Kangaroos captain Isaah Yeo reckons his new halves pairing have passed their six-day Test rugby league crash course with flying colours.
Tom Dearden and Mitch Moses will face a true examination against Tonga in Brisbane in Friday night’s Pacific Championships opener.
They are among six debutants in Mal Meninga’s side that otherwise carries scars of a last-start, 30-0 record loss to New Zealand almost a year ago.
Tonga also beat the world No.1 side in their last meeting five years ago, with Kristian Woolf’s side arguably stronger now.
Parramatta’s Moses hasn’t played since rupturing his biceps in a match-winning effort to seal the State of Origin series in July.
Cowboys five-eighth Dearden, 23, has won his spot after a solid Origin series for Queensland, Meninga not selecting his Maroons’ captain and halves partner Daly Cherry-Evans.
“That’s probably the hardest thing in a short camp, the halves and how they gel,” Yeo said of the pair’s week in camp.
They’ve owned how they want to play and how it’ll fit within the team.
“There’s a difference between training and playing, but the way it’s looked so far has been really good.
“I’m excited to see them go out there and debut for Australia; I know they’ll both do a wonderful job.”
Panthers star Yeo expects to lead by example in his first Test in charge.
“My whole leadership style is to keep myself accountable and off the back of that you can keep others accountable,” he said.
“We’re amongst the best of the best here.
“Mal said to play to what I feel the game needs at the time,
“That’s what I’ve tried to do throughout my career but particularly this season.
“So not an awful lot will change, I’ll play what’s in front of me.”
Australia’s Jillaroos will play Papua New Guinea’s Orchids in the first of two games at Suncorp Stadium on Friday.
https://thewest.com.au/sport/rugby-league/fast-tracked-kangaroos-halves-up-to-task-skipper-yeo-c-16430939
