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Australia faces Lebanon in the World Cup quarterfinals on Saturday morning AEST, but Mal Meninga’s side is far from settled.
Meninga had five years to prepare for Australia’s World Cup defence but on the eve of the knockout stages he remains undecided on his best 17.
Who plays halfback, right centre, and on the bench are the tough selection calls which have been keeping the Kangaroos coach up at night.
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The halfback battle has played out between State of Origin rivals in Panthers gun Nathan Cleary and Sea Eagles veteran Daly Cherry-Evans.
Rabbitohs superstar Latrell Mitchell will be the left centre, while Jack Wighton, Matt Burton and Campbell Graham have been fighting it out in the group stages to partner him.
Harry Grant or Ben Hunt will be Australia’s hooker in the semis and final, and whoever of the duo doesn’t start is expected to fill the utility role on the bench.
However, Meninga will Australia’s knockout clash against Lebanon in Huddersfield as a final trial game.
Meninga has named his squad for the clash against the Cedards in alphabetical order and Hunt has been rested, while Burton has been left out.
Cherry-Evans is expected to take Hunt’s spot on the bench, but it could also be filled by Wighton if he doesn’t start.
DCE played off the bench in Australia’s 2013 World Cup final victory over New Zealand, but he missed selection for the 2017 tournament.
Foxsports.com.au spoke to Cooper Cronk, Justin Hodges and Paul Gallen – and the Kangaroos greats were divided on some of the tough selection decisions.
Cronk declared Cleary must start and that Meninga couldn’t afford to “carry” Cherry-Evans on the bench.
Gallen said it “has to be Cleary” and former Blues hooker Mick Ennis agreed, emphasising his combination with club teammate Isaah Yeo cannot be ignored.
“Australia can still win the World Cup with Daly Cherry-Evans at halfback, it’s just to me the representative jersey – particularly playing for your country – should be the best players in the best positions that complement the team,” Ennis told foxsports.com.au.
“When I look at that side I think who are the two most important players outside of James Tedesco? It’s Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo. They handle the ball more than any other player other than the dummy half.
“Their combination is unrivalled in the game at the moment, they are so on the same page and have a great understanding of each other’s game and how to make the right decisions at the right time.”
Australia are on a semi-final collision course with New Zealand and Ennis believes Grant should start with Hunt on the bench.
“I know Daly played at No. 14 in the early days but at the moment Daly is a dominant halfback and so is Nathan, where Ben is a very comfortable No. 9 ,” Ennis said.
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“Ben does a great job when he comes on like he did for Queensland and plays that extra ball-player through the middle with Harry.
“He thrives in that effort stuff – the kick chase, the line speed, all that stuff in the mid part of the game. He’s proven very handy in that role.
“I’d steer away from having Daly and Nathan there because I feel like Nathan needs to have that right of ‘this is your team, go and win Australia the World Cup’ and now have to be looking over his shoulder wondering when Daly is coming on, thinking ‘if I don’t do something right or the game doesn’t go right early then am I going to get flicked?’
“Just let him be, let him run the side and let him own the side. That’s what he’s done great for Penrith and for NSW.”
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News Corp journalist Brent Read attended Kangaroos training this week and reported Cleary trained at halfback and Cherry-Evans filled in at hooker, while Wighton spent almost the entire session in the centres with Valentine Holmes on the wing.
Cronk believes Graham should be picked ahead of Wighton because he’s a specialist with rock-solid defence.
“He’s the only right-sided centre. You’ve got Wighton, Burton and Latrell who are all left centres,” Cronk said.
“Graham has done a really good job, scored a couple of tries and is a really good defensive centre.
“I think he (should) play on the right and Latrell plays on the left and that means Josh Addo-Carr will be the left wing and Val Holmes will be the right wing.”
But Hodges disagreed and said Wighton should be picked alongside Mitchell for the remainder of the tournament.
“Latrell has to be there and then I’d pick Wighton.Those two would be lethal playing on each side,” Hodges said.
“They both just play with so much aggression as well.”
Meninga has played everyone in his 24-man squad throughout the group stages and admitted it had been a said brutal selection meeting this week.
“It is extremely difficult to leave any player out,” he said.
“We have reached the knockout stages of the tournament and we need to ensure we have consistency in the squad and in the positions.
“Lebanon are a very good side and we expect a very strong and creative performance from them.”
KANGAROOS SIDE TO FACE LEBANON (alphabetical order)
9. Josh Addo-Carr
13. Pat Carrigan
2. Daly Cherry-Evans
14. Nathan Cleary
15. Lindsay Collins
16. Reuben Cotter
17. Angus Crichton
18. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
19. Campbell Graham
20. Harry Grant
4. Valentine Holmes
21. Liam Martin
8. Latrell Mitchell
7. Cameron Munster
11. Cameron Murray (vc)
James Tedesco (c)
5. Jake Trbojevic
10. Jack Wighton
24. Isaah Yeo (vc)
Australia and Lebanon kick-off at 6:30am on Saturday and can only be seen on Fox League.
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