{"id":272090,"date":"2025-11-08T23:58:10","date_gmt":"2025-11-08T23:58:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/272090\/"},"modified":"2025-11-08T23:58:10","modified_gmt":"2025-11-08T23:58:10","slug":"paul-crawley-column-kevin-walters-future-nathan-cleary-struggles-at-halfback-australia-vs-england-ashes-third-test","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/272090\/","title":{"rendered":"Paul Crawley column, Kevin Walters future, Nathan Cleary struggles at halfback, Australia vs England, Ashes, third Test"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kevin Walters\u2019 ongoing position as Kangaroos coach _ and Nathan Cleary\u2019s stranglehold on the No.7 jumper _ were the two biggest talking points to come out of Australia\u2019s 30-8 win over England in Leeds<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If you didn\u2019t get up to watch the final Test of the three match Ashes series, don\u2019t let the five-tries-to-one result fool you.<\/p>\n

The scoreline absolutely flattered Australia who it must be said were very brave defensively, but lacked the polish in attack to send everyone home feeling completely comfortable ahead of next year\u2019s World Cup countdown.<\/p>\n

Watch the 2025 Rugby League Ashes LIVE with no ad-breaks in play on FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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GRANT AND MUNSTER DELIVER, BUT CLEARY STRUGGLES AGAIN<\/p>\n

While Harry Grant and Cameron Munster were both super impressive, yet again Nathan Cleary failed to stamp his authority at rep level.<\/p>\n

In the opening two Tests Cleary played within himself but on both occasions was more than solid.<\/p>\n

But in the final Test you were flat out giving him much better than a pass mark given some really clunky moments with his usually exceptional passing and kicking.<\/p>\n

To be honest the \u2018Ice Man\u2019 just never looked completely at ease this entire series, and while he never stopped trying, it just wasn\u2019t working for him.<\/p>\n

It almost feels unfair to judge Cleary too harshly knowing how dominant he has been for several years now in club footy.<\/p>\n

But at rep level, the jury remains well and truly out if he should stay as Australia\u2019s automatic first choice halfback moving forward.<\/p>\n

It also raises the question whether Walters should have given Mitchel Moses a shot in this, game given the series was already decided.<\/p>\n

The other option would have been to give Tom Dearden a start instead of again playing him off the bench \u2013 or at least thrown him into the game at halftime, playing the seven role.<\/p>\n

Dearden brought instant energy when he came into the game late.<\/p>\n

Nathan Cleary didn\u2019t have the best Ashes series.Source: Supplied<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t forget Dearden won the Wally Lewis Medal this year as the man of the series in Queensland\u2019s Origin victory.<\/p>\n

As for Munster and Grant, they were the difference for Australia.<\/p>\n

Munster set up both first half tries.<\/p>\n

One with a beautiful Harbour Bridge cutout ball for Josh Addo-Carr\u2019s try, and the other with a clever grubber on the right edge that Hudson Young swooped on.<\/p>\n

Cameron Munster was player of the series.Source: Supplied<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Grant was a threat from the opening set when shot through a hole and put a kick through that Reece Walsh nearly scored from.<\/p>\n

The Storm skipper had a terrific game, finishing with a try and two line breaks to claim the man of the match, while Munster was voted player of the series.<\/p>\n

Walsh wasn\u2019t at his best but still finished with two late tries, the second coming from a scrum where he had plenty of space and the poor Poms didn\u2019t stand a chance of stopping him one-on-one.<\/p>\n

MORE NRL NEWS<\/p>\n

NOV 1 LIVE: All the latest NRL player movement as the November 1 deadline passes <\/a><\/p>\n

\u2018PART OF HISTORY\u2019: Walsh double ices Kevvie\u2019s Kangaroos\u2019 3-0 Ashes sweep in rout<\/a><\/p>\n

KANGAROOS RATINGS: Grant leads Aussies to victory; Cleary\u2019s rep curse continues<\/a><\/p>\n

‘Going to improve’ Walsh | 04:13<\/p>\n

HAS WALTERS DONE ENOUGH TO RETAIN KANGAROOS COACHING JOB?<\/p>\n

The sight of Walters standing nervously on the sideline during a tense period in the second half was enough to reinforce what was at stake here.<\/p>\n

Despite the final blowout, the Kangaroos went to the break only leading 12-8.<\/p>\n

And for the first 20 minutes of the second half, England continued to give as good as they got.<\/p>\n

In the end, they just didn\u2019t have the class in key positions to compete with the Kangaroos for the full 80 minutes.<\/p>\n

But with a World Cup coming up next year, the ARL Commission still has a massive decision about whether Walters has done enough to retain his job.<\/p>\n

People will argue how can you possibly get rid of the coach on the back of a three-nil Ashes win.<\/p>\n

But for those who have watched all three Tests, there is just no question the Kangaroos have not looked nearly as impressive as New Zealand and Samoa have during the Pacific Championship.<\/p>\n

Kevin Walters\u2019 Kangaroos were not convincing despite a 3-0 series win.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n

At Wembley we gave the Kangaroos\u2019 lacklustre attack the benefit of the doubt because it was the first match of the tour.<\/p>\n

We just naturally assumed they would gel in the second Test.<\/p>\n

But when it didn\u2019t improve in the second Test in Liverpool, many believed Walters should have made changes for the final Test.<\/p>\n

Will he regret not making the changes? We wait and see.<\/p>\n

I also wrote last week that the ARLC should reconsider its decision not to allow NRL aligned coaches the chance to put their hand up to coach Australia.<\/p>\n

If anything, the performance from the Kangaroos in Leeds only reinforces that.<\/p>\n

Australia only completed 70 per cent of their sets, while making a combined 14 errors for the match.<\/p>\n

In fairness, the defence was brave.<\/p>\n

But given the obvious gap between the talent of the two teams, this was not a series win that should make anyone feel completely comfortable.<\/p>\n

Watch every game of the 2025 Pacific Championships LIVE on FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Kangaroos clean sweep | 00:38<\/p>\n

MORE ROCKS THAN DIAMONDS<\/p>\n

When Mark Nawaqanitawase gets it right, he is right up with the most entertaining rugby league players on the planet.<\/p>\n

But once again the Roosters excitement machine just pushed it too far _ and against a better quality of opposition his four errors could have really sunk Australia.<\/p>\n

One minute he\u2019ll fly high to catch a bomb and look like an absolute genius.<\/p>\n

The next he\u2019ll fumble on his own tryline and almost cost his team a try.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s just not acceptable at international level.<\/p>\n

We know his free spirit and athleticism is what makes him such a special talent.<\/p>\n

But his mistakes here were so avoidable.<\/p>\n

If he played with a bit more restrain instead of always going for the miracle play he\u2019d be better for it.<\/p>\n

Walsh dazzles with solo scrum try | 01:01<\/p>\n

WAS KANGAROOS\u2019 \u2018ACHILLES HEEL\u2019 EXPOSED?<\/p>\n

Not a lot has been said about the performance of the Kangaroo pack aside from the edge backrowers Angus Crichton and Hudson Young who both had good series.<\/p>\n

But as for the Kangaroos\u2019 middles, it\u2019s hard to stack up their performances alongside what we\u2019ve seen from the Kiwis and Samoans in the Pacific Championship.<\/p>\n

Just looking at the numbers in this game and aside from Isaah Yeo (13 runs for 119m), not one middle went close to busting 100m.<\/p>\n

Tino Fa\u2019asaumaleaui 6 for 47m, Pat Carrigan 7 for 51, Reuben Cotter 7 for 72m, Lindsay Collins 4 for 54m and Keaon Koloamatangi 3 for 30m.<\/p>\n

Admittedly, none played big minutes.<\/p>\n

England end 80-minute try drought | 01:14<\/p>\n

In the early exchanges both Carrigan and Tino played with good aggression, while Cotter was strong off the bench.<\/p>\n

While it\u2019s hard to stack up their performances when the opposition is not at the same standard, there is a genuine concern that the forwards could become Australia\u2019s Achilles Heel when they\u2019re lining up against the powerhouse Kiwi and Samoan packs that will offer a different level of competition.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Kevin Walters\u2019 ongoing position as Kangaroos coach _ and Nathan Cleary\u2019s stranglehold on the No.7 jumper _ were…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":272091,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[568],"tags":[158142,22318,115333,64,63,689,4567,99730,13383,158141,158134,145762,1208,158135,2057,11299,157914,158138,158137,157918,122333,157964,158143,5094,4451,158136,157968,3196,1613,4466,158140,761,762,673,1736,7204,3583,158,677,158139,16228,26598,3252,701,13391,152774,130928,97277,38704,63405,85,776,157917,3586],"class_list":["post-272090","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nrl","tag-absolute-genius","tag-achilles-heel","tag-arl-commission","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-australia-and-new-zealand","tag-cameron-munster","tag-choice-halfback","tag-city-of-leeds","tag-club-footy","tag-cutout-ball","tag-deadline-passes","tag-england","tag-entertaining-rugby-league","tag-europe","tag-excitement-machine","tag-explosive-speed","tag-final-blowout","tag-five-tries-to-one-result","tag-fox-scores","tag-george-williams","tag-grant-leads","tag-instant-energy","tag-isaah-yeo","tag-josh-addo-carr","tag-kangaroos-coaching-job","tag-kangaroos-ratings","tag-kevvie-walters","tag-liverpool","tag-melbourne-storm","tag-mitchel-moses","tag-national-rugby-league","tag-nationalrugbyleague","tag-new-south-wales","tag-new-zealand","tag-north-melbourne-kangaroos","tag-northern-europe","tag-nrl","tag-oceania","tag-ongoing-position","tag-pass-mark","tag-pat-carrigan","tag-player-movement","tag-queensland","tag-reece-walsh","tag-rep-level","tag-rugby-league-ashes-live","tag-rugby-league-players","tag-series-win","tag-special-talent","tag-sports","tag-tom-dearden","tag-try-drought","tag-united-kingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/272090","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=272090"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/272090\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/272091"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=272090"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=272090"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=272090"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}