Australia Kangaroos vs New Zealand Kiwis talking points and reaction, Reece Walsh, Kalyn Ponga injury update

“There was a lot of talk about New Zealand through the week and not much about us and I feel like that helped us a lot in this game.”

Walsh also wanted to credit Walters and Tedesco for the roles they played in preparing him for Thursday’s Test match.

“A lot of credit goes to Kevvie for instilling the trust in me to get myself back here and give me a shot and then, man, what Teddy’s done for me this week,” he said on Channel 7.

“Just being able to sit there and ask some questions and learn. I’m sure I’m going to take a lot out of tonight’s game to be able to rub shoulders with one of the best in the fullback position.”

Despite Walsh’s big night, Walters quickly confirmed in his press conference that Tedesco would start next Sunday night as was the plan all along.

Given his super NRL season which culminated in a Clive Churchill Medal and a premiership, Tedesco is the favourite to start at fullback the rest of the way for Australia.

A strong showing against Fiji will almost guarantee it, but Walsh has given Walters something to think about.

At the very least, Walsh could be utilised as a super sub now that Tom Dearden has moved into the starting halves in place of an injured Mitch Moses.

PLAYER RATINGS

KANGAROOS: Superstar gives Kevvie big headache; Latrell’s wake-up call

KIWIS: 20yo freak’s incredible statement; teammate gets one up on star

KIWIS BUILT THEIR GAME AROUND PONGA… SO WHAT NEXT?

It was the one constant throughout the commentary of Thursday night’s game. How the entirety of New Zealand’s attack was built around the looming threat of Kalyn Ponga at fullback.

Sometimes he got the ball. Other times he was a decoy to create space.

Once in the second half he shaped to pass and sold it just enough to get Latrell Mitchell sliding before exploding back inside and beating Cameron Munster.

It was then just Ponga and Reece Walsh and once again the Kiwis superstar fooled his opposite number with fancy footwork, scoring a sensational try made all the more incredible by news later in the game that he had suffered a suspected broken arm.

Losing Ponga was always going to be a blow for New Zealand given how he can turn a game on its head with individual plays like that one.

But his absence will be particularly painful given he had been the focal point of everything the Kiwis did in attack, with Ponga running for 220 metres and busting seven tackles in Thursday’s loss.

“The way that they organised their play around Kalyn Ponga… that’s a big loss for New Zealand,” Roosters coach Trent Robinson said on Channel 7.

As Kiwis coach told reporters post-game, the “obvious” choice to replace him would be dynamic Titans fullback Keano Kini, who had already been singled out pre-tournament by England legend James Graham as a potential X-factor for New Zealand.

Kini isn’t the exact ball-playing threat Ponga is and is more of a pure running fullback, but he is a damn good one at that with scintillating speed off the mark and a slippery running style that makes him hard to tackle.

The young Titan isn’t the only replacement Jones can turn to though, with the dependable Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad also in the squad if he wants a more experienced fullback to help set the defensive line.

Former NRL fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen said on Channel 7 that if Jones is going to build his attack around the new No.1 then Kini is the obvious choice.

Otherwise, Papenhuyzen added that Nicoll-Klokstad would be a “solid” option.

Regardless of which player Jones opts for, Ponga was coming off a stellar finals run for Newcastle and while the Kiwis have depth at the position it will be hard to replace his class and touch in attack.

“He is a cut above. He is, and he’s earned that title. He’s earned that right,” Kiwis legend Shaun Johnson said on Channel 7.

“Some of his touches tonight showed that. Even some of his defensive movements, his work off the ball, getting the New Zealand defensive line ready. He’s a massive loss.

“But there’s a bit of depth in that role. Keano Kini and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad will be ready. I’ve got no doubt whoever gets given that that number one will stand up and fill a role.”

PRESS CONFERENCES

KANGAROOS: Kevvie outlines halves plan following Moses disaster

KIWIS: Grim fears for NZ superstar as coach earmarks ‘obvious’ replacement

WHO REPLACES MOSES IN THE HALVES?

As Mitchell Moses sweats on the severity of a leg injury that could end his World Cup campaign, a two-horse race has emerged to replace him as the Kangaroos halfback.

With Moses in doubt for the remainder of the tournament, attention has turned to who could step into his place and accompany Cameron Munster in the halves.

Coach Kevin Walters confirmed Sam Walker will wear the No.7 jersey against Fiji in their next match, giving the premiership winner an immediate chance to stake his claim.

“Sam will play next week and we will put Tom at five-eighth,” Walters confirmed post-match.

“They’ll both get their chance to wear the Green and Gold together which will be pretty exciting. They’ve never played together as a six and seven so that’ll be good.”

However, while Walker has been given the immediate nod to replace Moses, Tom Dearden strengthened his case as the man Walters will turn to come finals time after impressing off the interchange bench.

Despite playing only limited minutes, he made an immediate impact and showed composure with his elite kicking game and ability to run the ball when needed.

“At this stage, I’m not sure (who will be the long-term solution),” Walters added.

Former NRL halfback Sean O’Sullivan praised Dearden’s performance and was immediately impressed when he entered the field for Moses and helped steer the nation’s comeback.

“I thought Tommy Dearden did well when he came on,” O’Sullivan said on Fanatics TV.

One-time premiership winner Ryan Papenhuyzen was equally impressed and highlighted the Cowboys star’s ability to control the match when the pressure was turned up.

“Sometimes everyone tries their own thing and tries to win the game on their own merit, whereas you can see Dearden was playing chess,” he said on the Channel Seven post-match coverage show.

“He was moving his players around the field, being able to anticipate what’s going to happen.

“And part of the game was just to get the ball down there. Look at your wingers. Kick it to Bostock – hat-trick on debut.

“Very smart, very well handled by Tom Dearden.”

Shaun Johnson added on Channel Seven, “He had a level of confidence and control.”

Both Dearden and Walker have experience in the State of Origin arena playing alongside Munster and Walsh, so that can’t really be used to separate either.

Their long-range kicking game is also a question mark compared to Moses, and both are more instinctive, run-first players which in theory would make for an at times chaotic combination next to Munster.

But Dearden looked calm and composed when he got the call on Thursday, and Walker would have also learned a lot from his premiership run playing alongside Daly Cherry-Evans.

BOSTOCK’S CONTRACT STATEMENT

It’s been a whirlwind two years for Jack Bostock.