Kangaroos kick away from Fiji in eight-try trouncing at Rugby League World Cup

Australia overcame an early scare to run away with their first game of the Rugby League World Cup, Storm playmakers Harry Grant and Cameron Munster leading the way, as they defeated a brave but ill-disciplined Fiji 42-8 in an eight-try feast at Leeds.

After 1078 days since their last Test, the Kangaroos were shellshocked early when, from Fiji’s first set in possession, the men in white touched down, a deliciously curling grubber from Siti Moceidreke curving back to meet Semi Valemei in the left corner. It was a heartening start for the Fijian Bati that must have cheered coach Joe Rabele who had been rushed to hospital with illness before the kickoff.

The sucker-punch start made Australia lost shape. Fiji had made the most of their one minute in attack, while Australia failed to convert from 14 minutes with the ball. But after some strong Jake Trbojevic charges, Cameron Murray and Daly Cherry-Evans combined, pivoting at pace as they sank into the line. It created the reverse angle for Jeremiah Nanai, slicing back inside to go in under the posts in the 15th minute.

Australia settled and a Munster one-on-one steal set up Nanai for another charge, but this time the big man went just short. Fiji made big metres on their return set and were setting up for a second five-pointer until Kangaroos captain James Tedesco diffused the last-tackle bomb and Hunt shovelled a nondescript pass off the ruck.

But the man it found is anything but nondescript. Josh Addo-Carr, cruelly shunned by NSW coach Brad Fittler for State of Origin but prized in Mal Meninga’s national set-up, now showed why. The Foxx put on the after after-burners to escape rush hour and go coast-to-coast, scything through Fiji’s back three with speed and guile to put the