Kangaroos‘ Forward Pack Under Scrutiny Following Ashes Series
Australia’sโข dominant โขvictory โin the third โAshes Test against England has been overshadowed by concerns โregarding the โperformance of the Kangaroos’ forward pack during the โrecent Pacific Championship. While the backrowers Angus Crichton and Hudson Young demonstrated strong form, the middle forwards struggled to consistently impact the โgame, raising โquestions about their ability to competeโ againstโฃ the more formidable packs of New Zealand and samoa.
The Kangaroos’ middles failed to reach the 100-meterโ mark in runs, with only Isaah Yeo achieving that milestoneโ with 13 runs for 119 meters. Tino Fa’asaumaleaui managed 6 runs for 47 meters, Pat Carrigan 7 forโข 51, Reuben Cotter 7 for 72, Lindsay Collins 4 for โฃ54, and Keaon Koloamatangi โ3 for โค30. Despite limited โฃplaying time for some, โขthe lack of consistent yardage gained from the forwards has prompted analysis โof potential vulnerabilities asโ Australia prepares for future โchallenges.
Early in the match,โฃ Carrigan and Fa’asaumaleaui displayed aggression, and Cotter provided impact off theโฃ bench. Though, the disparity in performance compared to theโค Kiwi and โSamoan packs-known for their power-has led to speculation that the forward โฃline could prove to be a weakness for the Kangaroos in upcoming competitions.
Thisโ scrutinyโ arrives amid broader questions surrounding the futureโค of Queensland coach Kevin Walters, โand the form of Kangaroos halfback Nathan Cleary.Paul Crawley’s column highlights these concerns as Australia looks ahead toโ the 2025 NRLโฃ season and beyond.