Australia sailed through to the Rugby League World Cup quarter-finals as Group B winners on Saturday, comprehensively beating Italy 66-6 in St Helens.
Campbell Graham and Murray Taulagi each scored twice and Nathan Cleary kicked nine goals as the 11-time world champions dealt with the Italian effort with plenty to spare, although a second-half injury to captain James Tedesco will be of concern to coach Mal Meninga.
The hope will be that Tedesco returns to fitness in time for Friday night’s quarter-final, which is likely to be against Lebanon.
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Valentine Holmes collected Daly Cherry-Evans’ measured kick to score the opener on Merseyside, and Murray Taulagi soon added a second after the Kangaroos created numbers on the left.
Tedesco then tallied against his former country, throwing a dummy to drag the Italians out of position before going himself, before Graham made it 20-0 after collecting a misjudged short drop-out from the Azzurri.
Latrell Mitchell took centre stage in the moments before half-time, first touching down himself off Cleary’s inside pass on the last tackle, then sending in Taulagi with a brilliant flicked pass behind his back to give the winger a walk-in for a 30-0 lead at the interval.
Tedesco and Cherry-Evans both had a hand in the first try of the second period, with Isaah Yeo finishing off, but the full-back was off the field by the time Graham grabbed the Kangaroos’ eighth try having picked up a knee injury. Having looked to twist his knee in a tackle, Tedesco was dragged straight off as a precaution.
It was Liam Martin who was in immediately afterwards, collecting Cleary’s pass to go through unchecked, but the moment of the game followed soon after. The Italians retrieved a short kick-off and were given a set restart as they built pressure on the Australia line.
Radean Robinson then sent a kick in behind the defensive line for Rinaldo Palumbo to dot down and send the Totally Wicked Stadium crazy. Jack Campagnolo goaled, but Australia were back on the scoresheet within minutes when Cameron Murray barged through to restore the champions’ 42-point advantage.
Graham then took Cherry-Evans’ inside pass to bring up his double and take the Kangaroos past 50, before Jeremiah Nanai danced through a tired backline off another Cherry-Evans pass to make it 60. Lindsay Collins then crashed over on the hooter to complete the rout.
While Italy are eliminated, Australia head to Huddersfield’s John Smith’s Stadium next Friday, where they will meet Lebanon so long as the Cedars beat minnows Jamaica on Sunday.
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject to Change
