Addo-Carr closes in on Rugby League World Cup record, Kangaroos sweat on Tedesco fitness

Kieran Francis

Addo-Carr closes in on Rugby League World Cup record, Kangaroos sweat on Tedesco fitness image

Five tries in one match.

Not a bad performance from a player that couldn't get picked for NSW in State of Origin.

Josh Addo-Carr was man of the match as the Kangaroos thrashed Lebanon 48-4 in the Rugby League World Cup quarter-finals.

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The Bulldogs flyer has undoubted been the star of the show in England with his performances so far.

After being overlooked by Blues coach Brad Fittler for the recent Origin series, Addo-Carr has exploded as a representative star in the World Cup.

Having played in three Kangaroos matches so far, Addo-Carr has scored 11 tries, which is only one behind the record set by Valentine Holmes in 2017.

And Australia will have at least one match, and likely two to play for the rest of the tournament, giving Addo-Carr ample time to break the record.

Addo-Carr was only one try short of the all-time Australia record for most tries in a single game with Holmes also holding that mark with six.

When asked post-match about why he didn't achieve that record, Addo-Carr said: "I think it was ill-discipline and a couple of calls didn't go our way, but once we started competing at the back end of the game, some calls went our way.

"I'm grateful for the five tries. We worked hard through the middle. I'm just grateful to be on the wing. I just have to catch the ball and put it down.

However, Addo-Carr denied he was using his Origin snub as motivation.

"No, not at all," Addo-Carr said when asked if the World Cup was redemption for missing Origin.

"It just wasn't my time this year to play Origin. I've said that many times before.

"I just love playing with these boys and this coaching staff and I think we have something special here."

Josh Addo Carr Kangaroos 110522
Getty Images

Kangaroos sweat on fitness of James Tedesco

A slightly concerning sight for the Kangaroos was the absence of James Tedesco in the second half.

There was an ice pack strapped to his knee but the Rooster was seen relaxed and smiling, an emotion that surely would have been different if the injury was serious.

Sports physiotherapist Brian Seeney - who runs the @NRLPhysio Twitter account- believes Tedesco will be fine to meet the winner of New Zealand and Fiji in the semi-final next Saturday morning (AEDT).

"No James Tedesco in the 2nd half for the Kangaroos, off with ice above his left knee," Seeney tweeted.

"Likely dealing with a contusion/cork, precautionary more than anything. Should be fine moving forward."

Kieran Francis

Kieran Francis Photo

Kieran Francis is a senior editor at The Sporting News based in Melbourne, Australia. He started at Sportal.com.au before being a part of the transition to Sporting News in 2015. Just prior to the 2018 World Cup, he was appointed chief editor of Goal.com in Australia. He has now returned to The Sporting News where his passions lay in football, AFL, poker and cricket - when he is not on holiday.