Australia’s first two pool games gave Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga the opportunity to have a look at everyone and tweak his team to find the best combinations.
But with just one to go and the finals just around the corner, we’ll likely get a better idea of what Meninga’s first choice 17 is when Australia take on Italy this Saturday night (5.30am Sunday AEDT).
Meninga said before the tournament kicked off that only skipper and fullback James Tedesco was locked in — every other position was up for grabs.
Watch every match of the Rugby League World Cup LIVE & Exclusive to Fox Sports, on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
Cameron Munster has held onto the five-eighth role for the first two games and whether or not he’s rested this weekend, he will be there again come finals time.
Ben Hunt and Harry Grant are Meninga’s two hooking options. Both will be in the 17 but who starts is still mystery.
Then there’s several players in the mix for the outside backs, and forwards.
And Meninga is spoiled with a few versatile players too that can fill multiple positions. Raiders star Jack Wighton is one of those players and he recently told NRL.com that he’s happy to be a utility.
Sin bins galore in wild World Cup clash | 01:12
“I’m no position. I just play footy and I love it,” Wighton said.
“I have no real trademark position, I am just a footballer so whatever the team needs is what I will do.
“I don’t mind that utility type of role.
“It is a different role than I play all year, so it is a bit of a freshen up and I am always learning.”
Although every player has had a chance to audition for Meninga’s first choice 17, it’s worth noting those who played in Australia’s second pool game went up against a much weaker opposition in Scotland.
Here is a state of play of who is vying for what position ahead of Australia’s final pool game and the World Cup finals.
MORE NRL NEWS
‘SHAKING THEIR HEADS’: Bunker blunder stuns WC as ugly tackle ignites clash
WHISPERS: Knights push for Garrick’s release as Dogs snare Titans powerhouse
‘I WAS KEEN’: Sharks legend’s heartbreaking retirement, despite interest to play on
‘A LOT OF INTEREST’: Burton set to be next $1m man, Dogs face battle to keep star
WINGERS
Josh Addo-Carr has started — and been a standout — in both games. The speedy winger missed out on State of Origin selection this year but is a sure thing to play in the World Cup finals. In two games Addo-Carr has amassed six tries, a try assist, seven linebreaks, 13 tackle busts and 378 running metres. He also hasn’t missed a tackle.
Murray Taulagi got the first shot at the other wing spot but wasn’t anywhere near as damaging as Addo-Carr, finishing with 87 running metres and a tackle bust.
Taulagi was swapped out for Campbell Graham — a specialist centre — for the second game, who had a Kangaroos debut to remember. Graham bagged a hat-trick, got six tackle busts, two linebreaks and ran for 144 metres in Australia’s demolition job on Scotland.
There’s also Valentine Holmes, who played in the centres for the first game but dropped back to the bench for the second. Holmes has transitioned into one of the best centres in the game this year but has spent majority of his career on the wing — including 11 games for Australia.
Verdict: Josh Addo-Carr and Campbell Graham.
CENTRES
Latrell Mitchell joined Holmes in the centres for Australia’s first pool game with both contributing to the 42-8 win over Fiji in different ways. Mitchell scored a try, set up another, had four tackle busts and ran for 63 metres, while also making five tackles with zero misses. Holmes notched up 123 running metres, got an offload away and made 10 tackles with four misses. He came off the bench to replace Tedesco at fullback in the second game to allow the skipper to enjoy a well-deserved rest.
Versatile five-eighths Jack Wighton and Matt Burton slotted into the centres for the second game — as they did at different times for NSW this year — and carved up. Wighton, who played a bit of five-eighth off the bench in the first game, was instrumental in the centres against Scotland, scoring a double, setting up two more tries, getting two tackle busts, a linebreak, two linebreak assists, an offload and running for 88 metres, while also making eight tackles with zero misses. Burton scored, got a linebreak, a linebreak assist, and ran for 104 metres. He also kept the ball in play in a remarkable play to set up the final try of the game.
Verdict: Latrell Mitchell and Valentine Holmes. But Jack Wighton’s versatility is a good chance of landing him a spot on the bench.
PNG v Cook Islands: Match highlights | 03:00
HALFBACK
It’s been one of the biggest talking points in the lead up to and during the World Cup — Daly Cherry-Evans or Nathan Cleary? Meninga rested all the players that featured in the grand final for the first pool game, which meant Cherry-Evans got first shot at chief playmaker. The veteran halfback played an important role in the win, setting up two tries, and making 18 tackles with zero misses. But Cleary put the heat on him when he made his Kangaroos debut at halfback in the second game. The two-time premiership-winner scored a try, set up three more, got a linebreak, three linebreak assists, three tackle busts and an offload. After that performance, former Kangaroo Damien Cook, who was selected as a standby player for the World Cup, told Fox League that Cleary and Munster “are going into the quarter-finals.”
Foxsports.com.au understands though that both Cherry-Evans and Cleary will still feature in the final pool game. It’s unclear however whether both will play in the halves with Munster rested or if one will start on the bench.
Verdict: Nathan Cleary.
MORE NRL NEWS
TRANSFERS GRADED: Stars who made a mockery of critics… and the big four fails
‘BEST NO TRY EVER’: Tonga flyer’s stunning effort denied as ‘brave’ Wales go down
DREAM TEAM: Flanagan set to join Seibold’s Manly pending release as clause revealed
TRANSFER CENTRE: Panthers sign Broncos forward and former Bulldogs halfback
HOOKER
Meninga is following Queensland’s blueprint of having a one-two punch at hooker so we know both Ben Hunt and Harry Grant will be in the 17. Hunt started in the first game and was replaced by Grant six minutes before half time. Hunt returned to the field around the 60-minute mark to play lock and the pair saw out the rest of the game. Grant’s spark out of dummy half — a try, a try assist, two linebreaks, five tackle busts and 56 metres — earnt him the starting role for game two over Hunt, who only took one run for one metre against Fiji. The tables turned in the clash with Scotland though with Hunt coming off the bench but playing more of a starring role this time. He replaced Grant at dummy half seven minutes before half time before Grant returned around the 60-minute mark and the two finished the game on the field again. Hunt dominated with a try, two try assists, three tackle busts, a linebreak, a linebreak assist and two offloads, while Grant finished with 46 metres, a try assist, a tackle bust and also made 21 tackles with two misses. It seems the player that comes on after the initial sting has been taken out of the game is the one that finds more freedom to run amok.
Verdict: Ben Hunt to start, Harry Grant on the bench.
Tonga vs Wales: Full Match Highlights | 02:56
PROPS
Jake Trbojevic and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui started in the first pool game with the versatile Patrick Carrigan and Reuben Cotter on the bench. Carrigan was promoted to the starting pack for game two and was joined by Reagan Campbell-Gillard up front while Trbojevic was retained on the bench along with debutant Lindsay Collins. This is going to be one of the hardest selection calls Meninga will have to make given they are all quality props. Trbojevic only ran for 55 metres in the first game but did make 27 tackles with just one miss. He was a lot more dominant in the second game with ball in hand, running for 103 metres and is expected to be included in the 17. Carrigan — also expected to be in the 17 — got through a mountain of work in both games, finishing with 126 metres, a tackle bust and 19 tackles with zero misses in the first and 153 metres and 13 tackles with one miss in the second. Meninga is a big fan of Fa’asuamaleaui so it would be a surprise if he were to miss out and his performance against Fiji will put him in good stead. Campbell-Gillard also gave Meninga plenty to think about, finishing the Scotland win with 138 metres and 13 tackles with one miss. Cotter has had limited time to stake his claim for a spot in the final team given he suffered a head knock in the first game and was ruled out of the second. Cotter is expected to get another chance in the upcoming clash with Italy.
Verdict: Patrick Carrigan and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui to start and Jake Trbojevic on the bench.
Get all the latest NRL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!!
SECOND ROW
Angus Crichton started in the second row in both games but his spot could be under pressure. The Roosters star, who recently re-signed for another two years, scored against Fiji, got four tackle busts, three offloads, a linebreak and ran for 142 metres, while also making 26 tackles with zero misses in a clinical 80-minute performance. He scored against Scotland too but was a little quieter, running for just 50 metres and only making seven tackles with two misses. Young gun Jeremiah Nanai was relatively busy in the other starting spot against Fiji, also scoring a try, getting five tackle busts, a linebreak, two offloads and 70 metres while making 27 tackles with two misses. After being rested for the first game, Penrith’s Liam Martin relaced Nanai and punched out 80 minutes against Scotland, finishing with 107 running metres, two tackle busts, a linebreak, and offload and 16 tackles with one miss. But then there’s’ Cameron Murray — one of Australia’s two vice-captains — whose preferred position is lock but plays on an edge for NSW. Murray played lock in the first game and then sat out of the second. But given his leadership role, we’re expecting him to be in the 17.
Verdict: Angus Crichton and Cameron Murray.
LOCK
In one of the easiest selection calls Meninga has to make, Isaah Yeo has the lock role all but sewn up. Yeo was rested in Australia’s first game but got his chance in the second. The 27-year-old was solid scoring a try, running for 81 metres and making 15 tackles with zero misses. He is sharing the vice-captaincy with Murray and come finals is almost a certainty to start at lock. The other options Meninga may consider is of course Murray, as well as Patrick Carrigan or Reuben Cotter.
Verdict: Isaah Yeo.
