Papalii hurt by Roos snub
Temara locks in start
JOSH Papalii admits being hurt by his Kangaroos omission for the World Cup but is focused on helping Samoa chalk up their first tournament win against Australia in the quarter-finals tomorrow.
A year after pulling on the green and gold, Papalii will line up against the team as Samoa chase an upset win in Darwin.
Papalii was selected for the Kangaroos’ mid-year Test win over New Zealand but was a late withdrawal after he was convicted of drink-driving.
“It’s got to hurt when you’ve been in a team for so long (and not) getting picked,” he said of Australian coach Mal Meninga’s decision not to pick him for the World Cup.
“Then again my form wasn’t the best. I understand how that plays (out).
“He is the coach. He selected his team, who he thought could win the World Cup.”
Meninga selected Papalii for the Prime Minister’s XIII game last month but he missed the match because of the death of his grandfather. BURLEIGH’S Zahara Temara has been named to start at lock in Australia’s opening match of the women’s Rugby League World Cup against the Cook Islands today.
Temara, who made her debut for the Jillaroos against New Zealand at five-eighth this year, is locked in a battle for Australia’s World Cup utility spot with Maddie Studdon, with Ali Brigginshaw and Caitlin Moran to be the first-choice halves pairing.
Studdon has been named on the bench for today’s clash, with Temara – the Burleigh’s only World Cup representative – to start as a ball-playing lock.
“I do feel a part of this team but I still feel really nervous and I still feel new,” she said.