Michael Cheika's league exploits step up unique union clash

Former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has booked a Rugby League World Cup quarter-final meeting with Australia following Lebanon’s 74-12 demolition of Jamaica.

Cheika will have the rare opportunity to coach in both codes on the same weekend after a convincing victory in front of 5,006 fans in Leigh to round out Lebanon’s pool fixtures.

The Cedars will meet the Kangaroos in Huddersfield on Friday (local time) before Cheika is forced to make his way to London for Argentina’s rugby union Test against England at Twickenham on Sunday.

Lebanon came into Sunday’s game at Leigh Sports Village needing a win to assure themselves of a position in the knockout round. Victory has also guaranteed their qualification for the 2025 tournament in France.

While Jamaica went close to scoring the game’s opener through Alex Young – the older brother of England winger Dominic Young – it was thereafter one-way traffic.

After hooker Mikey Tannous broke the deadlock after seven minutes, Jamaica leaked time and again with Lebanon scoring through Abbas Miski, Elie El-Zakham, Reece Robinson, Khaled Rajab, Charbel Tasipale and Josh Mansour to claim a 42-0 halftime lead.

The only downside for the Lebanese was that forward Jaxson Rahme was sin-binned for a late shot just before the break.

Mitchell Moses converted all seven tries and was taken off at halftime with Adam Doueihi shifting into the halves from fullback and gliding over for the Cedars’ first of the second half.

Jamaica kept digging and when a Lebanon pass went astray, winger Mo Agoro was on hand to pick the ball up and run in from 50 metres to register the Reggae Warriors’ first try of the day.

Agoro’s effort ensured that Scotland are the only side to have been held to nil throughout the group stages.

Jordan Andrade’s 66th minute barge-over put the Reggae Warriors into double figures for the first time this tournament.

Still the afternoon was Lebanon’s and Man sour scored two more to grab his hat-trick with Tasip ale and Miski registering doubles along with a well-taken effort for youngster Tony Maroun.