Meninga wary of NZ threat at Rugby League World Cup

October 3, 2022 4:38 pm.by Wayne Heming

Australia will send a 24-man Rugby League World Cup squad to the United Kingdom this week which does not include 2022’s Dally M medallist Nicho Hynes or Clive Churchill Medal winner Dylan Edwards.

But Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga believes the squad, which includes 13 debutants, has the balance and flexibility to get the job done.

Given the length of the tour, Meninga said it was imperative to get the mix right and every player selected would play at some stage.

James Tedesco was named captain with Cameron Murray and Isaah Yeo as vice-captains.

Australia, who enter the World Cup qualifying rounds with their lowest-ever ranking of No.4 in the world behind New Zealand, open their campaign against Fiji on October 15.

Their pool also includes games against Scotland and Italy.

All going to plan they will clash with New Zealand, who have added six players from Sunday’s NRL grand final to their powerful squad, in the semi-final.

READ: Panthers reign supreme after dominant grand final win

The Kangaroos squad was finalised after a meeting on Monday morning in Sydney between Meninga and Australian selectors Darren Lockyer and Laurie Daley, with both Edwards and Hynes generating considerable debate.

In the end, both players missed out because Edwards was viewed as more of a specialist fullback, a position that Australia have well covered with Tedesco, Latrell Mitchell, Cameron Munster, and even Valentine Holmes as back-up.

Hynes also faced opposition in the halves with Nathan Cleary, Daly Cherry-Evans, Munster, and also Ben Hunt all able to interchange.

Meninga has chosen 11 backs and 13 forwards in his squad.

“Nicho and Dylan had terrific seasons but it came down to getting the balance of the squad right in the end,” said Meninga.

“The players may not play in the specialist positions they play for their clubs, so it was important to pick versatile players who can play a number of different positions.

“It’s important they can play left side or right side, in the middle or on an edge, so we’ve got no concerns when we pick our team the players will be able to get the job done.”

Meninga said it was very difficult selecting only 24 players for his squad.

“There will be players who miss out who definitely deserve to be there or are good enough to be there,” he said.

“But when you look at the scenarios you might encounter we believe we’ve got the balance right and we’ve picked the right players.”

Because of the COVID pandemic, rugby league’s international program has been off the scene for the last three years.

“This is why it is so very important that this rugby league World Cup is a huge success, and we think it will be,” Meninga said.

He added that New Zealand would be Australia’s biggest threat.

“If we go all the way, we will have to beat New Zealand in the semis,” he said.

“They’re ranked first in the world and, for whatever reason, we are ranked fourth, so everything we do will be based around playing our best against the Kiwis.”

The draw has Samoa playing England in the first round of the tournament, which sets up the possibility the Brits could miss the semis.

“If Samoa wins, England may struggle, and all of a sudden you’ve got Samoa playing Tonga for a place in the final, which would extraordinary,” Meninga said.

The Kiwis today added James Fisher-Harris, Moses Leota, and Scott Sorensen from Penrith’s premiership-winning side along with beaten Eels Dylan Brown, Isaiah Papali’i, and Marata Niukore.

“The Kiwi squad is first class with guys like Joey Manu, Dylan Brown, Brandon Smith, and then you add Joseph Tapine, Fisher-Harris, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, and big Nelson Asofa-Solomona,” Meninga said.

“They’ve got an awesome side.”