Much has been made of the Matildas’ decision to conceal skipper Sam Kerr’s injury status ahead of the tournament-opener against Ireland.
The Matildas skipper and coach Tony Gustavsson have now received the backing of Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson, who compared Kerr’s situation to that of star halfback Cooper Cronk leading into the 2018 NRL grand final.
If you can remember, Cronk carried a broken scapula into the game in one of the most heroic performances in league history, helping the Roosters beat the Storm.
“There was a bit written about it at the time, but it’s not going to change people turning up,” Robinson said.
“The objective of a coach is to win a game – other people might have a difference of opinion, – but our job is to create intrigue and guessing in the opposition.
“Showing your cards days and weeks before a game is giving a bit of a tip sheet to the opposition, so I’ve got no issue (with what the Matildas did).
“People wouldn’t have turned up if they found out? People wouldn’t have watched?
“The coach’s job for Australia is to win the game, and if that was a tactical advantage so Australia could win the game, then I think we’re happy with that as Australians rather than having the knowledge hours before that Sam wasn’t playing.”
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