Memories of Australia’s 2008 disappointment are spurring on the Kangaroos ahead of their Rugby League World Cup campaign, skipper Cameron Smith says.
Australia are short-priced favourites to claim their 11th Cup crown but Smith said the Kangaroos had plenty to prove on home soil after their shock 2008 final loss to New Zealand in Brisbane.
Fullback Billy Slater will go down in infamy for a brain explosion that gifted Benji Marshall a try, sparking New Zealand’s 34-20 boilover at Suncorp Stadium nine years ago.
“I have not got fond memories of the last home World Cup in 2008 so we will be looking to turn that around,” Smith said ahead of Friday night’s Cup opener against the Wayne Bennett-coached England in Melbourne.
“That was very disappointing, I must admit.
“It took a while for us to get over that disappointment.
“We are not hiding the fact that we would love to win this World Cup on home turf.”
Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga said he knew the make-up of his 17 for their opener but wouldn’t give away who would be stepping into the contentious five-eighth position in Johnathan Thurston’s absence.
North Queensland’s Michael Morgan, Cronulla playmaker James Maloney and Melbourne premiership winner Cameron Munster are all in the mix.
“All 24 players will play in the qualifying rounds,” Meninga said.
“We would love to have him (Thurston) involved in our team but unfortunately that is not the case.
“We’ve got some very capable replacements – Morgan, Maloney and Munster.
“We are confident those three guys will fill JT’s boots.”
Bennett reckoned he had a good idea of who would be wearing the Kangaroos No.6 jersey on Friday night.
“I don’t know but Morgan finished the season in such great form I imagine he has a foot in the door,” he said.
Meanwhile, Smith would not comment on Test, Queensland and Melbourne teammate Cooper Cronk indicating that he would play on in the NRL next year after relocating to Sydney to be with his fiancee.
“That’s got nothing to do with the World Cup,” he said.
“I am still in the same position as I was at the start of the year. I still don’t know what Cooper is going to do.”
