Saturday morning (AEDT) as he moved within touching distance of the tournament record and the Kangaroos booked their place in the semi-finals by eviscerating outclassed Lebanon in Huddersfield.
Addo-Carr has been scoring tries for fun at the tournament and he was at his predatory best at John Smith Stadium as the Australians ran riot against their outclassed opposition, winning 48-4.
Everything went to plan for coach Mal Meninga – he was even able to give captain James Tedesco a rest at halftime after the skipper picked up a corked thigh.
The only other concern for Meninga would be the goal kicking of Nathan Cleary, who missed three of his first four attempts at goal.
He picked up the slack after that as the Kangaroos took their try-scoring tally beyond 40 at this World Cup. They have only conceded four.
The Cedars were rank outsiders against the Kangaroos and they were never in the contest. Australia scored their opening first try in the fifth minute and it was an onslaught after that.
Addo-Carr had a hat-trick by halftime. He finished with five, taking his tally for the tournament to 11 tries – teammate Valentine Holmes owns the World Cup record of 12 tries in the tournament, which he set in 2017.
The Kangaroos played the pool games in second gear but they stepped it up against Lebanon and the Cedars were out of their depth.
THE FREAKY MAN
Josh Addo-Carr described himself as a freaky man as he went on a try-scoring rampage against Italy a week ago. Against Lebanon, the freak show was on again.
The Canterbury winger now has 11 tries in three games at this World Cup, making a mockery of suggestions his State of Origin absence would cost him at the national selection table.
Addo-Carr was too hot for the Cedars to handle. After he scored his second try, he struck the lightning bolt pose made famous by Jamaican sprint star Usain Bolt.
His third try came after a smart piece of work from Cameron Munster, who stripped the ball from Jacob Kiraz.
His fourth arrived only minutes into the second half after a shocking error from Lebanon. It was a clinic from the Bulldogs flyer.
The best of the lot arrived midway through the second half when Valentine Holmes kept the ball alive and Harry Grant scooted through a gap before finding Cameron Munster.
Munster put through a perfectly-weighted kick for Addo-Carr, who celebrated his fifth try with 20 minute remaining in the match.
Addo-Carr’s performance came in the same week that he put his hand up to captain Canterbury following the retirement of Josh Jackson.
He certainly can’t do any more on the field.
THE REMATCH
Barely a month had passed since Cleary got one over Mitchell Moses as Penrith beat Parramatta to win the NRL premiership.
Having claimed the Kangaroos’ halfback job in a shootout over Daly Cherry-Evans, Cleary’s next job was to repeat his grand final success against Moses.
He didn’t disappoint. Cleary’s first real involvement of the game came in the second minute when his kick sailed high and wide over the sideline.
He settled into the game after that, recording a try assist of his own in the first half and controlling proceedings.
Moses did his best to put up a fight and it was his kick that led to Lebanon’s lone try of the match to Josh Mansour.
Yet he and Lebanon were no match for the Kangaroos. The only real blemish on Cleary’s night was his goal kicking.
The Penrith star is one of the game’s sharpshooters but his radar has been off over the past fortnight. He kicked nine of 12 against Italy last week and missed another three shots at goal against Lebanon.
RESTING TEDDY
Tedesco carried a knee problem into the game against Lebanon and he picked up a corked thigh for his trouble, prompting Meninga to take him from the action at halftime.
Tedesco had been a weapon in the opening half, running for nearly 210 metres, busting three tackles and creating a try for Addo-Carr.
He didn’t look as though he needed a rest but Meninga gave him one anyway, leaving the captain to watch the second half from the sideline with an ice pack on his thigh.
His value to the Kangaroos was highlighted when Lebanon scored 12 minutes into the second half.
Cameron Munster shifted to fullback to cover for Tedesco and he spilt his lollies when Mitchell Moses put through a stab kick, the Storm star taking an air swing and allowing Josh Mansour to capitalise on the error.
Originally published as Rugby League World Cup: Nathan Cleary’s goalkicking woes a worry for Kangaroos
Bledis-low! League minnows embarrass rugby in TV disaster
The NRL’s expansion hopes have received a massive boost with a second-tier Test match blowing rugby union’s crown jewel, the Bledisloe Cup, out of the water in shock television ratings figures.
No hard feelings for grand final rivals
Vibes are high in Kangaroos camp with players going from grand final rivals to good mates ahead of this week’s clash with the Kiwis.