The question as to who will be Mal Meninga’s halfback is no closer to being answered as Nathan Cleary and Daly Cherry-Evans played out a stalemate in Australia’s 66-6 win over Italy.
In their final group game, the Kangaroos outclassed a gritty Azzurri but they were made to work for it on a chilly night in front of 5586 fans in St Helens.
Wingers Murray Taulagi and Campbell Graham both grabbed try-scoring doubles to strengthen their claims for inclusion for next weekend – a game which is likely to pit Meninga’s men against Michael Cheika’s Lebanon.
The concern for Meninga after a 12-try domination may be the fact lock Isaah Yeo was placed on report by referee Liam Moore for a second-half crusher tackle.
Parramatta prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard, who didn’t return following the halftime break also copped a cork to his thigh.
Campbell-Gillard is in no doubt for the quarters next Friday (Saturday AEDT), but who will be Australia’s first-choice halfback for that game remains unknown.
“I thought they (Cherry-Evans and Cleary) both handled it really well, they shared the workload and the kicking game,” Meninga said.
“We can get better as we start to look at what our best combinations are.
“In the back of your mind you’re trying to pick your best 17, you’re constantly thinking about it and I’ve got to settle on something very soon.
“He (Campbell-Gillard) got a pretty severe cork and we’ve got to see how he pulls up.”
Cherry-Evans had a hand in Australia’s first two tries and looked the more assured customer as he reverted to playing five-eighth in the absence of Cameron Munster.
The Manly skipper dispatched a crossfield kick for Valentine Holmes to gather from the air and score the game’s opening try after eight minutes before combining with Latrell Mitchell to send Taulagi over for Australia’s second.
Cleary failed to convert both opening tries but finished with nine from 12 attempts after warming to the contest.
The Penrith playmaker sent Australia captain and former Italy international James Tedesco over in the 20th minute, adding the extras before an impressive kick strangled Italy.
Spotting Azzurri fullback Luke Polselli out of position, Cleary forced a dropout from his own half with a powerful boot down field.
Graham scored off the drop-out with Mitchell and Taulagi also going in before halftime to give Australia a 30-0 advantage.
Yeo and Liam Martin pushed the Aussies further ahead but the biggest cheer of the night came when Campbelltown-born Rinaldo Palumbo scored for the Italians by diving on a grubberkick into the in-goal in the 53rd.
It was to be the Italians’ only moment of cheer as Cameron Murray, Graham, Lindsay Collins and Jeremiah Nanai went over to further underline Australia’s dominance.
“I’m pretty proud of that performance, they could’ve buckled and waiting for the game to end,” Italian coach Leo Epifania said.
“We just kept colliding the whole game. We didn’t want to sit there and we wanted to chase it.”
Australia – 66
- Valentine Holmes 6′
- Murray Taulagi 11′
- James Tedesco 18′
- Campbell Graham 27′
- Latrell Mitchell 35′
- Murray Taulagi 39′
- Isaah Yeo 45′
- Liam Martin 50′
- Cameron Murray 57′
- Campbell Graham 67′
- Jeremiah Nanai 73′
- Lindsay Collins 79′
Italy – 6
- Ronny Palumbo 53′
