KANGAROOS SINK TO SHOCK LOSS TO KIWIS
THE new generation of Australian players were given a harsh initiation into Test football after losing to the Kiwis for the first time in 1259 days.
New Zealand shocked the world champions 26-24 in front of a crowd of about 10,000 in Auckland last night.
The one-off Test match saw Australia feature four debutants in James Tedesco, Luke Keary, Latrell Mitchell and Damien Cook following the retirements of Billy Slater, Coo- per Cronk and Cameron Smith after last year’s World Cup.
Keary’s night lasted just 13 minutes before he was taken from the field with concussion.
Cook, Tedesco and Mitchell also had mixed nights in what was coach Mal Meninga’s first loss since taking over as Australian coach in 2016 – a streak which included 13 wins.
Man of the match Shaun Johnson starred, laying on two tries and a line-break assist in their five-try-to-four win while Joseph Manu was exceptional.
Australia’s new era started seamlessly when the Roosters left edge combination of Keary, Mitchell and Boyd Cordner combined to set Valentine Holmes up for a try after just three minutes.
Impatience and ill-discipline cost the Kangaroos, who kept forcing passes.
Simple handling errors from Cook and the Trbojevic brothers proved costly also.
Meninga was “worried” when his team started so well.
“When that error came around that 12-minute mark we didn’t touch the ball for an- other 10 to 12 minutes,” Meninga said. “The Kiwis sustained pressure through that first half and had all the momentum.
“We worry about (having an influx of new players) all the time as coaches. I thought our preparation was excellent all week. Everyone gelled well. Everyone was happy with the way we trained. It just didn’t’ work out well today.”
Australia went into halftime leading 12-8 despite, having just 35 per cent possession.
A controversial disallowed try to the Kiwis gave the Aus- tralian side one last chance before halftime with Daly Cherry-Evans combining with Tom Trbojevic to send Dane Gagai over.
Meninga said it was “miracle” Australia led at the break.
“I was proud of the team at halftime, the way they hung in there and defended and got in front,” Meninga said. “We ran out of gas. It was a tough night. They played really well. we made a lot of errors.
“I can’t fault the effort and attitude and desire to play. We just need to execute better.”