No Cleary answer to Mal’s call
KANGAROOS coach Mal Meninga is facing one of the most agonising decisions of his national career after Daly Cherry-Evans and Nathan Cleary shared the honours in Australia’s 66-6 thrashing of Italy on Sunday.
Meninga was no doubt hoping for some clarity out of the game, and even though Australia belted their opponents, there was barely a struck match between Cleary and Cherry-Evans.
They each had three try assists as the Kangaroos ran out convincing winners at Totally Wicked Stadium at St Helens.
Meninga must decide who will partner Cameron Munster next weekend, almost certainly against a Lebanon side led by Parramatta halfback Mitchell Moses.
“I thought they worked together really well – they shared the workload and the kicking game,” he said.
Meninga opted for Cleary at halfback and CherryEvans at five-eighth against Italy but the two sometimes played together and sometimes marshalled opposite sides of the field.
Cherry-Evans was the more influential figure early before Cleary later started to control the tempo.
Cleary is a warm favourite among the experts to play halfback at the pointy end of the tournament thanks to his heroics with Penrith, but Meninga is a man who values loyalty above all else, and Cherry-Evans has been there and done it for him before.
It will all go in the melting pot this week as Meninga prepares to deliver the bad news to one of them.
Meninga said the decision would be influenced by captain James Tedesco, who was given the opportunity to sit out Australia’s final pool game but was desperate to pull on an Australia jersey against the side he represented at two World Cups.
He wasn’t in the mood to do his old team any favours and he produced a typical Tedesco performance. He was everywhere and in everything, scoring one try and running for more than 160m before he was eventually dragged from the field by Meninga after 52 minutes.
The Kangaroos also face a nervous wait this week after Isaah Yeo was placed on report for a crusher tackle in the second half.
South Sydney outside back Campbell Graham had another strong game after scoring three tries a week ago against Scotland, helping himself to a double at Totally Wicked stadium.
He also ran for more than 100m and, along with Latrell Mitchell, was the pick of the outside backs.
Prop Reagan CampbellGillard suffered a corked thigh and faces a race against time to prove his fitness for the quarters.