Our last article looked at the five players in with a shot of being Australia’s fullback at the World Cup, so we now move onto the wingers.
5. Josh Mansour
Mansour is not one of the strongest wingers in the league, so his inclusion in this list highlights the lack of depth on the wings for Australia. However, this is not to knock Mansour’s quality, but more a sign of the talented wingers coming out of Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. Mansour still had a solid 2020, scoring 12 tries, making 21 line breaks and breaking 69 tackles. He played for Australia as recently as 2017, so even at 30 he should have the ability to compete with the very best for a spot at the World Cup.
4. Kyle Feldt
Feldt has been one of the most consistent wingers in the NRL since his debut for North Queensland in 2013. This is epitomised by the fact that after scoring 19 tries last season, he had scored over 10 tries for five seasons consecutively. He had success on the wing for Australia’s 9s team, scoring four tries in five appearances. It would be a surprise to see him start at the World Cup, but it would be far from undeserved.
3. Valentine Holmes
Although currently playing at fullback after his return from a short stint in American Football, Valentine Holmes has the talent to get back in the Australian national side. It’s also important to remember just how good Holmes was at the last World Cup, scoring a record breaking 12 tries. The speedster is just 25 years of age, and with 33 tackle breaks already this season, he would have a lot to offer.
2. Nick Cotric
Cotric’s try output has been disappointing in his few appearances for the Bulldogs, however he is too good to be overlooked for Australia. He has averaged 130 running metres per game in 2021, a statistic that will please Mal Meninga as an outside back willing to do the dirty work is a huge asset for any team to have. The NSW man had a wonderful final two years at Canberra that earned him the big money move to the Bulldogs, and he will no doubt feel he deserves a place in the line-up.
1. Josh Addo-Carr
The ‘Fox’ is easily the best winger in the world in my opinion. His most important attribute is pace, and he uses it to maximum effect. He scores some outrageously good tries, leaving defenders for dead with his lightning speed and footwork. He has scored 78 tries in 105 appearances for the Storm, and would surely put up similarly impressive numbers at a World Cup.
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