Thaiday fears worst in Roos overhaul
Sam Thaiday is hungry for more but admits he fears for his spot in a Kangaroos pack set for an overhaul ahead of Saturday's Four Nations rugby league clash with England.
While the Australian forwards did well to repel a New Zealand pack which played with a level of ferocity rarely sustained over an 80-minute period, changes seem inevitable after the Kiwis exposed some defensive cracks on the edge of the ruck in their 20-all draw on Saturday night.
Coach Tim Sheens admitted he would likely tinker with his line-up, giving hope that tackling machine Nathan Hindmarsh could revive a Test a career that has been stagnant since 2007.
Normally stationed on the edge of the ruck, Thaiday admitted to struggling with his switch from the back row to prop, with his penchant for running at smaller defenders nullified by his need to run into the heart of the Kiwi defence.
"(Sheens) had a bit of a chat to me at halftime and he wanted me to run more in between players and not at players and that's something I have to work on," Thaiday said.
"I haven't played in the front row for a while, I've been playing a lot as a wide-running forward for the Broncos and that's something I have to work on ... I can't just run over the big blokes - it's a bit harder in the middle of the field."
Ever his own harshest critic, Thaiday said he didn't know whether he had done enough to warrant another Test with Australia facing the very real prospect of missing out on the final if they don't beat England in Wigan.
"I don't know if I'm judging myself too hard or whatever but there's a lot of good players that didn't play last night, they're pushing for a spot as much as I am," he said.
"It's eat or be eaten pretty much.
"Sheensy holds his cards pretty close to his chest - you don't know what he's thinking - I can't read him yet.
"I've done all I can and fingers crossed I can keep my spot for the next game."
Given the struggles in the edge of the ruck defence, Hindmarsh would have to come right into calculations, but just which of Thaiday, Paul Gallen, Ryan Hoffman or Trent Waterhouse misses out is not clear cut.
It may well be a case of two of that group being dropped.
Another contender to come into the match squad is Canberra big man David Shillington, as Australia looked a little light on against the Kiwis with only one specialist prop on the bench.
England look set to pick a monster pack, with South Sydney recruit Sam Burgess likely to again line up in the second row alongside Gareth Ellis.
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