Australia’s final assembly with New Zealand has haunted Isaah Yeo for a yr because the Kangaroos captain guarantees enhancements on a “clunky” match final week in opposition to Tonga.
The Kiwis’ 30-0 drubbing in final yr’s Pacific Cup remaining marked Australia’s heftiest Check loss in 115 years of worldwide matches.
The defeat rippled into this yr’s collection as coach Mal Meninga flagged a brand new period for the nationwide staff by dropping stalwarts James Tedesco, Daly Cherry-Evans and Jake Trbojevic.
However as he begins serving to Australia to put in writing their subsequent chapter, newly appointed skipper Yeo admitted the final assembly in opposition to the Kiwis was nonetheless uncooked.
“It is kind of stung for the final 12 months,” the four-time NRL premiership winner mentioned forward of Sunday’s conflict in Christchurch.
“It was a extremely disappointing option to end the season, notably on this jersey, the place the expectation whenever you put on this jersey is you’ve success.
“These boys who have been a part of that final yr, they get a possibility to try to flip that round a bit of bit. It was definitely one which stings.”
Yeo insisted the Kangaroos wouldn’t be weighed down by current historical past on Sunday afternoon, given solely seven gamers stay from the 30-0 thrashing.
“We touched on it once we first got here again into camp, addressed the teachings that we realized, however the actuality is it is a totally different squad,” Yeo mentioned.
The Kiwis have additionally moved on from their huge win over Australia as Stacey Jones prepares to blood 5 debutants for his first sport on the helm.
“It is a new begin for us, it is a new chapter, it is a new staff,” Kiwis assistant coach Nathan Cayless mentioned.
“We now have to start out once more. That is actually necessary, the boys know that.”
The Kangaroos are intent on bettering on final week’s 18-0 defeat of a Tongan facet who would have been nicely within the sport at Lang Park had they discovered their rhythm near the road.
Australia made 19 dealing with errors in opposition to Tonga and had certainly one of their three tries by way of a Tom Trbojevic intercept, with one other coming by Tom Dearden within the remaining minutes.
“Clunky can be a great way of placing it,” Yeo mentioned of the final efficiency.
“However I believed the way in which we defended our line notably in fairly scorching circumstances, they are a huge pack and that was spoken about all week.
“I feel our greatest footy’s nonetheless in entrance of us.”
ABC Sport might be dwell running a blog the Kangaroos and Jillaroos Check matches in opposition to New Zealand on Sunday afternoon.
Australia Kangaroos squad
- Dylan Edwards
- Xavier Coates
- Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
- Tom Trbojevic
- Zac Lomax
- Tom Dearden
- Mitch Moses
- Patrick Carrigan
- Harry Grant (vc)
- Lindsay Collins
- Angus Crichton
- Cameron Murray
- Isaah Yeo (c)
- Matt Burton
- Mitch Barnett
- Reuben Cotter
- Hudson Younger
- Ben Hunt
- Lindsay Smith
Australia Jillaroos squad
- Tamika Upton
- Julia Robinson
- Isabelle Kelly
- Tiana Penitani
- Jakiya Whitfeld
- Ali Brigginshaw (c)
- Tarryn Aiken
- Millie Elliott
- Olivia Higgins
- Shannon Mato
- Kezie Apps (c)
- Yasmin Clydsdale
- Simaima Taufa
- Jessika Elliston
- Sarah Togatuki
- Keilee Joseph
- Mahalia Murphy
- Jessica Sergis
- Abbi Church
- Keeley Davis
AAP
