Clumsy Kiwis outclassed by Kangaroos
Freakish try puts NZ on back foot as they struggle in Wollongong
Australia welcomed five test debutants to the green and gold fold in style with a 26-4 win over archrivals New Zealand at WIN Stadium in Wollongong last night.
One of those newcomers, Josh Addo-Carr, helped himself to the game’s opening try after centre Latrell Mitchell took an intercept and passed to the Storm flyer to race 60 metres to score.
Hometown hero Tyson Frizell then powered across in the 26th minute to stretch Australia’s lead to 12-0 but the Kiwis hit back through a debutant of their own when Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad finished off a slick backline move to score.
After a tight opening to the second half the Kangaroos kicked clear when Damien Cook picked up the scraps from a loose Adam Blair offload and ran 70 metres to score in the 53rd minute.
It was a cruel blow for the Kiwis who were on attack at the time and had produced a string of freakish offloads to stretch the Kangaroos defence but it all came unstuck and Cook made them pay.
Cook was at his electrifying best again five minutes later when he burst out of dummy half and exposed some tired marker defence before finding James Tedesco to score under the posts.
From there the Kangaroos added a further penalty goal to put the icing on a strong victory which ensured a memorable night for Addo-Carr and fellow debutants Paul Vaughan, Payne Haas, Nick Cotric and Jack Wighton.
Outmuscled and outplayed, the Kiwis crashed back to earth in Wollongong as the Kangaroos reasserted their dominance in transtasman league.
Coach Mal Meninga’s men gained revenge for last year’s shock loss in Auckland as they recorded a comprehensive 26-4 victory, with the game all but over with 20 minutes to play.
Australia are now in box seat to claim the inaugural Oceania Cup with a victory over Tonga at Eden Park next weekend, where the Kiwis will also kick-off their series against the Great Britain Lions.
New Zealand have come a long way under coach Michael Maguire since he stepped into the role following the embarrassing 2017 World Cup campaign.
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad scored on debut for New Zealand’s only try of the match.
Although Shaun Johnson missed the conversion, New Zealand were in the game trailing by eight points at halftime.
Two poor kicks at the start of the second half, including Jamayne
Isaako sending the restart dead on the full, put them right back under the pump.
Australia eventually extended their lead in the 53rd minute after a bizarre piece of play. With the Kiwis trying desperately to keep the play alive they pushed one pass too many as Cook swooped.
Australia 26 (Josh Addo-Carr, Damien Cook, Tyson Frizell, James Tedesco tries; Latrell Mitchell 4, Daly Cherry-Evans goals).
New Zealand 4 (Charnze NicollKlokstad try). HT: 12-4.