Latrell Mitchell Ruled Out of the World Cup Final With Illness, and James Tedesco Joins the Kangaroos Bench
Latrell Mitchell will miss tonight’s Rugby League World Cup final against New Zealand at Suncorp Stadium after falling ill. He did not take part in the Kangaroos’ captain’s run on Saturday, and James Tedesco replaces him on the six-man interchange, NRL.com and Nine reported.
Kevin Walters had named the same 19 that beat Samoa in the semi-final. Mitchell is the only change.
What it does to the Australian bench
Mitchell was on the bench against Samoa last Sunday, after he was moved to the interchange for the semi-final. Tedesco now takes that spot, alongside Ethan Strange, Keaon Koloamatangi, Cameron Murray, Reuben Cotter and Sam Walker. Blayke Brailey is the reserve.
Only four of the six can be used, under NRL rules. Pat Carrigan is listed to start at prop with Koloamatangi on the bench, but NRL.com said the pair may swap on game day again, as they did last week.
Tedesco was not in the 19 for the semi-final, where Reece Walsh scored a hat-trick at fullback in the 44-12 semi-final win over Samoa. Now he has a place on the bench for the final. Our earlier piece looked at Tedesco, Walsh and the Kangaroos fullback spot.
Mitchell was one of eight players in this squad who won the 2021 World Cup final against Samoa in 2022. Without him, Cameron Munster, Harry Grant, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Isaah Yeo, Liam Martin, Murray and Carrigan go for a second title.
The Kiwis get Mulitalo back
New Zealand have their own boost. Winger Ronaldo Mulitalo returns from the one-match ban that ruled him out of the 34-10 semi-final win over Tonga. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad goes back to the bench and Keano Kini drops out of the 19.
Naufahu Whyte (ankle) and Kodi Nikorima (leg) trained away from the main group on Thursday but have been cleared to play. “We obviously wrapped him in cotton wool earlier in the week but he has come through fine,” coach Stacey Jones said. “We are very excited about the team we have put together.”
The numbers before kick-off
The Kangaroos have won their last 22 World Cup matches, and the Kiwis have not beaten them on Australian soil since 2015, according to League Information Services. Tom Trbojevic has eight tries in four games at this tournament. On the other side, Jamayne Isaako needs one point to pass Shaun Johnson as the Kiwis’ all-time leading pointscorer.
There is one omen for New Zealand. Their only World Cup final win over Australia came in 2008, 34-20, at the same ground, Stuff noted.
Kick-off and how to follow it
The final starts at 7.35pm AEDT (9.35pm in New Zealand) at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, with Grant Atkins as referee. We have the kick-off times for the final in Australia, New Zealand and the UK, and the World Cup tracker will carry the result tonight.
