Mal Meninga has never been one to show any sign of fear on or off the playing field but the Kangaroos coach should he nervous heading into Friday night’s Pacific Championships opener against Tonga.
This Australian side does not have the intimidation factor that previous green and gold outfits brought to the playing arena.
There is a distinct lack of a physical presence up front and star power all round when compared to Kangaroos teams of the recent past.
That’s not to say that they are underdogs against Mate Ma’a or will necessarily lose.
But the new world order, as much as you can have one in the limited rugby league landscape, has rapidly changed either side of the pandemic.
Very few players with dual heritage are sticking with Australia and New Zealand, preferring to pay tribute to their immediate and distant ancestors to represent Pacific Island nations.
This has led to the rise of Tonga and Samoa to infiltrate the decades-long ruling triumvirate of Australia, England and the Kiwis.
To paraphrase Paul Keating, it’s the progression we had to have.
For the fragile beast that is international rugby league to leave its status of laughing stock in the past, a World Cup needs to have more than a few potential champions with everyone else playing off for fourth spot.
The Kangaroos remain strong favourites to rack up their fourth straight World Cup in two years time but it’s no longer a fait accompli.
Meninga’s side that will run onto Suncorp Stadium against the Tongans on Friday is heavily depleted due to injuries but that can never be an excuse for Australia in league where they will always have more depth than anyone else.
Australia are NSW in a State of Origin context, relying on the benefits that come with being the biggest.
Jason Taumalolo during the famous 2019 win over Australia. (Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)
And every other nation is Queensland, trusting their passion and spirit to rise above the obstacles that come with having fewer top-line players to select.
The Kangaroos are similar to Team USA in men’s basketball. They used to be invincible but as they have taken their foot off the pedal and other teams have accelerated their development, the gap has narrowed at a great rate of notes.
And the interest levels are rising just as quickly in response.
Meninga has taken the proactive approach of refreshing his squad for this Pacific Championships campaign with an eye on the World Cup on the horizon.
Even with an stellar cast of injured stars out in Nathan Cleary, Cameron Munster, Liam Martin, Payne Haas, Valentine Holmes and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, he has resisted the urge to take the conservative approach by giving James Tedesco, Daly Cherry-Evans and Jake Trbojevic another run.
Even Ben Hunt, who made the squad, has been relegated to 18th player duties for the opening clash.
Meninga is trotting out six debutants – Xavier Coates and Zac Lomax, halves duo Tom Dearden and Mitch Moses, and bench forwards Mitchell Barnett and Hudson Young.
Kanga-rookies
| Tests for Australia | ||
| 1 | Dylan Edwards | 2 |
| 2 | Xavier Coates | 0* |
| 3 | Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow | 3* |
| 4 | Tom Trbojevic | 4 |
| 5 | Zac Lomax | 0 |
| 6 | Tom Dearden | 0 |
| 7 | Mitchell Moses | 0* |
| 8 | Patrick Carrigan | 8 |
| 9 | Harry Grant | 8 |
| 10 | Lindsay Collins | 6 |
| 11 | Angus Crichton | 5 |
| 12 | Cameron Murray | 8 |
| 13 | Isaah Yeo | 8 |
| 14 | Matt Burton | 2 |
| 15 | Mitchell Barnett | 0 |
| 16 | Reuben Cotter | 5 |
| 17 | Hudson Young | 0 |
* Coates played one Test for Papua New Guinea in 2019 as did Kangaroos centre Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow for Samoa in 2022 while Moses has represented Lebanon eight times.
There has been plenty made of the fact that the Kangaroos have handed jerseys to no less than 25 new players since 2022 but it should also be remembered that there was no international footy for the two years beforehand due to the pandemic when many of the players who got their debuts at the delayed World Cup.
But this line-up is arguably one of the least formidable, on paper and in terms of experience anyway, that the Aussies have dished up for a long time. Only five players have worn the green and gold on more than five occasions, Isaah Yeo is making his captaincy debut in rep footy and the spine have never played together.
Tongan forward Jason Taumalolo was just being honest, and probably not thinking about repercussions, when he replied “not really” when asked earlier in the week if the Kangaroos still carried a fear factor.
And just as predictable was Meninga responding with “we don’t fear them either”.
Have you ever known a rugby league player to admit to fearing an opponent before, during or after a game? Part of the DNA of the people who are mad enough to play this sport is that they can never concede an inch whether on the field in the physical battle or off it in the equally important mind games.
When the Tongans upset Australia in 2019 in that memorable 16-12 triumph in Auckland it was a huge shock but if they repeat the dose this time around, it will be a mild surprise at the most.
Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
They have another chance to create history in that Australia have not lost back-to-back Tests to the same opponent since France way back in 1978.
Tonga coach Kristian Woolf, in his last tournament at the helm of a five-year stint before he takes up the main gig at the Dolphins from Wayne Bennett, clearly learned from his mentor that it’s unwise to rattle the Kangaroos’ cage.
“I don’t think they’re vulnerable at all,” Woolf said on Thursday.
“They’re no weaker or, or no different to any other Australian side I’ve ever looked at. They’re going be a real challenge, they’re the pinnacle and we’re going to treat them with a lot of respect.”
Tonga’s team contains two of the NRL’s brightest prospects in Dolphins half Isaiya Katoa and Manly fullback Lehi Hopoate, who should get plenty of time and space to operate behind a powerful pack led by Taumalolo, Eliesa Katoa,
Haumole Olakau’atu, Taniela Paseka and Keaon Koloamatangi.
Tonga: Lehi Hopoate, Daniel Tupou, Moses Suli, Paul Alamoti, Sione Katoa, Tuimoala Lolohea, Isaiya Katoa, Addin Fonua-Blake, Siliva Havili, Felise Kaufusi, Haumole Olakau’atu, Eliesa Katoa, Jason Taumalolo, Soni Luke, Sitili Tupouniua, Taniela Paseka, Keaon Koloamatangi.