Rugby league World Cup 2026: Kangaroos forward pack hits back at critics after being outmuscled by rivals, Liam Martin, Lindsay Smith, Pat Carrigan, Harry Grant, Samoa, Trent Robinson

When a pack of forwards is criticised for losing the physical battle in the middle, they take it personally.

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The Kangaroos have arrived at the World Cup semi-finals undefeated after wins over New Zealand, Fiji and the Cook Islands, but have hardly been convincing in all three games.

And much of the criticism has been aimed at the forward pack.

The Kangaroos may have beaten the Kiwis by two in the tournament opener, but they ran for 284m fewer metres, and it must be remembered that Australia took two intercepts and ran the length of the field while Reece Walsh ran for nearly 90m in one run.

So they were dominated by the Kiwis in the middle of the park.

Even minnows Fiji outpointed the Australian pack in the second game.

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It led to four-time premiership-winning coach Trent Robinson taking aim at the big men.

“Australia got outmuscled by Fiji and they did by New Zealand last week,” he said in commentary.

“It doesn’t matter what halves pair you play … can they win the forward battle? Can they create enough of a platform?

“Australia needs to muscle up more than what they did in the first two Tests. They need to get a hell of a lot better there.

“They were losing in the 60th minute, not just in the 20th minute. Fiji outmuscled them in how they carried the ball and how they tackled.”

Kangaroos back-rower Liam Martin is one to take things personally out on the field, but he acknowledged to Foxsports.com.au on Monday that the Aussies had yet to hit top gear.

“We all know that we haven’t played our best game, but the really exciting thing is we know we’ve got so much improvement in us, so if we bring our best game, I don’t think anyone can match us,” Martin said.

“You’ve got to have that mentality of taking it to them and when people criticise you and say that you know they’ve got it over you. We take it pretty personally.”

Martin said he wouldn’t want to be lining up with anyone else other than Pat Carrigan, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Lindsay Smith and Harry Grant when they take on Samoa on Sunday night at Allianz Stadium in Sydney.

Smith, Martin’s Penrith teammate, told Foxsports.com.au that he and his fellow forwards have tried not to listen to the outside noise but did defend the influence of the pack.

“There’s obviously things we can work on as a team and as a pack, but if you look back at both those games, you don’t win games of footy without your forward pack and we won both of them,” Smith said.

“There’s definitely areas we need to be better as a team and as a pack, but I think we’re tracking in the right direction and I can’t wait for the challenge ahead.”

Smith warned his fellow forwards that they needed to stay calm when they run into the likes of Junior Paulo, Francis Molo, Jermaine McEwen, Francis Manuleleua and co.

And over-reaction to the criticism could spell trouble.

“I guess you’ve got to take your motivation where you can and that can add a little bit to the fire, but it’s also a fine line with getting too emotional at times,” Smith said.

“I feel like you’ve got to take that challenge head-on each and every week as a forward.”

“It’s always you versus your opposition. You’ve got a big part to play in terms of how the team goes, so there’s definitely some things you’ve got to take personally.”

Carrigan has been playing front-row during the tournament but is more of a lock, which is where he plays at Brisbane.

He only ran for 100m or more, once in three games this tournament and admitted it was very physical out there, even against the minnows like Fiji and the Cook Islands.

“We know we’re going to have to be on,” Carrigan said.

“People are going to have an opinion of you and it is what it is, but I love playing with this group of boys.

“There’s no egos here and there’s just a willingness to do whatever job you need to do for the team.”

Grant is the best hooker in the game but his effectiveness is dulled when his forwards aren’t dominating the middle.

It makes it difficult for him to run out of dummy half and create trouble. He only had two runs for just 11m against New Zealand and four runs against the Cook Islands.

He said the pack took a step in the right direction against the Cook Islands but knows the Samoans present a whole different challenge.

“Everyone’s got an opinion these days, and I think internally I know what this forward pack’s capable of,” Grant said.

“I know what we stand for as a forward pack and it’s just about showing that week in, week out.

“I’m pretty appreciative as a dummy half with the guys I’ve got around me. I know how much work they get through, physically.”