Roos rookies won’t lose sleep: Smith

Nerves won’t be a problem for Australia’s rookies in the trans-Tasman Test in Brisbane despite a rain delay ensuring they will sweat on their debut for another 48 hours, Kangaroos captain Cameron Smith says.

But trying to smooth over the match’s postponement until Sunday with family may not be so easy for their four debutants – particularly Will Chambers.

Especially after his relatives drove 12 hours just to get to a flight to see Chambers on Friday night.

Torrential rain in Brisbane on Friday night forced organisers to call off a Kangaroos Test for the first time in Australia.

The last time a Kangaroos Test was re-scheduled was way back in 1948, in England.

Smith did not believe it would mess with their rookies’ heads – but Chambers may still have some issues.

“I know Will Chambers’ family drove 12 hours from Darwin then caught a flight to Brisbane just to see him play,” he said.

However, Smith did not believe Chambers and fellow Test rookies Trent Merrin, Josh Dugan and Alex Johnston would lose too much sleep over the unprecedented delay.

“I think they will be the least of our worries, the debutants,” he said.

“They would have played in any conditions.

“The worst thing for them is that their families are up here and were looking forward to them playing for Australia.”

Smith admitted some NRL coaches would be dirty about the Test delay as they sweated on the rep players’ return.

But he did not believe it would further disrupt the Kangaroos’ preparation.

“It’s just another day we wait – it’s Groundhog Day tomorrow,” he said.

Smith admitted the players wanted to run out on Friday night – even if just to re-live a childhood dream of schoolboy footy in the wet.

“I remember playing childhood football in the wet, they were the most enjoyable days,” he said.

“You get to slide in puddles and it was a contest to see who would come off with the dirtiest jumper.

“But this is top flight rugby league and many people would have paid top money – I don’t think they would have seen that (had the game gone ahead on Friday).

“It was the right decision (to call it off).”

Stay up to date with the latest sports news
Follow our social accounts to get exclusive content and all the latest sporting news!