Fiji playmaker Kurt Donoghoe has provided the rest of the World Cup with a blueprint on how to attack the Kangaroos’ right edge – but makeshift winger Tom Trbojevic says he’s ready for anything that comes his way in the next three weeks.
Even though Trbojevic bagged a hat-trick of tries against Fiji last Sunday night, taking his tally to 10 four-pointers in nine Tests, he was disappointed with himself after the match.
Fiji five-eighth Donoghoe sent Semi Valemei over for his own treble after doing enough to leave Trbojevic in two minds on several occasions.
Donoghoe delivered a lovely cutout pass for Valemei’s first try, one that few established wingers would have stopped, while Trbojevic was caught in-field on the other two times.
In Australia’s World Cup opener against New Zealand , the Kiwis also focused plenty of their attack on the side of the field defended by Trbojevic and centre Kotoni Staggs. New Zealand’s first try, scored by Casey McLean, came in their corner, and Kalyn Ponga then found a gap between the pair, only to be denied a try by Reece Walsh.
Trbojevic has rewatched his performance against the Bati and is clear about what is required, starting with Saturday night’s final pool game against the Cook Islands in Townsville.
To be fair to the Manly ace, the Kangaroos’ decision to use one of the game’s best fullbacks as a winger always meant teams would send plenty of traffic his way.
Jack Bostock is on the other wing, but this is the position he had played extensively in the NRL with the Dolphins before moving into the centres this year.
“I was disappointed the other night, and you hate feeling like you’ve let people down,” Trbojevic told this masthead ahead of Saturday’s match in Townsville.
“I get it, people will look at that [what Donoghoe did], but I just have to be better.
“I don’t get exposed in these defensive situations often; it’s very different to defending at fullback, so I have to get in as many reps as possible.
“It’s not one little thing. There are different parts to defending out there. Ultimately, you just want to be on the same page and be connected as an edge. We all come from different clubs and different defensive systems, so we’re trying to get on the same page as quickly as we can.”
The one query about coach Kevin Walters’ Kangaroos squad before the World Cup was the lack of specialist wingers. Jojo Fifita switched his allegiance to Tonga, while Selwyn Cobbo was carrying niggling injuries and opted to miss the tournament.
Trbojevic and Bostock, however, are both tall and athletic, and give Australia genuine attacking options on both sides of the field.
On paper, the Cook Islands and Australia loom as a mismatch, which might mean the wingers aren’t in for a busy night.
Trbojevic had no appetite to be rested at any stage, despite both his injury history and a six-day turnaroundheading into the Cook Islands contest.
“I feel good, the body feels good, and I want to keep playing – you never know how many opportunities you’ll get to wear this jersey,” he said.
Meanwhile, Trbojevic said he would worry about his future at Manly once his World Cup commitments were finished.
The northern beaches’ junior is one of 11 Kangaroos players who become free agents on Sunday, but Trbojevic has no plans of going anywhere, and the club has already held preliminary discussions about a two-year extension.
The Sea Eagles have also kicked off negotiations with Caleb Navale about a deal beyond 2027.
Navale has proven a standout for Fiji during the World Cup, but has been restricted to just 12 NRL games in three seasons.
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