Cooper Cronk has declared Panthers star Nathan Cleary will win the battle to become the Kangaroos halfback for the World Cup knockout stages.
Cleary and Sea Eagles veteran Daly Cherry-Evans have been fighting it out in Australia’s opening two games and both will play against Italy in their final group game on Sunday.
Mal Meninga named his side in alphabetical order but Cronk – Australia’s halfback at the last World Cup – believes the Kangaroos coach has shown his hand.
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“Mal likes to give everyone two games before the quarterfinals,” Cronk said.
“I think what will happen is Cleary will be halfback and Cherry-Evans will be five-eighth.
“As we saw in the vision of training Cleary was on the right-hand side of the field, which means he is right-side dominant and that is his preferred position.
“So Cherry-Evans really needs to stand up and have a big game because Munster will be the five-eighth and Tedesco the fullback.
“I think Mal knows his team and he knows what he wants to stick with, but he is giving guys an opportunity.”
“But as we saw I have no doubt that Cleary will be the halfback and Cherry-Evans will be five-eighth because they are both right-side players.
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“If you are going to move Cherry-Evans to the left that is his non-preferred side, so that gives you an indication.”
Braith Anasta believes the Kangaroos should win the World Cup with either halfback playing and said only a lack of combinations can bring them unstuck.
“That is obviously Mal’s style,” Anasta said.
“That’s how he does it because not every coach would do that. Other coaches may want to work on those combinations heading into the finals.
“That is probably the only little bit of the unknown. They are a star-studded team. They are the best team in the world and they are flying.
“They are favourites no matter who they put on the field in any position.
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“But they have still started both games a little bit clunky. They killed Scotland, but they did start the first five or 10 minutes a bit clunky because they have got new combinations in the majority of positions and they will still do that this week.
“They will get away with it this week and next week against Lebanon. But will that hurt them when it matters the most?”
However, Greg Alexander disagreed and said the group was spending enough time on the training paddock to build their chemistry.
“I don’t think so,” Alexander said.
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“I think there is enough time and I think the time they spend on the field training will certainly play a big part in helping them if there is any doubt around what they are doing in terms of their combinations.
“I think training will help them a lot and if they have still got the quarterfinal where they will play Lebanon, Mal has still got that game up his sleeve even though it is a knockout game.
“That will be the game where he picks his best 17 because they play the final a week early.
“They play New Zealand in the semi-final not the final, so they will need to be ready. It will be their best team against Lebanon in the quarterfinals.”
Australia are expected to face Lebanon in the quarterfinals and then New Zealand for a spot in the final.
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