Talking points, Kangaroos changes, Selwyn Cobbo, Samoa, Sualauvi Faalogo, PNG Kumuls next NRL team،
The inaugural Pacific Championships got off to a flying start this weekend, with Australia and Papua New Guinea both claiming resounding victories.
But Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga admitted after his side’s victory over Samoa that there would likely be changes for their next clash.
A rookie Samoa fullback has emerged as a future star after a sensational Test debut, as PNG builds a strong case to secure the next NRL license.
Read on for the main talking points from week one of the Pacific Championships.
COBBO UNDER PRESSURE TO KEEP HIS PLACE
Selwyn Cobbo made his debut for the Kangaroos on Saturday but could risk losing his jersey as coach Mal Meninga faces a big call on his back line.
Valentine Holmes will be available for selection for Australia’s clash with New Zealand on October 28 after serving a one-match suspension for an off-field incident.
As Holmes became one of the game’s elite centers, he played 14 matches on the wing for Australia.
Meninga attempted to answer questions about Holmes’ return during the post-match press conference, saying “we’ll make those decisions beyond today”, but responded “yes” when asked. asked him if the current defense had given him food for thought.
Meninga was impressed with what he saw from his central duo of Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Kotoni Staggs, saying they were both “really good” and “took advantage of the opportunities”.
He is unlikely to drop either of these players after their debuts for the Kangaroos. Tabuai-Fidow scored twice, made four tackles, ran for 108 yards and made 12 tackles with no misses. Staggs scored one try, kicked five goals, had two line breaks, five tackles and ran for a game-high 180 metres.
Greg Alexander declared Staggs “Australia’s busiest player” on Fox League commentary, while Corey Parker described his debut as “outstanding”.
In fact, Parker thinks Staggs and Tabui-Fidow should be safe and if Meninga wants to bring Holmes back, it could be Cobbo who does what.
“If you look at the performances we saw tonight, it’s not ‘Hammer’ (giving way), it’s not Kotoni Staggs and I thought Dylan Edwards was busy on the wing,” he said. he declared.
“If you have to take him down, I think young Cobbo might be under a bit of pressure. If you’re looking to put Valentine back in that backline, it might be Cobbo who gets sidelined.
THE FAALOGO ROOKIE PROVES HE’S THE REAL DEAL
Samoa may have lost the game, but they found a star of the future in rookie fullback Sualauvi Faalogo.
Faalogo has only played one NRL game, when he scored two tries against the Broncos on matchday 27, he didn’t look out of place at all against the world champions.
The 20-year-old looked to have scored a sensational try in the second half, only for the Bunker to deny the Samoan full-back after controversially finding a forward.
Kangaroos skipper James Tedesco was asked about his counterpart after the match and he backed Faalogo to have a big future.
“He was sharp, wasn’t he,” Tedesco said.
“He made our big boys catch some air, but it was good to see. He’s obviously a kid that’s just a natural soccer player, with high instincts and speed as well, so yeah, he wreaked a little bit of havoc on us.
“He was just playing with a lot of confidence, playing for his legacy and there’s a lot of pride there. But yeah, every time he had his hands on the ball he looked very dangerous, it was great to see.
Samoan rookie coach Ben Gardiner, in his first game in charge, chose Faalogo in the No.1 jersey ahead of Stephen Crichton who instead came on at half-time.
“He just supports himself, we’ve talked about supporting you all week, and it doesn’t matter whether you’ve played a test match, an NRL match or 200 NRL matches, everyone here is equal, and when you go go about your business, do your best and you represent your country, so do your best,” Gardiner said.
“That’s him, that’s his style – I didn’t really expect much else from him tonight to be honest.”
Samoan skipper Junior Paulo added: “We can say that he is going to be a great footballer in the years to come, and that he will certainly be one of the superstars of our sport.”
Former Australian backrower Corey Parker compared Faalogo to Anthony Milford’s Samoa debut at the 2013 World Cup.
“Let’s put it into perspective, he played an NRL game against a depleted Broncos team at Suncorp Stadium, he came off the bench and absolutely changed the game and lit up the stadium,” Parker said on Fox League.
“He has now stepped onto the big stage against the biggest players Australia can choose from and he has absolutely held his own.
“The try that was refused was a special play,” young Anthony Milford reminds me. In 2013, Milf really set the stage on fire during the World Cup.
Faalogo makes an impact on the big stage | 01:35
“This guy here has certainly announced himself, the question is where is he playing for Melbourne? He’s an incredible talent and we’ve seen what he can do, but he’s behind so many good players.
“He’s a tremendous young player from what we’ve seen and to play on the big stage against the biggest team in the world, to come out and do what he did, it was a tremendous start.”
Rabbitohs backrower Jai Arrow was on the Fox League panel and echoed the sentiment, while sideline commentator Brent Tate revealed another impressive Faalogo trait.
“That try that was disallowed, not many players can do that, to have the confidence to chip and chase in your first game,” Arrow said.
“Sky is the limit for this kid and he will put himself in every position to play in the NRL next year. »
Tate added: “Faalogo and his work ethic, I watched him in that last try and he was actually the one who helped Kotoni Staggs up, he came from midfield all the way to the end to a try-saving tackle, so not just great with the ball, but working hard defensively as well, so great signs from the young kid.
KANGAROOES MUST KEEP HAAS AMID ‘Scary’ WARNING
Kangaroos superstar Payne Haas caused a stir last week when he admitted he was considering defecting to Samoa to qualify for the Pacific Championships.
Australian coach Mal Meninga must do everything in his power to retain this unique talent in green and gold for the next decade.
To Haas’ credit, he showed no signs of lacking commitment against Samoa on Saturday night and played like a man possessed in the 38-12 victory.
The 23-year-old scored the first try and ran for 141 meters on 14 carries that produced six failed tackles, two offloads and a line break, while also making 13 tackles without missing one.
Corey Parker says the Broncos’ young gun is still a long way from reaching his peak in what the NRL great described as a “scary” concept for his rivals.
“The off-season training he does is no accident,” Parker said.
“He’s an exception to the rule, for a guy who weighs 125kg and 194cc and what he can do week in and week out… he’s really comfortable with where he’s going and what he’s doing and he will only get better, that’s what’s scary.
Kangaroo press conference | 06:58
“Centre forwards don’t excel until they’re 28, 29, 30, so if he can stay on that trajectory he’s someone we’ll be talking about for a long time.”
The Rabbitohs and Maroons linebacker said he would love to play behind Haas.
“Genetically he’s a monster, he’s so fit, he’s so strong, he’s got all the attributes and he’s arguably the best front rower in the competition,” Arrow said.
“What he does as a center forward, I definitely know I would love to play behind him and Australia will be very happy to have him in this team. He’s getting better and better and he’s still young .
PNG MOUNTING BOX FOR 18TH LNR LICENSE
Papua New Guinea is showing, through its performances, that it will be able to compete in the NRL if it is named in the 18th team.
The Kumuls more than held their own in a 30-18 loss to a star-studded PM XIII side last month and beat the Cook Islands 46-10 on Sunday.
PNG are aiming to become the next expansion club and they already have an experienced NRL coach at the helm after Justin Holbrook took over in August.
“It certainly helps that it’s their No. 1 game and now they’ve got the Hunters who have been in the Queensland Cup for a number of years now and they’ve produced some great players over the years,” Greg said Alexander on Fox. League.
“Some great players over the years who have played in the NRL, so the future is bright and the more we focus on international football, the more games the Kumuls play, the better they do.
“If they want to become the 18th team, the more we can get their players involved in the Queensland Cup and NSW Cup, the more ready they will be to take on that 18th franchise.”
Rabbitohs and Maroons linebacker Jai Arrow played in the Queensland Cup in PNG and backed Holbrook, who he played under at the Titans in 2020, to take the team forward.
Jillaroos hold on to defeat Ferns | 00:42
I went there for the Queensland Cup thinking it would just be another game, but they treat you like superstars there, even if you don’t play in the NRL. It’s such a surreal place where go and play,” Arrow said on Fox League.
“Justin came to the Titans in 2020 and he taught us how to move the ball, he’s an attack-based coach.
“I loved working under Justin and we saw a lot of attack from the Kumuls (against the Cook Islands on Sunday).”