Pressure on Roos: Moses
MITCHELL Moses says all the pressure is on the Kangaroos as Lebanon chase one of the biggest upsets in rugby league history in Leeds on Saturday morning (AEDT).
Moses is the biggest name in a Cedars outfit that will head into the quarterfinals of the World Cup as massive underdogs, their captain insisting anything is possible as the minnows take on the might of Australia.
“We are going to go there and try to do a job on them,” Moses said. “Like I said, our boys are going to love it. They are going to take up the challenge. Hopefully we can come through and make an upset.
“It will be outstanding. Some of these boys look up to some of the players we are versing. They are going to love it, they are going to get a lot out of it. I am excited for them. We have played some pretty good footy for the first three rounds. It will be a big challenge but the boys are pumped and ready.
“We have some part-timers on our team and they are players on a lot of money, big contracts. All the pressure is on them I guess.
“We are going to go out there and do a job and see what we can do.”
Lebanon have been one of the stories of the World Cup under the captaincy of Moses and the coaching of Michael Cheika, who has spent the week dividing his time between London and Leeds as he prepares to take charge of Lebanon and the Argentinian rugby union team in the space of 48 hours this weekend.
Moses will be crucial if the Cedars are to conjure an upset. Only weeks after a devastating grand final loss, Moses will renew acquaintances with Penrith and Australian half Nathan Cleary.
Their greatest weapon may be Cheika, who has shown his coaching pedigree through the opening rounds of the tournament.
His ability to navigate dual coaching roles this week has been one of the intriguing subplots to the game. Cheika spent Monday and Wednesday – Lebanon’s two days off – focusing on his work with Argentina.
The rest of the time he was focused on coming up with a plan for David to beat Goliath. Lebanon players have lauded his work during this tournament and Moses joined the chorus when asked what made him such a special coach.
“I think how much passion he speaks with and how he has got us up for every game,” Moses said. “He will be the first one to tell you he is learning on the run. You always hear about all the teams he has coached and how he has had some big upsets in his coaching career.
“I am loving learning under him.”
AUSTRALIA V LEBANON SATURDAY 5.30AM (AEST)