Sam MCKENDRY [
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Fri April 20, 2012
by ABC Sport
Source: www.abc.net.auCameron Smith celebrated his first Test as Australia's full-time skipper with the match-winning try as the Kangaroos held off a persistent but error-riddled New Zealand 20-12 at Eden Park on Friday night.
In Australia's first Test of the post-Darren Lockyer era, the Kangaroos overcame the sin-binning of full-back Billy Slater to maintain their dominance of the annual mid-year clash - the Kiwis still without a win in the Anzac Test since 1998.
Having put themselves back into the contest when Shaun Johnson marked his Test debut with a 90-metre intercept try to cut the deficit to two points, the Kiwis were unable to go on with the job, with Smith sealing the result with a short-range try 10 minutes from full-time.
"The Kiwis were never going to roll over. We had to fight all the way to the end," Sam Thaiday told Grandstand.
"That was a true Australia-New Zealand Test, there was some tough work."
The Kiwis will no doubt rue the plethora of errors which punctuated their performance, including 41 missed tackles and two kicks out on the full, though they can take some heart from the fact it was the third straight mid-year Test decided by 10 points or less.
"We stuck to our long kicking game, and turned their big fellas around and we got a couple of errors off them," Johnathan Thurston said of the second-half arm wrestle.
"It was definitely a grind. I thought we had enough gas left in the back half to give ourselves a chance. Unfortunately they scored that try with about 10 to go," he said.
"We got off to a good start but probably took our foot off the pedal a little bit in that first half.
"A couple of back-to-back errors which are also to costly against a good team like Australia."
While the fans gave him an icy reception, there was no special treatment for Kiwi-born Australian debutant James Tamou, who was the least productive of the Kangaroos front-rowers with 77 metres from 10 runs.
Fellow debutant Johnson was left writhing in pain, holding his shoulder in the opening minute before recovering for a memorable first Test.
"Certainly highs and lows. That intercept try is something I'll never forget, such as buzz running in to score, but it wasn't a good feeling when I was lying on the ground in the first minute of the game," he said.
The 21-year-old noted the step up in intensity.
"You're playing the best of the best players. If you don't come in prepared that it's going to be brutal, fast and really physical you're going to be no show," he added.
"I thought we matched them pretty well tonight."
Costly errorsDesperately needing to be the first to score after the break, the Kiwis had a shocking start to the second stanza, with Jason Nightingale taken into touch on the third tackle, Nathan Fien kicking out on the full and conceding a penalty in the first five minutes.
But their luck turned with Johnson plucking a Cooper Cronk pass in the 46th minute and racing 90 metres to drag the home side within two points at 14-12.
The Kiwi chant went up but it was the Kangaroos who went closest when Akuila Uate fumbled just short of the tryline after Justin Hodges had flung the ball infield when tackled into touch by Brisbane team-mate Josh Hoffman.
The Kiwis continued to be their own worst enemy as this time Benji Marshall kicked out on the full inside his own half, and with David Taylor starting to cause damage against a tiring defence, Smith left his mark as he swivelled over after a grubber kick bounced back into his arms.
In front of a pumped-up 35,329-strong crowd that will no doubt add weight to calls for the match to remain part of the calendar, the Kiwis charged out of the gates with Issac Luke going over after team-mate Jeremy Smith had been held up over the line.
The Kangaroos hit back as Johnathan Thurston and Greg Inglis scored four minutes apart to put the visitors in control before they lost Slater to the sin bin when he was deemed to have committed a professional foul in taking out Alex Glenn as he chased a Johnson kick near the tryline.
The one-man advantage did not help the Kiwis, however, with the Australians actually extending their advantage beyond a converted try with a penalty just before half-time to lead 14-6.
Australia: 20 (G Inglis, J Thurston, C Smith tries; J Thurston 4 goals)
New Zealand: 12 (S Johnson, I Luke tries; B Marshall 2 goals)
Source:
ABC SportClick here for audio interviews and other related linksInterviews with Tim Sheens, Sam Thaiday, Johnathan Thurston, Stephen Kearney, Simon Mannering, Shaun Johnson and Sam McKendry.
- Stats: New Zealand v Australia
- Live Blog: New Zealand v Australia
- Match Info: New Zealand v Australia
- Follow Rleague.com on Twitter - www.twitter.com/rleaguecomSat November 12, 2011
Kiwi and Penrith prop Sam McKendry says he hopes to be back in full training in eight weeks after having his Gillette Four Nations campaign ended by a broken jaw last Saturday.
The big 22-year-old forward was on the sideline watching the Kiwis have their first training run in Leeds this morning ahead of their tournament-defining clash against England at KC Stadium in Hull on Saturday night.
Later, accompanied by Kiwi team doctor Simon Mayhew, McKendry travelled to London by train to see specialists for a check-up following his near three-hour operation to repair his broken jaw on Saturday night.
With his jaw now plated, McKendry spoke for the first time today about the tackle and the aftermath following a shoulder charge by Welsh forward Craig Kopczak in the 54th minute of Saturday's early game at Wembley Stadium. McKendry had been back on the field for only four minutes in his second when he was stopped by Kopczak while carrying the ball.
"I just saw him (Kopczak) fly out of the line and put a shot on me," he said.
"I got up and felt my mouth. At first I thought I'd lost some teeth and I just kept playing on for a bit."
In fact, McKendry didn't just stay on the field for another few minutes but he also made two tackles after the injury.
"I realised then that something wasn't quite right. I could feel part of my jaw moving around.
"It's a setback but it's just one of things. That's football. It's the first time I've broken anything."
He'd suffered a break on the point of the jaw and there were also fractures of the lower mandible on the right side of his face, leaving his bottom teeth out alignment. After the game he was taken to the Princess Grace Hospital in central London for a delicate operation.
Mayhew said the specialists were delighted with McKendry's progress after seeing him today.
"Both the plastic surgeon and the dental surgeon who operated on Saturday night saw Sam," said Mayhew.
"They said the outcome of the operation had been excellent. Sam is due to see them for another check-up next week."
McKendry had earlier been keen to fly home to Sydney as early as possible if he had been cleared to fly following the operation but he said he now wanted to stay on.
While his diet is limited at this stage, he said he could feel improvement and he was able to eat some soft foods and drinks fluids.
"I've been told I should be right to return to full training in eight weeks and I should be able to start running again fairly soon," he said.
Kopczak was originally facing a one-match suspension for a dangerous shoulder charge handed down by an International Match Review Committee. However, the Welshman was let off with a caution when he faced an International Disciplinary Committee in Leeds, leaving him free to play against Australia in the Welsh side's final Gillette Four Nations match in Wrexham on Sunday.
McKendry was also the victim of a high tackle in the 15th minute of the encounter with Wales. It left him needing treatment as blood poured from his nose but, like Kopczak's shoulder charge, it went unpunished by referee Matt Cecchin during the game. The match review committee later issued Welsh hooker Neil Budworth with a caution over the tackle.
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 2012 NRL Telstra Premiership
Penrith Panthers
11 games; 1 tries, 4 points.
[View] Round 1 [03 Mar 12] L 14-22 v Canterbury (H). [PR]
[View] Round 2 [11 Mar 12] W 18-0 v Roosters (A). [PR] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 3 [18 Mar 12] L 24-40 v Souths (H). [PR]
[View] Round 4 [23 Mar 12] W 39-6 v Parramatta (A). [PR]
[View] Round 5 [31 Mar 12] L 14-15 v Cronulla (H). [PR]
[View] Round 6 [09 Apr 12] L 0-30 v Manly (A). [BE]
[View] Round 7 [15 Apr 12] L 0-30 v Wests Tigers (H). [PR]
[View] Round 8 [30 Apr 12] L 14-34 v Newcastle (A). [PR]
[View] Round 9 [05 May 12] L 10-44 v Melbourne (H). [PR]
[View] Round 10 [14 May 12] W 13-12 v Dragons (H). [PR]
[View] Round 11 [19 May 12] L 28-30 v North Qld (A). [PR]
======================================================================================================
2012 International Test Matches
New Zealand
1 games; [View] Bill Kelly Cup [20 Apr 12] L 12-20 v Australia (H). [PR]
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2011 NRL Telstra Premiership
Penrith Panthers
22 games; 1 tries, 4 points.
[View] Round 1 [13 Mar 11] L 8-42 v Knights (H). [BE]
[View] Round 2 [18 Mar 11] W 20-6 v Eels (A). [BE]
[View] Round 3 [26 Mar 11] L 12-44 v Cronulla (H). [BE]
[View] Round 5 [09 Apr 11] W 36-10 v Canberra (H). [PR]
[View] Round 6 [17 Apr 11] L 10-25 v Storm (H). [PR]
[View] Round 7 [22 Apr 11] L 16-22 v Sea Eagles (A). [BE]
[View] Round 8 [01 May 11] L 18-26 v Warriors (A). [BE]
[View] Round 10 [13 May 11] W 33-10 v Broncos (H). [PR]
[View] Round 11 [21 May 11] L 18-20 v Wests Tigers (A). [PR]
[View] Round 12 [30 May 11] W 22-10 v Rabbitohs (H). [PR]
[View] Round 13 [04 Jun 11] W 23-10 v Titans (A). [PR]
[View] Round 15 [18 Jun 11] L 12-16 v Knights (A). [PR]
[View] Round 17 [02 Jul 11] W 20-6 v Canterbury (H). [PR]
[View] Round 18 [10 Jul 11] L 26-34 v Roosters (A). [PR]
[View] Round 19 [16 Jul 11] W 23-22 v Eels (H). [PR]
[View] Round 20 [24 Jul 11] L 8-12 v Sea Eagles (H). [PR]
[View] Round 21 [30 Jul 11] L 18-30 v Cowboys (A). [BE]
[View] Round 22 [06 Aug 11] L 6-26 v Storm (A). [BE]
[View] Round 23 [12 Aug 11] L 18-32 v Wests Tigers (H). [BE]
[View] Round 24 [20 Aug 11] L 12-26 v Warriors (H). [BE]
[View] Round 25 [27 Aug 11] W 19-18 v Canberra (A). [PR]
[View] Round 26 [02 Sep 11] L 12-32 v Dragons (A). [PR]
======================================================================================================
2011 International Test Matches
New Zealand
2 games; [View] Bill Kelly Cup [06 May 11] L 10-20 v Australia (A). [PR]
[View] Bill Kelly Cup [16 Oct 11] L 6-42 v Australia (A). [PR]
======================================================================================================
2011 Four Nations Test Series
New Zealand
2 games; [View] Round 1 [28 Oct 11] L 12-26 v Australia. [PR]
[View] Round 2 [05 Nov 11] W 36-0 v Wales. [PR]
======================================================================================================
2010 NRL Telstra Premiership
Penrith Panthers
26 games; 4 tries, 16 points.
[View] Round 1 [13 Mar 10] W 34-16 v Raiders (H). [BE]
[View] Round 2 [20 Mar 10] L 20-28 v Cowboys (A). [BE]
[View] Round 3 [27 Mar 10] L 10-16 v Storm (H). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 4 [05 Apr 10] W 34-30 v Knights (A). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 5 [11 Apr 10] W 28-6 v Roosters (H). [BE]
[View] Round 6 [18 Apr 10] W 40-12 v Warriors (A). [BE]
[View] Round 7 [24 Apr 10] W 26-18 v Tigers (H). [BE]
[View] Round 8 [01 May 10] L 24-38 v Titans (A). [BE]
[View] Round 10 [16 May 10] W 34-14 v Sharks (A). [BE]
[View] Round 11 [24 May 10] W 31-16 v Bulldogs (H). [BE]
[View] Round 12 [30 May 10] L 22-42 v Rabbitohs (A). [BE]
[View] Round 13 [05 Jun 10] W 28-10 v Knights (H). [BE]
[View] Round 15 [18 Jun 10] W 22-12 v Broncos (A). [BE]
[View] Round 16 [25 Jun 10] W 40-22 v Sea Eagles (H). [BE]
[View] Round 17 [05 Jul 10] W 12-8 v Dragons (A). [BE]
[View] Round 18 [11 Jul 10] L 6-12 v Warriors (H). [PR]
[View] Round 19 [17 Jul 10] L 28-34 v Eels (H). [BE]
[View] Round 20 [24 Jul 10] L 10-18 v Storm (A). [BE]
[View] Round 21 [30 Jul 10] W 24-16 v Cowboys (H). [BE]
[View] Round 22 [09 Aug 10] L 26-30 v Raiders (A). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 23 [15 Aug 10] L 18-43 v Tigers (A). [BE]
[View] Round 24 [20 Aug 10] W 54-18 v Rabbitohs (H). [PR] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 25 [30 Aug 10] W 24-18 v Bulldogs (A). [PR]
[View] Round 26 [04 Sep 10] W 50-12 v Cronulla (H). [PR]
[View] Finals Week 1 [11 Sep 10] L 22-24 v Canberra. [PR]
[View] Finals Week 2 [18 Sep 10] L 12-34 v Roosters. [PR]
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2010 Four Nations Test Series
New Zealand
2 games; [View] Round 2 [30 Oct 10] W 76-12 v PNG (H). [PR]
[View] Final [13 Nov 10] W 16-12 v Australia (A). [PR]
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2009 NYC Toyota Cup
Penrith Panthers
21 games; 6 tries, 24 points.
[View] Round 1 [14 Mar 09] L 16-20 v Sharks (A). [PR]
[View] Round 2 [21 Mar 09] L 26-34 v Bulldogs (H). [PR]
[View] Round 3 [30 Mar 09] L 12-36 v Sea Eagles (A). [PR]
[View] Round 4 [04 Apr 09] L 26-33 v Tigers (H). [PR]
[View] Round 5 [11 Apr 09] L 22-46 v Storm (A). [PR] 8 Pts; 2t
[View] Round 6 [17 Apr 09] L 30-34 v Broncos (H). [PR]
[View] Round 7 [27 Apr 09] W 22-16 v Titans (H). [PR]
[View] Round 8 [02 May 09] W 37-6 v Raiders (A). [PR]
[View] Round 11 [23 May 09] W 30-6 v Roosters (H). [PR] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 13 [05 Jun 09] L 10-34 v Tigers (A). [PR]
[View] Round 14 [13 Jun 09] L 18-56 v Sea Eagles (H). [PR]
[View] Round 15 [19 Jun 09] W 40-28 v Bulldogs (A). [PR] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 17 [05 Jul 09] L 30-40 v Eels (H). [PR] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 18 [10 Jul 09] L 18-40 v Rabbitohs (A). [PR]
[View] Round 19 [18 Jul 09] W 28-14 v Raiders (H). [PR]
[View] Round 20 [25 Jul 09] L 22-30 v Cowboys (A). [PR]
[View] Round 21 [01 Aug 09] W 30-28 v Warriors (H). [PR]
[View] Round 22 [07 Aug 09] L 22-36 v Dragons (H). [PR]
[View] Round 23 [16 Aug 09] L 24-48 v Broncos (A). [PR]
[View] Round 24 [22 Aug 09] L 12-48 v Rabbitohs (H). [PR]
[View] Round 25 [28 Aug 09] L 18-26 v Eels (A). [PR] 4 Pts; 1t
======================================================================================================
2009 NRL Telstra Premiership
Penrith Panthers
1 games; [View] Round 12 [29 May 09] L 10-38 v Dragons (A). [BE]
======================================================================================================
2008 NYC Toyota Cup
Penrith Panthers
23 games; 5 tries, 20 points.
[View] Round 1 [16 Mar 08] W 28-24 v Broncos (A). [PR]
[View] Round 2 [22 Mar 08] L 20-42 v Raiders (H). [PR]
[View] Round 3 [30 Mar 08] W 30-24 v Rabbitohs (H). [BE]
[View] Round 4 [07 Apr 08] W 42-14 v Tigers (A). [PR]
[View] Round 5 [12 Apr 08] W 48-6 v Roosters (H). [PR]
[View] Round 6 [19 Apr 08] W 22-14 v Sharks (A). [PR]
[View] Round 8 [03 May 08] W 44-18 v Eels (H). [PR]
[View] Round 9 [10 May 08] L 18-20 v Bulldogs (A). [PR]
[View] Round 14 [13 Jun 08] W 40-20 v Roosters (A). [PR] 8 Pts; 2t
[View] Round 15 [20 Jun 08] W 28-26 v Dragons (A). [PR]
[View] Round 16 [27 Jun 08] L 24-38 v Broncos (H). [PR] 8 Pts; 2t
[View] Round 17 [06 Jul 08] W 42-26 v Eels (A). [PR]
[View] Round 18 [11 Jul 08] D 18-18 v Knights (H). [BE]
[View] Round 19 [19 Jul 08] L 22-44 v Gold Coast (A). [BE]
[View] Round 20 [26 Jul 08] W 40-4 v Tigers (H). [BE]
[View] Round 21 [01 Aug 08] L 22-33 v Sea Eagles (A). [BE]
[View] Round 22 [10 Aug 08] L 12-42 v Raiders (A). [BE]
[View] Round 23 [16 Aug 08] L 18-38 v Bulldogs (H). [PR]
[View] Round 24 [25 Aug 08] W 18-10 v Storm (H). [PR] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 25 [31 Aug 08] W 30-28 v Warriors (A). [PR]
[View] Round 26 [06 Sep 08] L 20-26 v Sea Eagles (H). [PR]
[View] Finals Week 1 [13 Sep 08] L 16-24 v Eels. [BE]
[View] Finals Week 2 [19 Sep 08] L 4-38 v Warriors. [PR]
======================================================================================================
2008 NRL Telstra Premiership
Penrith Panthers
1 games; [View] Round 13 [08 Jun 08] L 22-24 v Sharks (H). [PR]
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McKendry, Sam
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