Latrell warns rivals
Kangaroos intent on stopping Lebanon pull off upset
LATRELL Mitchell has issued a warning as the Kangaroos prepare for the sudden-death stage of the World Cup, insisting the Australian team has only just begun to scratch the surface of their potential.
Australia cruised through the pool games in England, dismissing Fiji, Scotland and Italy with a combined 192 points scored and only 14 conceded.
Things are about to get more difficult as they prepare for a Lebanon in the quarterfinals on Saturday morning (AEDT) that features NRL stars Adam Doueihi, Mitchell Moses and Josh Mansour.
They also have the wiles of coach Michael Cheika at their disposal as they look to pull off one of the biggest upsets in rugby league history.
The Kangaroos are intent on ensuring that doesn’t happen and Mitchell insists the knockout stage will bring out their very best.
Asked if they had more to offer, Mitchell replied: “Way more mate. It is a little taste. I don’t think we have dealt all the cards. … We haven’t shown our best footy yet. I would like to say we have the best in the world in our team – I really do believe that.”
Coach Mal Meninga will soon select his side, bringing an end to the guessing game over who will play alongside Cameron Munster in the halves.
Whoever gets the nod will need to maintain their form given the quality that will be breathing down their neck.
Halfback is one of several positions in the balance as Meninga chooses his preferred side for the knockout stage.
There is congestion in the front row, although Meninga’s headache may be eased if Reagan Campbell-gillard fails to overcome a corked thigh.
Aside from Campbell-gillard, Patrick Carrigan, Lindsay Collins, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Jake Trbojevic all have claims on a front-row berth. Reuben Cotter can’t be excluded either when it comes to Australian middle forwards.
On the edge, Angus Crichton appears a certain selection, while Cameron Murray is a good chance to be picked on the other side of the field. That leaves Jeremiah Nanai and Liam Martin to jostle for a place on the bench.
The other intriguing position is in the centres where Valentine Holmes and Jack Wighton are locked in a battle to play on the opposite side of the field to Mitchell.
Meninga’s decision will also have ramifications for the wing because if Wighton is selected in the centres, Holmes will play on the wing. If Holmes wins the centre spot, that brings South Sydney’s Campbell Graham into the equation.
Mitchell is certain to be selected but acknowledged that he needed to stay on his toes.
“It is a shootout between a lot of us,” Mitchell said. “We’re all competing for spots.”