James Tedesco made a pretty decent case to keep the Kangaroos’ No. 1 jersey after he played a pivotal role in saving Australia from a World Cup embarrassment against Fiji.
asserted
he → make → Fiji
Rugby league’s top-ranked nation survived an almighty scare on Sunday night when they had to come from behind to beat the Bati 36-22 at Suncorp Stadium.
asserted
they → rank → Stadium
His decision to run the ball on the last tackle set up a crucial try for Sam Walker just before half-time, while he came up with another three try assists, and kept a calm head when a boilover looked on the cards early in the second half.
asserted
boilover → run → half
Coach Kevin Walters was giving little away about whether he would go with Tedesco or Walsh for Saturday’s clash against the Cook Islands in Townsville.
asserted
he → give → Townsville
Australia handed debuts to Walker, David Fifita, Bradman Best and Blayke Brailey, so were always going to be a little clunky with their combinations.
asserted
Australia → hand → combinations
They needed a lot more resilience and effort from their pack.
asserted
They → need → pack
But Walters will know his team needs to click into gear in north Queensland, otherwise they risk being rolled in the semi-final, which for the Australians will now be on Sunday November 8 in Sydney.
asserted
which → know → Sydney
Walters, who had Walsh parked behind him in the coaches’ box, was happy to praise Tedesco after he was rested against the Kiwis.
asserted
he → have → Kiwis
“That’s what you expect from this guy, he’s been doing it a long time,” said Walters, when asked about the good things Tedesco produced.
asserted
Tedesco → ’ → things
His work in attack was very good, defensively he was good, he’s a world-class player – that’s why he’s been the player he has been for a long time.
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he → ’ → time
As for the fullback debate, Walters said: “I wouldn’t call it a [selection] headache.
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I → say → it
It’s a great situation to be in, to have two of the best fullbacks in the game available to us.
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two → ’ → us
They keep producing.
asserted
They → produce → ?
We’ll have a chat and make some decisions about next week.
asserted
We → have → week
It’s a good position to be in.”
asserted
It → ’ → ?
Tedesco said he was open to moving from fullback if that was what Walters wanted, but Walters will also be aware Queensland were happy to use Walsh and his speed as a “super sub” in State of Origin games, which is another option.
asserted
which → say → games
Walker and Tom Dearden both did nice things and remain in their own two-way race to partner Cam Munster in the halves.
asserted
Walker → do → halves
Munster, Harry Grant and Latrell Mitchell were all named on an extended bench against Fiji, but did not feature – Walters only used three players on the interchange – while Isaah Yeo, Liam Martin and Walsh are also fresh for the trip north.
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Yeo → name → trip
Canberra’s Ethan Strange came into the squad for Mitchell Moses and will make his green and gold debut next week.
asserted
Strange → come → debut
Arguably the most disappointed player in the winning Australian sheds was Trbojevic, who scored three tries, but blamed himself for allowing his opposite, Semi Valemei, to score his own treble.
asserted
opposite → win → treble
Fiji were happy to target Trbojevic’s right wing with man-of-the-match – and 2027 NSW Origin bolter – Kurt Donoghoe happy to keep going that way
asserted
Fiji → target → match
“I’m disappointed with a few areas, yes, we won, but I need to learn from this and move forward,” Trbojevic said.
asserted
Trbojevic → ’m → this
“It’s a different position, you have to do a different job defensively.
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you → ’ → job
Would I like to be better?
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I → like → ?
Do I feel comfortable out there?
asserted
I → feel → ?
There are just areas I need to improve.”
asserted
I → be → ?
Trbojevic said he had no interest in resting for the sake of preserving his hamstrings.
asserted
he → say → hamstrings
He also loved playing with Tedesco, and said: “He’s a quality player I’ve played a fair bit of footy with at rep level, and he was outstanding out there.”
asserted
he → love → level
The Aporia
