Joseph Manu’s star turn at fullback has given the Roosters a healthy dilemma in their spine for 2023.
Meanwhile, Jeremiah Nanai has been tipped to start in a full strength Kangaroos team and Samoa were shredded for their capitulation to England.
Read on for the World Cup talking points for Round 1.
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ROOSTERS DILEMMA AS MANU SHINES FOR KIWIS
The Roosters face a healthy dilemma with how to get Joseph Manu more involved after he starred at fullback for New Zealand in their 34-12 win over Lebanon in their World Cup opener.
Manu finished with 202 run metres from 21 runs to go with a whopping 12 tackle busts, three offloads, a linebreak, two linebreak assists, three try assists and a brilliant try in a man-of-the-match display.
The 26-year-old produced a freakish chip and chase to beat five defenders to score an early favourite for try of the tournament.
Manu’s comprehensive and clinical outing prompted talk the Roosters may need to look at how to get his hands on the ball more as they aim to return to premiership contention in 2023.
Roosters skipper James Tedesco is unlikely to lose the fullback role, but has said he is open to switching to five-eighth or even centre at the back end of his career to allow Manu and Joseph Suaalii to get a crack at fullback.
The Roosters have a logjam of halves and fullback options with Luke Keary signed until 2024 and Sam Walker until 2023, but he is expected to ink a lucrative extension.
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Fiji sing moving Noqu Masu hymn | 01:44
Manu and Tedesco are both signed until 2024, while Suaalii has a player option for 2024, which means most of their key playmakers come off contract at the same time.
All five players including Suaalii finished last season in fine form, but Manu is making an irresistible case to be moved closer to the action at either fullback or five-eighth.
However, that would likely mean shifting Tedesco to centre or five-eighth, with Luke Keary to switch to halfback and Walker to the bench, which would be a massive shake-up to the spine.
However, if Manu continues to dominate at the World Cup, the Roosters may have little choice but to get him more involved in attack next season if they want to push for a first premiership since 2019.
SAMOA SLAMMED AS INJURIES TAKE TOLL ON EMBARRASSED SQUAD
Samoa have been torched over their feeble performance in their 60-6 thrashing at the hands of England in their World Cup opener.
Samoa went into the game as favourites, but were blown off the park in a damning performance that has their chances of making the knockout stages on thin ice unless they improve dramatically.
Phil Rothfield blasted Samoa on Sky Sports Radio for their lack of fight in the demolition by England.
“That was a disgraceful result,” Rothfield said on Sky Sports’ The Big Sports Breakfast.
“You don’t like criticising any of the teams here, but there are a lot of expectations around that side when you look at the make-up of the team.
“They were just entitled to play much stronger. When you look at their front row with Josh Papalii and Junior Paulo. You look at Joseph Suaalii at fullback. You look at four members of Penrith’s Grand Final side in the backs.
“They were favourites and everyone has underestimated this English side, but they were just outstanding and Samoa were horrible.”
Rothfield believes Samoa could rue their decision not to accept an offer from the Johns brothers to coach the team at the World Cup for free.
“You immediately think about coach Matt Parish and Geoff Toovey who is helping out as an assistant coach,” Rothfield said.
“There was a lot of controversy because Matthew Johns and Andrew Johns had offered to coach the side for free and had some support form the players.
England v Samoa – Full Match Highlights | 02:45
“But to get beaten 60-6 in the first game of the tournament with the quality of players they have is just not good enough.
“It was really, really poor and a real disappointment for the tournament organisers, who were expecting to have a very competitive Samoa side.
“If they had competed like Lebanon it would have been acceptable, but they were dreadful.”
Adding to Samoa’s pain is a horror casualty ward, with Tyrone May (hip) out for the tournament and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (syndesmosis) likely to join him on the sidelines, while Braden Hamlin-Uele (calf) is also in doubt.
Laurie Daley believes Samoa could be in trouble, despite having two more pool games remaining to try and turn it around and finish second in their group.
“They have got to hit back and produce some good football because that will be the big talking point if they don’t,” Daley said.
“When you look at their side they shouldn’t have been beaten by 60 and I’m sure they will want to hit back and they need to because if they don’t they are in a lot of strife.”
Rothfield slammed the lack of dominance from Samoa’s star-studded pack, which was blown away by their England counterparts.
“Looking at the stats, the most metres by a forward was 65 metres, which was Paulo,” Rothfield said.
“That often points to a possession domination from the other side when the forwards aren’t making yards, but it wasn’t that bad. It was 55 per cent England and 45 per cent Samoa.
“I think they have got a lot of work to do and they have got to turn it around very quickly.”
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NANAI FAVOURITE TO START FOR KANGAROOS
Cowboys young gun Jeremiah Nanai has been tipped as the favourite to win a spot in the Kangaroos’ full strength back row for the World Cup knockout stages.
Nanai continued his brilliant try-scoring year with another on debut for Australia in their 42-8 win over Fiji after scoring 16 for the Cowboys, the most of any forward in the NRL in 2022.
The 19-year-old sensation is a massive point of difference and finished with 58 run metres, four tackle busts, an offload, a linebreak, a try and 20 tackles without a miss in his Kangaroos bow.
Nanai partnered Angus Crichton in the Kangaroos’ opener, who was also outstanding, with Cameron Murray at lock.
However, with Panthers skipper Isaah Yeo likely to come in at No.13, Phil Rothfield believes Nanai still deserves a starting spot.
“I thought Jeremiah Nanai was outstanding for Australia,” Rothfield said on Sky Sports’ The Big Sports Breakfast.
Australia v Fiji – Full Match Highlights | 02:44
“You look at the make-up of their pack and they will get serious when they play New Zealand in the semi-final.
“I would think Isaah Yeo will play lock forward and Cameron Murray will be on one side as a second-rower.
“But I think Nanai has got to be the front-runner to play on the other edge on what we saw in that first game.
“Mal Meninga has obviously got to look at form. There is other options like Crichton and Liam Martin.
“But I thought Nanai was sensational against Fiji.”
DOUEIHI IN HOT WATER AFTER SEND OFF FOR DISSENT
Lebanon five-eighth Adam could be in doubt for Lebanon’s next game after he was sent off for “foul and abusive language directed at referee Grant Atkins in his side’s World Cup opener.
Doueihi was sensationally sent off after an altercation with Atkins, which involved Lebanon trainer Robbie Farah in their 34-12 loss to New Zealand.
It is uncertain at this stage if Doueihi or Farah will face further sanction over the incident.
In the 59th minute of Lebanon’s clash with the Kiwis, Atkins marched Doueihi after he and Farah reportedly exchanged words with the referee.
Andrew Voss summed up the confusion surrounding the bizarre send-off in the commentary box.
“I think the trainer Robbie Farah has been sent off here,” Voss said. “Robbie Farah has been sent off by referee Atkins.
“Well this is interesting Adam Doueihi is going to the sideline. What has happened here?
“Doueihi has been sent off. Adam Doueihi has gone off the field, so there is some drama here for Lebanon and they are down a man now.
Doueihi sent off in mysterious fashion | 01:03
“It seemed like a very frustrated referee Grant Atkins there.
“Was it dissent? You can only imagine that he got both barrels from both player and trainer I’m not sure.”
Moments later after the Kiwis scored Voss confirmed the reason for the bizarre send off.
“Confirmation it was dissent from Adam Doueihi,” Voss said.
“I just wonder about the circumstances of it. It was short kick-off and play was just going to keep going, but Grant Atkins reacted.
“It must have been quite the gobful.”
Lebanon coach Michael Cheika admitted the send-off hurt his side’s chances of staying in the contest after a strong start against New Zealand.
“Losing a man, a player in his position, got us out of sorts,” Cheika said.
“We have the passion, but that’s not enough sometimes. We need to be able to deliver consistency.”
