Australia lead Fiji 42-4 in their Rugby League World Cup opener at Headingley in Leeds.
Fiji got off to a dream start with five-eighth Sitiveni Moceidreke slotting a dime for Semi Valemei to chip away inches from the dead ball line.
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Jeremiah Nanai continued his brilliant Test year with a debut for Australia as he cut through a weak defense to give the Kangaroos the lead.
Josh Addo-Carr pounced on a Latrell Mitchell pass to produce a brilliant field try length against the run of play to extend the Kangaroos’ lead.
Angus Crichton snuck through a hole with a perfectly timed pass from Cameron Munster to tap the ball in and push the score to 14 at the break.
It could have been more with Mitchell scrambling from dummy half, but there was a bump in the ball game that made it 18-4 at the break.
Addo-Carr made a break down the left to slip a pass to Munster, who parried Mitchell for a try just after the break to extend the Kangaroos’ lead.
Harry Grant capped a brilliant cameo from the bench with a solo try from a dummy-free run to put Australia ahead.
Debutant Reuben Cotter departed after a sickening clash on the head that put him in doubt for at least Australia’s second pool match.
In his first Test as skipper James Tedesco showed his class getting off the right foot and stepping up for Australia’s sixth try as the floodgates began to open.
Grant produced a brilliant run and kick out of dummy half to put the ball on a plate for Addo-Carr’s second.
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PREDICTION OF THE MATCH
Seven players will make their debuts for the Kangaroos when Australia take on Fiji to open their Rugby League World Cup campaign.
Murray Taulagi, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Angus Crichton, Jeremiah Nanai, Harry Grant, Reuben Cotter and Pat Carrigan will pull on the green and gold jersey for the first time.
Meanwhile, star fullback James Tedesco will also make his captaincy debut with Cameron Murray assisting him as vice-captain.
Coach Mal Meninga made the call to rest Panthers trio Nathan Cleary, Liam Martin and Isaah Yeo, as well as Eels prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard, as they all played in the NRL grand final a fortnight ago days
That means Manly veteran and starter Daly Cherry-Evans gets the first shot at the hotly contested position.
Meninga will follow the Queensland Maroons plan with a one-two punch combination of Ben Hunt and Harry Grant, while the versatility of Jack Wighton has also earned him a place on the bench.
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Fiji have suffered an interrupted preparation with coach Joe Rabele hospitalized after falling ill.
In addition, Dragons powerhouse Mikaele Ravalawa has withdrawn from the tournament with a hamstring injury, while Pio Seci and Joseph Ratuvakacereivalu will also not play.
But there’s still plenty to get excited about with Panthers rising star Sunia Turuva starting at fullback, scoring freak Maika Sivo on the wing, barnstormer Viliame Kikau in the second row and wily Api Koroisau as a prostitute
TEAMS
Australia: 1. James Tedesco (c) 9. Josh Addo-Carr 8. Latrell Mitchell 4. Valentine Holmes 23. Murray Taulagi 7. Cameron Munster 2. Daly Cherry-Evans 18. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 3. Ben Hunt 5. Jake Trbojevic 17. Angus Crichton 22. Jeremiah Nanai 11. Cameron Murray. Subs: 20. Harry Grant 16. Reuben Cotter 13. Patrick Carrigan 10. Jack Wighton Subs: 12. Matt Burton
Fiji: 1. Sunia Turuva 5. Miteli Vulikijapani 4. Kevin Naiqama (c) 19. Semi Valemei 2. Maika Sivo 6. Steveni Moceidreke 7. Brandon Wakeham 17. King Vuniyayawa 9. Apisai Koroisau 13. Tui Kamikakau 1222. William Kimicakau 1222. Josh Wong 16. Lamar Manuel-Liolevave. Exchange: 14. Penioni Tagituimu 23. Jowasa Drodrolagi 10. Ben Nakubuwai, 11. Daniela Sadrugu. Reserve: 18. Netane Masima
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