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Australia shrugged off an early shock to run in seven tries and sweep apart Fiji 42-8 of their opening recreation of the Rugby League World Cup at rain-lashed Headingley.
Chasing their third consecutive title, the Kangaroos discovered themselves 4 factors behind with simply 4 minutes on the clock after Fijian centre Semi Valemei flopped on a brief kick behind the road.
Mal Meninga’s males needed to combat for his or her 18-4 half-time benefit however wrested management after the interval with winger Josh Addo-Carr finishing a attempt double and Valentine Holmes finishing an ideal set of seven conversions.
It was ominous assertion of intent from the defending champions, who began with seven debutants and with out 4 squad members who featured within the NRL Grand Ultimate earlier this month and had been given further time to recuperate.
Fiji, semi-finalists in every of the final three competitions, suffered a blow within the build-up when coach Joe Rabele was taken unwell, together with his assistant Smart Kativerata taking up the duties within the dugout for the night.
Valemei’s opener capped a pair of promising opening units from the underdogs, and it took the Australians 10 minutes to degree when Daly Cherry-Evans flicked out a neat go to Jeremiah Nanai who whipped spherical full-back Sunia Turuva to attain on his debut.
Holmes kicked his aspect in entrance earlier than the Kangaroos prolonged their lead when the Fijians switched off following a failed grubber and Aldo-Carr burst the size of the sector to attain his first attempt of the evening.
It appeared somewhat harsh on the Fijians who have been proving greater than a match for his or her opponents by way of brute energy, however whose moments of sloppiness have been ruthlessly exploited by their opponents.
Extra nice stress left Brandon Wakeham inches from lowering Fiji’s deficit, however three minutes later some relentless working via the centre by Latrell Mitchell served up Angus Crichton with the prospect to stretch over for Australia’s third attempt.
After absorbing extra stress on the second of the second interval, Addo-Carr burst away on the short-side and located the spectacular Cameron Munster, whose one-handed go gave Mitchell the prospect to additional lengthen his aspect’s lead.
Harry Grant steamed over in a transfer he kick-started himself with a 40-20, then captain James Tedesco additionally jinked his method via a tiring Fiji back-line earlier than Holmes added the extras to make it 36-4.
Grant’s mix of energy and accuracy despatched Addo-Carr over the road for his second, however one of many largest cheers of the evening was reserved for Turuva who chased his personal kick to seal a well-merited second attempt of the evening for the Fijians.
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