LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
In a shocking revelation, Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga has admitted to feeling blindsided by the backlash following last year's embarrassing 30-0 defeat to New Zealand in the Pacific Cup final.
However, Meninga's men are now on a mission for redemption as they prepare to face Tonga in the final showdown at Sydney's CommBank Stadium on Sunday.
Reflecting on the dark day in Australian rugby league history, Meninga has used the crushing loss as fuel for this year's campaign.
Despite convincing victories over Tonga and the Kiwis leading up to the final, Meninga knows that their past successes will be overshadowed if they don't clinch victory on Sunday.
With only Dylan Edwards, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Pat Carrigan, Harry Grant, Lindsay Collins, Reuben Cotter, and skipper Isaah Yeo remaining from last year's final squad, Meninga has been given a three-year contract extension to guide the Kangaroos to World Cup glory in 2026.
Opening up to The Courier Mail before the final, Meninga confessed that the defeat to the Kiwis had deeply affected him but had ultimately driven him to silence his critics and strive for excellence.
"I was blindsided by it all, I must confess," Meninga revealed, hinting at the pressure he faced to prove himself as the right man for the job.
In what promises to be an epic clash, Meninga's men are gearing up to unleash their full potential and secure their place in rugby league history.