Former Wallaby turned Rooster Mark Nawaqanitawase is in the Kangaroos first Test squad to meet England at Wembley, London, this Saturday.
But the Test referee’s decision to school the Australians has ruffled English feathers.
Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters picked Reece Walsh along with Nawaqanitawase, Gehamat Shibasaki and Keaon Koloamatangi to make their Test debuts.
“It’s going to be huge thrill for all four of them to wear the green and gold for the first time in a Test match at such an iconic stadium,” Walters says.
“I’m excited for them as well as all of our players.
“Every member of our squad, whether they take the field or not, is about to experience something incredibly special this Saturday at Wembley.”
The London-based Kangaroos have been training steadily since their arrival in England last week. Ticket sales for the opening Test in the first rugby league Ashes series in 22 years reached 54,569 earlier this week.
KANGAROOS MOVE UPSETS ENGLISH
But England coach Shaun Wane says he’ll be furious if it turns out that the Kangaroos had talked to the Rugby Football League about Test referee Liam Moore.
Kangaroos assistant coach Willie Peters told nrl.com.au last week that “however it’s going to be refereed, it’s gotta be the same … if a team finds their front, you should be rewarded for that”.
Australian-born RFL referee James Vella talked to the Australians last Sunday and is expected to train them in his game management style.
Wane told NRL.com.au: “It’s our competition, it’s over here! I wouldn’t go to Australia and play an Ashes and expect our rules. It’s their rules. That’s the way it should be.
“At this late stage… I’d want to be told weeks and weeks ago so I can fix things in training, make sure that we’re on it. There’s nothing that’s been mentioned to me.
“We’ve got an English referee – it’s going to be refereed similar to the (Super League) grand final,” he said.
“We’ve had Super League refs down to train with us at Robin Park.”
Peters has drilled the Aussies in slower-style Super League play-the-balls at training. An Aussie team spokesman said finding a uniform set of rules and rule interpretations in the build-up to a game expected to attract around 60,000 had been smooth and without rancour.
Walters attempted to defuse the debate during the formal media conference on Tuesday, saying: “My father taught me from a very young age never to use the referee as an excuse for your performance and that will be the case for our boys on Saturday. He’s there to do a job and I’m sure he’ll be doing the best job. That’s not our focus.
“I strongly believe that he won’t decide the outcome of the game.”
DIFFERENT RULES
Super League’s green card for faking an injury will not be used, nor will the six-again usage in the NRL apply or a review of a try once awarded.
But no-one is saying much about the extent to which Peters’ thoughts on ruck speed had made headway.
“Hull KR are kings of the slow ruck,” England captain George Williams in reference to Peters’ club team.
Williams also found himself challenged by reporters after he told The Guardian: “The Aussies see State of Origin as bigger than playing for Australia, which I find very strange. Some NRL lads were not that bothered about playing for Australia. I found that a weird one. I couldn’t get my head around it.”
England is due to name its squad tomorrow (Thursday).
The Kangaroos squad:
Reece Walsh, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Kotoni Staggs, Gehamat Shibasaki, Josh Addo-Carr, Cameron Munster, Nathan Cleary, Patrick Carrigan, Harry Grant, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Angus Crichton, Hudson Young, Isaah Yeo, Tom Dearden, Lindsay Collins, Reuben Cotter, Keaon Koloamatangi, Bradman Best, Lindsay Smith and Mitchell Moses.
MORE RUGBY LEAGUUE NEWS: PNG Chiefs are coming to the NRL in 2028
