Kangaroos gun Isaah Yeo has been tipped to take the lock position as Australia look to defend their World Cup title.
Mal Meninga has a huge headache after Campbell Graham put himself firmly in the frame for selection, while Lebanon winger Josh Mansour put it all on the line to secure a contract.
Meanwhile, Tonga young gun Will Penisini scored four tries including a hilarious effort to steal a four-pointer from Ben Murdoch-Masila.
YEO’S KANGAROOS INFLUENCE
Panthers superstar Isaah Yeo has only two Test caps to his name but has done enough to win the lock position for the Kangaroos’ title defence according to Fox League’s Michael Ennis.
Yeo made his debut against Scotland in Australia’s second group stage clash against Scotland, combining with Nathan Cleary to mastermind an 84-0 win.
The 27-year-old then played off the bench against Italy, scoring a try after coming on at halftime.
Ennis believes once he was injected into the game, Australia’s halves had more time and were able to pull the strings.
“I thought when Isaah Yeo came onto the field through the middle with his ball playing, it just brought a real composure to Australia’s attack,” Ennis said.
“It felt like everything just clicked back into gear for them, in that first half there were moments of brilliance from Cleary and DCE, Tedesco.
“But it felt like once Isaah got out there and started to dictate terms with his short passing and his running through the middle, it felt like the halves had another second or two to pick their moments.”
Cameron Murray, Jeremiah Nanai, Angus Crichton and Liam Martin are all fighting for the starting backrow spots for the Kangaroos’ clash against Lebanon.
With Yeo at lock, Ennis named his starting backrowers and who will play off the bench with one glaring omission — Jeremiah Nanai.
“Yeo starts at 13 for me and I think given the fact that Angus Crichton has had a really good tournament, rested today, that’s suggesting that Mal is going to start him next week,” Ennis said.
“I like Cameron Murray, I’d have Murray there and you can bring Martin into the game, he brings energy and impact.
“They are going to need to be good defensively because the Kiwis have got some great backrowers who will be imposing, so that’s my starting backrow.”
GRAHAM’S STELLAR AUDITION
Rugby league fans were left confused when Rabbitohs centre Campbell Graham was selected to play on the wing by Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga.
Graham’s Test debut came against Scotland, bagging a hattrick to go with six tackle busts, two linebreaks and 144 running metres.
Then against Italy Graham recorded 132 running metres, two tries, five tackle breaks and two line breaks.
Bulldogs gun Josh Addo-Carr looks a certainty to take play on one wing for the Kangaroos’ finals campaign, leaving Graham to duel it out with Murray Taulagi for the remaining spot.
“Campbell Graham, they haven’t picked a lot of wingers the Australians and the first choice you would think is Josh Addo-Carr and Taulagi,” Fox League’s Andrew Voss said.
“But Graham is staking a big claim, he is more than just a bloke who stands on the wing.
“He plays centre for his club side the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NRL, but he is giving Mal Meninga something to think about.”
Fox League’s Michael Ennis echoed Voss’ opinion, leaving Meninga with a huge selection headache ahead of Saturday morning’s clash.
“Moments of class from individuals in the Australian side, I thought Campbell Graham had a tremendous night and really pushed his case for selection,” Ennis said.
ITALY’S IMPRESSIVE SHOWING
While the Italian team’s tournament came to an end with a 66-6 defeat at the hands of the Kangaroos, there were many positives to take from their performance.
The Azzurri only had 39 per cent of possession but performed admirably and looked threatening at different stages in the contest.
Italy have only three players with NRL experience in their team - Nathan Brown, Daniel Atkinson and Brenden Santi - but did their best to put pressure on a star-studded Kangaroos line-up.
“They knew that this was going to be such a difficult task this morning but they showed up and after halftime it was 30-0,” Fox League’s Yvonne Sampson said.
“Again they came out with defensive intent, again they tried things, they passed the ball and they spread it, they were there in the contest.
“They are going to head home after this and if you are just waking up, 66-6 looks like a pretty lopsided contest but that’s just not how the game felt at all.”
Fox League’s Michael Ennis said the Azzurri clearly had a plan to unsettle the Kangaroos and it clearly worked, trimming 24 points off the Aussies 84-0 flogging of Scotland.
“They put together a couple of good sets and I was impressed with their effort,” Fox League’s Greg Alexander said.
“They came with a plan, a plan to try and compete hard and unsettle the Australians defensively and move the ball,” Ennis said.
“They moved the ball left to right tremendously at times, really challenged our edges with some lovely flat passing and made a number of unexpected line breaks.”
MANSOUR’S CONTRACT SHOWCASE
Josh Mansour is without an NRL contract for the 2023 season and did nothing to hurt his chances of securing a deal with an impressive World Cup campaign.
The 32-year-old made his NRL debut at the Panthers in 2012 before joining Souths last year and has scored 86 tries in 174 appearances.
Mansour has scored four tries in three appearances so far in this World Cup and is desperate to secure a new deal — opening a window for a Super League deal.
“I’m still off-contract, so definitely (I’d be open to a move),” Mansour said to Love Rugby League.
“That’s why I love this opportunity as well. I can get used to the area and get used to the people. So far, so good.
“I’m really enjoying the culture here. I’ve just got to convince the misses now.”
Mansour scored a hattrick against World Cup newcomers Jamaica on Sunday morning, scoring with an aerial effort from a Adam Doueihi pass for his third try.
“Mansour, what a finish this will be, flying finish in the corner and that will be the hattrick, big smiles and a big finish from Josh Mansour,” the commentator said.
“Great finish from Josh Mansour there in the corner, such a difficult skill to do that people really appreciate,” another commentator added.
PENISINI’S STUNNING FOUR-TRY BLITZ
Tonga centre Will Penisini scored four tries in a 92-10 blitz of the Cook Islands as Tonga finished the group stages on top of Group D.
The 20-year-old, playing in his first World Cup, scored his fourth try with an impressive run, weaving through the Cooks Islands cover defence.
“Very classy centre play from Will Penisini there, plenty of work to do, plenty of people to beat,” Fox League’s James Graham said.
“He runs rings around a half-backed retreating defence, great play from Will Penisini.”
While Graham gave Penisini his praises for his fourth try, he couldn’t applaud the young gun for his third after hilariously blocking a certain Ben Murdoch-Masila try.
Halfback Tuimoala Lolohea has broken the line and looked inside to see the hulking prop, throwing a lofted pass across only for Penisini to appear and score.
“Penisini you thieving swine, you have stolen a try off a front rower my friend, that is not on, you can’t do that,” Graham said.
“That is disgraceful, he completely picked the pocket of Ben Murdoch-Masila.”
Penisini finished the contest with 133 running metres, three tackle breaks, a line break and a line break assist to go with his four tries.
TO’O’S MAMMOTH EFFORT
Samoa’s gun winger Brian To’o recorded a ridiculous 258 running metres and a pair of tries in Samoa’s 62-4 flogging of France.
The 24-year-old dual premiership winner is known for his damaging ball-running ability and Fox League’s Andrew Voss revealed where his skills originated.
“To’o away, that is simply superb, this is Warrington being treated to something special,” Fox League’s Andrew Voss said as To’o ran in his second try.
“Let me tell you the story of Brian, when he was 16 years of age he was cut by the Panthers juniors, they told him ‘you are too small’.
“I said ‘how did you become so good at busting tackles and breaking away’ and he said ‘he is a part of a big family’.
“The brothers, sisters and cousins would throw him the ball and he would just keep running, and ducking and weaving, being cheeky, that’s where he learnt his elusive ability.”
Samoa finished in second place in Group A with two wins in the group stages, booking a must-watch clash against Tonga who secured first place in Group D with three wins.
If Samoa are able to win that clash they will likely face England in a semi final, only weeks after going down to the hosts 60-6 in the World Cup opener.
