Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga’s big halfback call is now no clearer after both Daly Cherry-Evans and Nathan Cleary performed.
James Tedesco’s career has come full circle while Campbell Graham has thrown a spanner in the works, stamping his claim for the wing spot.
Read on for the key talking points from Australia’s World Cup win over Italy!
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DCE AND CLEARY’S BIG DUEL
Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga handed both Nathan Cleary and Daly Cherry-Evans one last chance to stake their claim for the halfback spot but the final call is still up in the air.
Cherry-Evans was impressive playing at five-eighth, recording three try assists, but Cleary matched him with three of his own.
The Sea Eagles veteran conceded post-match it could be his last game for the Australian side but is desperate to feature in the finals series.
“Don’t get me wrong I want to be in the final 17 but those decisions are out of my hands, I am really proud of the two games I got for Australia,” Cherry-Evans said.
“I am hoping that’s not the last one but if it is we will just have to see.”
Fox League’s Michael Ennis said the decision is currently a flip of a coin, but picked Cleary as his preferred option.
“He has had over a decade of service, this is his 17th cap, but just because of the rise of Nathan Cleary, all of a sudden that position is well and truly under threat,” Fox League’s Yvonne Sampson said.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Mal (Meninga) picks Daly Cherry-Evans and I wouldn’t be surprised if he takes Nathan,” Ennis said.
“They were both great tonight, they have both been great throughout this tournament, but I have said this publicly, I feel personally Nathan deserves the opportunity, he has been the elite halfback for the last two seasons.
“But Daly showed tonight just how good he is too, if Daly doesn’t get the halfback position, it isn’t that he isn’t up to it, it is just Nathan is playing so well.
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TEDESCO’S FULL CIRCLE MOMENT
James Tedesco’s rugby league career has come full circle, scoring against Italy at a World Cup after playing for the Azzurri in the 2013 and 2017 tournament.
Tedesco’s family hails from Calabria, a region in southern Italy, and Fox League’s Greg Alexander was stunned the gun fullback was yet to feature for Australia in a World Cup prior to this tournament.
“I was stunned when looking at World Cup players that Teddy was playing for Italy back in 2017, what an amazing five years it has been for him,” Alexander said.
“Just seeing Teddy making himself available for every game, he is proud to be their captain, but seeing where it all started for him at the international level, what a ride,” Ennis said.
The Roosters star skipped off his left foot, throwing a trademark dummy to score against his former side in the 18th minute.
Fox League’s Andrew Voss also revealed how his time with the Italian side showed Tedesco how to become a true professional, and one man in particular had a huge influence on his career – Anthony Minichiello.
“Everyone has a story, you are talking mega star here, his story, he did his knee in his very first game of first grade,” Voss said.
“The end of the next year, he goes to the World Cup with Italy and learns under a champion at the time, Anthony Minichiello, who was captain of Italy.
“Tedesco said he got so much out of that and saw what it took to become an absolute professional playing at a World Cup and now Tedesco is here as the master and players are learning off him.”
Tedesco finished the night with 166 running metres, seven tackle breaks, a try and a try assist in a comprehensive performance.
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GRAHAM STAMPING HIS CLAIM
Campbell Graham has handed Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga a huge selection headache after delivering on the wing once again.
The 23-year-old, who is naturally a centre, bagged a hat-trick, got six tackle busts, two linebreaks and ran for 144 metres in Australia’s demolition job on Scotland.
Then against Italy Graham recorded 132 running metres, two tries, five tackle breaks and two line breaks.
While Fox League’s Andrew Voss conceded Josh Addo-Carr and Murray Taulagi could be Meninga’s first choice wingers, Graham has staked his claim.
“Campbell Graham, they haven’t picked a lot of wingers the Australians and the first choice you would think is Josh Addo-Carr and Taulagi,” Voss said.
“But Graham is staking a big claim, he is more than just a bloke who stands on the wing.
“He plays centre for his club side the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NRL, but he is giving Mal Meninga something to think about.”
Graham scored an impressive try against the Azzurri, soaring high from a goal line dropout, spinning past defenders to charge away for a four-pointer.
Then in the 67th minute Graham scored another four-pointer from a seemingly innocuous run, bursting through to defenders.
“He has no right to score that, it is an outrageous try,” the commentator said.
