From the big halfback decision to which nation will be Australia’s biggest challenge, there’s several question marks still hovering over the Kangaroos.
Daly Cherry-Evans gets first shot at halfback — but the race is still wide open — and will Mal Meninga’s decision to rest several stars in the opening game open the door for others to nail down their spot in the 17?
Here are the biggest Kangaroos questions ahead of the Rugby League World Cup.
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WHO WINS THE HALFBACK BATTLE?
It’s the biggest question leading into the World Cup — and we won’t get the answer until Australia’s second pool match. Meninga has opted to rest his players that featured in the grand final, meaning Nathan Cleary ($1.3m a season) will watch on as Daly Cherry-Evans ($1.2m a season) get first shot in the Kangaroos’ opener against Fiji. Meninga is spoiled for choice when it comes to halfbacks. He has the incumbent in Cherry-Evans, arguably the best in the game in Cleary and then Hunt, who is in career-best form — however the latter will be used primarily at hooker. If we take State of Origin into account, Cherry-Evans reigns supreme given Queensland won this year’s series, but many are tipping Cleary will get the nod in the big games after steering the Panthers to back-to-back premierships. The fact that Cherry-Evans — skipper of Manly and Queensland — was not appointed captain or vice-captain is also a telling sign that he won’t be starting when everyone is available.
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WILL COOK SNUB PAY OFF?
Meninga said several times in the lead-up to selecting his squad that incumbency will come into play. But that wasn’t the case for the incumbent hooker, Damien Cook, who has only been named as a standby player. Meninga has instead gone for Ben Hunt and Harry Grant and will follow Queensland’s blueprint of using both in the 17. Hunt will start at hooker for Australia’s first game and Grant will come off the bench — just as they did for Queensland — and while Hunt is a halfback first and foremost, his efforts at dummy half for the Maroons earnt him the honour of starting for Australia.
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The 32-year-old had a near-perfect performance in Origin III, coming up with a one-on-one steal, kicking a 40/20 and charging down a Nathan Cleary kick to run 60 metres and score the series-sealing try. He also spent time at lock when Grant came onto the field. If Origin told us anything it’s that this Hunt-Grant selection will work a treat for Australia — and Cook’s time in the Kangaroos squad could be up.
WILL A REST COME BACK TO BITE GRAND FINAL STARS?
Penrith’s Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo and Liam Martin as well as Parramatta’s Reagan Campbell-Gillard will sit out of the Kangaroos’ first game. The grand final quartet have earnt a rest, but could it cost some of them a spot in the 17? Cherry-Evans will get first shot at halfback, Cameron Murray will play his preferred position of lock, Angus Crichton and Jeremiah Nanai will make their Kangaroos debut in the second row, while Jake Trbojevic, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Reuben Cotter and Patrick Carrigan make up the pack. If some of, or all of these players produce a game for the ages, will that make Meninga rethink some of his plans. It’s expected that Murray will shift to an edge regardless to make room for Yeo, but a blinder from Nanai or Crichton could see Martin not even come into the mix to fill the other spot in the back row. It’s a similar situation for Campbell-Gillard who will now be a beat behind the other props in the squad.
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HOW WILL JACK WIGHTON AND MATT BURTON BE USED?
The duo are similar in that they play five-eighth at club level but have represented NSW in the centres. Wighton’s versatility will be on show in Australia’s clash with Fiji with the Raiders star named on the bench. But Burton wasn’t so lucky, instead having to settle for 18th man duties. There were some murmurs that Wighton may have been played in the centres after impressing for NSW in that position in Origin I, but Meninga has opted to use Valentine Holmes there with Murray Taulagi on the wing. It means Wighton and Burton look likely to just be used as utilities or back-up should five-eighth Cameron Munster, or a centre, get injured.
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WHICH NATION WILL BE AUS’ BIGGEST CHALLENGE?
Without a doubt it’s New Zealand, who currently hold the No.1 world ranking. The Kiwis boast one of the best squads and destroyed Super League grand finalists Leeds 74-0 in a ruthless warm-up match. Coach Michael Maguire has six grand finalists in his squad with Penrith’s James Fisher-Harris, Moses Leota, Scott Sorensen and Parramatta’s Dylan Brown, Isaiah Papali’i and Marata Niukore. There’s no shortage of experience either with veterans Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Kenny Bromwich and brother Jesse Bromwich all set to play in their final World Cup. Then there’s the star-studded spine with Dylan Brown, who is coming off his career-best season, and the Storm’s steady halfback Jahrome Hughes, combining. Throw in the flair of Joey Manu at fullback and the tenacity of Brandon Smith at hooker and New Zealand have what it takes to win the tournament.
WHO IS THE KANGAROOS’ MOST IMPORTANT PLAYER?
It’s going to be whoever nails down the halfback role. Of course the skipper James Tedesco at fullback will play a huge role for Australia but when it comes to going up against New Zealand, the halfback will have to steer the ship to perfection and have their kicking game on point. We’re tipping Nathan Cleary to edge Daly Cherry-Evans for that role in the sudden-death games and although he couldn’t deliver on the Origin stage this year, he’s a proven winner at club level and has taken the best halfback mantle. Cleary’s kicking game and all-round skill could win it for the Kangaroos — if he nails it when it matters most.
