Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters has challenged his side to make a World Cup statement against Cook Islands on Saturday night after two patchy performances to open the tournament.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Australia are the only team so far to have booked their place in the semi-finals but have been below their best in wins over New Zealand and Fiji.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It took a Jack Bostock hat-trick to overcome the Kiwis in front of a record crowd in the tournament opener before a 24-point burst saw the Kangaroos turn a 16-12 deficit midway through the second half into a 36-22 victory over the Bati last Sunday night.<\/p>\n
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Australia v Fiji Bati, Round 2, 2026<\/p>\n
So while Saturday’s clash with Cook Islands in Townsville could be viewed as a chance to try out some new combinations, it has instead become a final chance for Australia to find their stride before the knockout games begin.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Experienced forward Liam Martin conceded the side has been below their best and said Walters has made it clear he expects better moving forward.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“He’s challenged every individual to step up,” Martin told reporters in Townsville. “It’s a long tournament, you want to be playing your best footy at the back end.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“As long as we keep improving, keep pushing each other at training, keep getting better, I know we’ve got our best footy in front of us.”<\/p>\n
Martin’s comments come after the forward pack struggled to lay the platform up front in each of the past two weeks.\u00a0<\/p>\n
New Zealand forwards Naufahu Whyte and James Fisher-Harris ensured the Kangaroos were always on the backfoot in the tournament opener.<\/p>\n
Then last week an unheralded Fiji pack took it to the Australians and caught many by surprise with their physicality.<\/p>\n
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Yeo and Fisher-Harris react to epic opener<\/p>\n
It’s a warning of what’s to come over the next few weeks with the Kangaroos likely to face either Tonga or Samoa in the semi-final at Allianz Stadium.\u00a0<\/p>\n