History will be made even if Australia avoids embarrassment on Sunday after coach Tim Sheens named teenage sensation Sione Mata’utia for their must-win Four Nations clash with England in Melbourne.
Newcastle young gun Mata’utia, 18, will become the youngest Test player in Australian rugby league history when the Kangaroos look to avoid another entry in the record books.
A loss against England will not only mark back-to-back defeats on home soil for the first time since 1970 but also ensure world champions Australia miss out on the Four Nations final for the first time.
New blood looked set to be injected after Australia’s error-riddled 30-12 opening loss to New Zealand.
But Mata’utia has redefined the term after replacing Daniel Tupou on the wing.
He will be only 18 years and 129 days old when he makes his Test debut on Sunday, 65 days younger than previous record holder Israel Folau had been when he starred against New Zealand in 2007.
Mata’utia joins St George’s rugby league Immortal Reg Gasnier in playing for Australia after only seven club games.
Only Jim Lisle has experienced a faster elevation to the Test side after playing just five games for South Sydney before earning the call-up in 1962.
And Mata’utia may make his debut with Broncos half Ben Hunt who is set to cap his own meteoric rise with a question mark still over pivot Daly Cherry-Evans (hip).
The Manly playmaker has been named at five-eighth but Hunt is officially on standby as 18th man in Sheens’ extended squad.
Cherry-Evans is still to convince staff that he has overcome the injury that forced him to miss the second half of their upset loss in Brisbane to the Kiwis.
Adding further intrigue, Cherry-Evans left the Kangaroos camp in Melbourne on Monday night to fly back to Sydney for the birth of his second child, with officials unsure when he would return.
Hunt began the year hoping to keep the Broncos No.7 jersey – this week he will train with the Kangaroos at pivot.
“It’s hard to say,” Kangaroos forward Greg Bird said of Cherry-Evans’ chances.
“We don’t really know but we’ve got another half there waiting in Benny Hunt, who’s been great for the Broncos this year.
“I think everyone’s just playing it by ear at the moment on when he can get back but he’s under that injury cloud as well so we’ll have to wait and see how we go there.”
Australia’s other fitness concern, Greg Inglis, was named at fullback after missing the second half of the Suncorp Stadium debacle with a virus.
However, he is expected to play after appearing at a schools league tournament in Melbourne on Tuesday looking in good health.
Sheens also reshuffled his outmuscled pack, moving Bird from lock to the second row and handing reserve forward Corey Parker the No.13 jersey.
Boyd Cordner looks set to replace Josh Papalii on the interchange which also features a demoted Ryan Hoffman.
AUSTRALIA’S FIVE YOUNGEST RUGBY LEAGUE TEST PLAYERS
Sione Mata’utia – 18 years 129 days (after being named to play England in Melbourne on Sunday)
Israel Folau – 18 years and 194 days v New Zealand, 2007
Charles “Chook” Fraser – 18 years and 301 days v England, 1911
Kerry Boustead – 18 years and 316 days v New Zealand, 1978
Dugald McGregor – 19 years and 5 days v New Zealand, 1909
Keith Middleton – 19 years and 138 days v Great Britain, 1950
LEAST EXPERIENCED TEST PLAYERS
Jim Lisle – played five games for South Sydney before being called up in 1962
Reg Gasnier – played seven games for St George in 1959 before being called up
Sione Mata’utia – played seven games for Newcastle in 2014 before being named in Australia’s 24-man Four Nations squad.
*Courtesy of David Middleton from League Information Services
