LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
Rugby league greats have expressed their disappointment and criticism towards the Australian Kangaroos after their humiliating defeat against New Zealand.
Greg Alexander, a legend of the game, labeled the 30-0 loss as an "embarrassing result for Australian rugby league." The performance of Mal Meninga's side was lackluster and they posed little to no threat to the hosts at the FMG Stadium in Waikato.
This defeat goes down in history as Australia's heaviest ever and their first shut-out since 2005.
Alexander believed that the return of Payne Haas, Liam Martin, and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui would have made a positive impact for the Kangaroos.
However, the fast start from the Kiwis prevented the visitors from ever getting into the contest.
"The Kiwis needed to make a good start, they needed to be strong and aggressive and they needed to keep it going because this Australian side is a fantastic side," Alexander commented.
The frustration and disappointment were palpable as rugby league greats expressed their dissatisfaction with the Kangaroos' performance.
This result has certainly left a mark on Australian rugby league and calls for reflection and improvement are inevitable.
The players and coaching staff will need to regroup and analyze what went wrong in order to bounce back stronger in future matches.
The Kangaroos will be eager to redeem themselves and restore their reputation as one of the dominant forces in the sport.