Kangaroos Forwards Hit Back at Critics Ahead of Samoa Semi-Final

Australia's forward pack has hit back at suggestions they have been outmuscled at the Rugby League World Cup, insisting the criticism is personal as they prepare for Sunday's semi-final against Samoa at Allianz Stadium in Sydney. The Kangaroos have arrived in the last four undefeated after wins over New Zealand, Fiji and the Cook Islands, but they have hardly been convincing in any of the three games, and four-time premiership-winning coach Trent Robinson said in commentary that Australia were outmuscled by both Fiji and New Zealand. The numbers back up the concern: the Kangaroos ran for 284 metres fewer than the Kiwis in the tournament opener, despite taking two intercepts and running the length of the field, and even Fiji outpointed the Australian pack in the second game. Star hooker Harry Grant's effectiveness has been dulled by the lack of go-forward, with just two runs for 11 metres against New Zealand and four runs against the Cook Islands. The forwards, led by Liam Martin, Lindsay Smith, Pat Carrigan and Grant, say they take that kind of criticism personally and are determined to answer it against a Samoan side that pushed Tonga all the way in a thrilling 20-18 quarter-final.