Complacency is the Kangaroos’ biggest World Cup concern

BY JOHN DAVIDSON

It was a thrilling World Cup final, an absorbing but low-scoring contest that saw Australia edge England at Suncorp Stadium in 2017. The Kangaroos had won the world crown again but been properly pushed right to the brink.

After that, Mal Meninga and Cameron Smith crowed that international rugby league was back in a big way, and so were the Poms.

But since then the green and gold have played just four matches in five years, nothing since 2019. Covid-affected yes, but lethargy and complacency too. Twice against the Kiwis, twice against Tonga, for the record of two wins out of four games.

Hardly an inspiring set of results.

Some thought post-2017 World Cup that Australia would not be as strong once generational players Smith, Cronk and Slater had retired. The results since could suggest that.

Allied to that has been the rise of Tonga as a ‘fourth power’ in international league. History-making defeats over NZ, Australia and Great Britain in the space of three years have established the Mate Ma’a as a geniune threat.

But anyone who watched State of Origin this past six weeks saw the fast, furious and unbelievable blend of skill, intensity and physicality on show, would be foolish to think that the Kangaroos will be weak.

Some have been waiting patiently for the Kangaroos’ to drop off since 1982 when a stream of great players hang up their boots.

Meninga will have the pick of Queensland and NSW, the best of those two Origin teams. With Tedesco, Munster, DCE, Carrigan, Grant, Ponga, Gagai, Cleary, Murray, Yeo and the rest to choose from, not to mention the likes of Latrell Mitchell available, it’s an impressive arsenal of talent at his disposal. Even with the likes of Tom Trbojevic and Ryan Papenhyzen out injured, no other country in the world can amass such a talented squad on paper.

However, World Cups are not won on paper.

And as the recent All Blacks series against Ireland in the Shakey Isles has shown, you cannot rest on your laurels or expect your dominance just to continue when you’re at the top. You have to evolve with the game and keep working hard. More often than not, work rate and togetherness will win out over talent. It’s not just about individual brilliance, but about putting the team first.

It’s an adage that has served the Maroons well over the Blues since Origin started. And it’s one that Meninga lives and breathes.

Make no mistake, Tonga should be better at this year’s World than they were in 2017. They have a deeper roster at their disposal and more resources. They have a bigger pool of players to select from. Unfortunately for them, they won’t have passionate and atmospheric ‘home fans’ to cheer them on. 

How big an impact that is remains to be seen. All their seismic wins have come on New Zealand soil so far, which have seemed like home games.

The Kiwis will be better at this World Cup than in 2017 too. Five years ago Jason Taumaolo and co’s defection had them in disarray. David Kidwell could not control the team. They were a rabble.

But Michael Magure has got them firing again and they have a better, higher-quality spine now in Dylan Brown, Jahrome Hughes, Joey Manu and Brandon Smith. Their forward pack is tremendous and they impressively put Tonga to the sword a few weeks ago. Make no mistake, they are real contenders for this World Cup.

England are no better off this time round, sadly, but arguably worse. In 2017 they had Sean O’Loughlin, Sam Burgess, James Graham and James Roby to rely on, as well as Wayne Bennett. All world-class stars gone, though an aged Roby may still turn out.

All of those are irreplaceable. Throw in injuries to Josh Hodgson and Lewis Dodd, and this tournament could be worrying for the hosts. Samoa in the opener lay waiting in ambush.

Australia will field a XIII of something like this (or a derivative) – Tedesco, Gagai, Holmes Mitchell, Addo-Carr, Munster, DCE, Carrigan, Grant, Trbojevic, Murray, Capewell, Yeo. That is some team.

If they play to their potential, and gel, then they will be near impossible to beat.

Of course, upsets happen. Look at the 2008 Wotld Cup final. Sometimes the bounce of the ball, an intercept, an ankle tap or one ref’s call can mean the difference between winning or losing.

At that elite level, margins are tiny.

The Kangaroos surely have a target on their backs. And a World Cup win for Tonga, England, Samoa, NZ, anyone who isn’t Australia, would be good for the sport. After pulling out of the World Cup and forcing a postponement last year, they won’t have much support in the UK either.

Considering the players they have, the weight of history behind them (Australia has won 11 of the 14 World Cups since they started in 1954) though, they remain the team to topple.

Complacency is their biggest issue.

Not playing a competitive match before the tournament is an odd one. Yes it allows the players a rest, but surely one warm-up game would help build combinations and chemistry.

Not having their UK base set-up yet already is strange. Meninga was in the UK recently and told reporters he was still scouting where his team will be based during the World Cup. Surely their preparations should be well in hand by now.

Meninga and his players cannot take the opposition lightly. They cannot think that another World Cup will be a cakewalk.

Considering ‘big Mal’s’ pedigree, and that of his players, that is unlikely. History, and a long legacy of past greatness, follows. Will that help them at the final whistle, or hinder them? 

As famed basketball coach Pat Riley once said: “A champion needs a motivation above and beyond winning.”

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