Bob Fulton makes a break for Manly against Parramatta
CHAPTER 14
This is the final part of a series on our national rugby league side, commissioned by coach, Mal Meninga ahead of the 2024 Pacific Cup. I have added details of that campaign as well as the Kangaroos’ tour of England in 2025.
2020-25.
THE COVID YEARS
WORLD CUP
Rugby League was the first major sport in the World to emerge from the Covid freeze in 2020. But the Kangaroos, with Mal Meninga still in charge, didn’t return to the International stage until 2022, when a World Cup was held in the UK. Just as Tonga had rocked rugby league with their win over the Kangaroos in 2019, Samoa stood tall on the International stage this time, beating England in the semi-finals, and then meeting the Kangaroos in the Final at Old Trafford. Australia proved too strong for their Pacific rivals, winning 30-10 with Latrell Mitchell and James Tedesco each scoring two tries. Tedesco was Player of the Match.
The match attracted a live audience back in Australia of around 600,000, an amazing stat considering the telecast started at 3 a.m.
The Kangaroos had cruised through their pool games – against Fiji in Leeds; Scotland in Coventry and Italy in St Helens. Australia also belted Lebanon in a quarter final in Huddersfield, but then had to endure a number of nervous moments before overcoming the Kiwis in a semi-final played at Elland Road, Leeds. The try of the match was scored by winger, Josh Addo-Carr after he ran 50 metres to snatch a Ben Hunt kick from the air. Player of the match was Penrith second rower, Liam Martin, who was making his Australian debut in this tournament.
Samoa defeated host nation, England in the other semi-final in London and with the likes of NRL hardened players, Stephen Chrichton, Brian To’o, Jarome Luai, Junior Paulo and Josh Papalli in the Samoan side, the Kangaroos knew they were in for a battle. But with Australian skipper, James Tedesco setting the tone by turning in Man of the Match performance, the Kangaroos were never threatened. Tedesco and centre, Latrell Mitchell each scored two tries. Josh Addo-Carr finished the tournament’s top try scorer with 12.
PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIP
In 2023, Australia, New Zealand and Samoa contested the Pacific Championship. Australia blooded four new players in a 38-12 win over Samoa in Townsville. The debutants were Dylan Edwards, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Kotoni Staggs and Selwyn Cobbo. Staggs scored a try and kicked five goals.
The Kangaroos beat the Kiwis 36-18 in the next match in Melbourne, with Thomas Flegler and Nicho Hynes on debut. Australian prop, Lindsay Collins, a grandson of former Kangaroo winger, Lionel Williamson, scored two tries. Williamson played 11 Tests for Australia between 1968 and 1974, playing in World Cups in Australia (1968) and England (1970), as well as touring New Zealand (1971) and Britain and France (1973).
History was also made by Australian second rower, Cameron Murray from South Sydney, who scored a try for the sixth time in a row in Test matches, equalling a record for an Australian forward set by Immortal, Ron Coote in 1968/69. Coote was playing club football for Souths in the ’68/69 seasons.
The Kiwis saved their best for last, winning the final in Hamilton, New Zealand, 30-0, Australia’s heaviest defeat in 115 years of Test football. Australia lost Cameron Murray to injury beforehand, but welcomed back Broncos’ player of the Year, Payne Haas and Gold Coast Titans’ skipper, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, so there were no excuses.
The Kiwis were on their game, and the Kangaroos off theirs. For example: As halftime approached, Australian hooker, Harry Grant, Man of the Match in Melbourne, lost his grip on the ball with no defender in sight, 10 metres from the Kiwis’ line. The Kiwis took a 12-0 lead into the break.
There was still nothing to suggest that Australia would remain scoreless for the next 40 minutes. But things only got worse, and the Kiwis finished with seven line breaks to Australia’s nil. The Kiwis scored five tries, with Dolphins’ winger, Jamayne Isaako crossing twice.
2024 PACIFIC CUP
Five eighth, Tom Dearden was a deserved Man of the Match in the Kangaroos 20-14 win over Tonga in the final of the Pacific Cup at Parramatta. The North Queensland Cowboys’ star produced three try assists, while fullback, Tom Trbojevic scored two tries.
The Kangaroos had beaten Tonga 18-0 in the first match of the campaign, in Brisbane, with Xavier Coates (Melbourne); Zac Lomax (St George Illawarra); Mitchell Moses (Parramatta), Mitchell Barnett (Warriors), Hudson Young (Canberra) and Dearden all making their Test debuts. Barnett hails from Wingham in the Manning Valley, a town which holds a special place in the history of rugby league in Australia. (See chapter 2 in this series).
The Kangaroos’ second match of the Pacific Cup was against the Kiwis in Christchurch with Australia winning 22-10 after leading 12-6 at halftime. Tonga qualified for the final after they beat the Kiwis 25-24 in Auckland after leading 24-0 at one stage. The match winning field goal was kicked by Isaia Katoa.
The final was Mal Meninga’s last match in charge of Australia with the former Test centre having to stand down after he was appointed coach of the Perth Bears. Mal’s successor was former Broncos’ skipper and later coach, Kevin Walters, a teammate of Meninga’s in Australian teams in the early 1990s.
2025 ASHES SERIES
Melbourne Storm five eighth, Cameron Munster claimed the newly struck Fulton-Reilly Award as Player of the Series following the first Ashes campaign in England since 2003. The award is named after former Australian skipper and later coach, Bob Fulton, and former Great Britain lock and later coach, Malcolm Reilly. Fulton and Reilly became teammates at Manly-Warringah after playing against each other in the Test arena.
In 2003 skipper and fullback, Darren Lockyer proved the difference in the Kangaroos’ 3-0 series win over Great Britain. This time it was another fullback – Reece Walsh – who stole the headlines, although it would be unfair to say the Broncos’ star proved the difference as this English team was outclassed in all areas.
The 2025 Kangaroos won 26-6 at Wembley; 14-4 in Liverpool and 30-8 at Headingley. Walsh was simply electric at Wembley scoring two tries, and saving a certain try when he knocked the ball down after Jake Wardle made a clean break with Mikey Lewis in support.
England employed niggling, spoiling tactics in Liverpool, ruining the match as a spectacle. Hooker Harry Grant turned in a brilliant display for Australia at Headingley, scoring a try, making 42 tackles and often catching out with defence with his scoots from dummy half.
Australia conceded only two tries across the series, but the consensus was they had only done what was needed, rather than moving into top gear.
THE FUTURE
This quote from Mal sums up his feelings, and the feelings of those who have pride in the history of our Kangaroos: “In Rugby League, there is no bigger thrill than winning a Grand Final. But there is no greater honour than representing your country.”
Sadly, I believe representing Australia is no longer the greatest honour for our footballers, the same as pride in Australia no longer seems to be a thing for many of the residents of this great land. That’s another story.
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