Two things became clear when watching Jacob Preston launch a stinging verbal attack on his Canterbury captain and Samoan rival Stephen Crichton last Sunday night.
Firstly, Preston plays better when opposition players try to get under his skin.
And secondly, Preston will be a part of Australia’s team for the next decade, despite coming into this World Cup not entirely sold he would play a game.
In fact, it is not a stretch to say Preston, only 25, has been one of the surprise performers for the Kangaroos at the tournament.
Not many fans would have anticipated him starting on the left edge for a third straight game against New Zealand in Sunday’s sold-out final at Suncorp Stadium.
There were fantastic scenes from Australia’s semi-final win over Samoa, including Crichton performing the traditional challenge siva tau and getting in the face of his Bulldogs buddy Preston. Preston was then caught on TV celebrating a try and yelling a few words in the direction of Crichton.
“Me and ‘Critta’ [Crichton] are ultimate competitors, we were both playing for our countries, and what you saw is no different to what you would see at Dogs training every day – we’re always going at reach other and always competing,” Preston said.
“It comes down to competing. It was awesome before the game, to stand in front of that [siva tau], it’s something I’ll remember for a long time.
“After the tournament I’ll go back and look at the footage. I’m sure we’ll have a laugh about it at training. I never heard anything from Mum or Dad about it … But I have the ultimate respect for him. I wouldn’t be where I am today without him.”
Preston said had it not been for Crichton’s arrival at Belmore in his debut season when the Bulldogs were spluttering at the end of 2023 he would not have got the chance to play international football.
“He brought a lot of those winning values and habits from Penrith, introduced it to our club, and he personally taught me so many little things about how to be a winner,” Preston said.
“Him pushing me at training, us competing every day, we’re two people who want to compete and want to win.”
Preston, a strawberry blond North Sydney Bears junior, toured England with the Kangaroos without playing an Ashes Test last year. When he was picked in the World Cup squad he was mindful he would be competing for a spot with established second-rowers Liam Martin and David Fifita, as well as Cameron Murray and Reuben Cotter, who were no strangers to playing on an edge at Origin level. Hudson Young, three years Preston’s senior, missed the tournament because of a ruptured Achilles.
Australia coach Kevin Walters started Preston on the left, and has been happy to leave him there for the entire tournament, except for the Fiji game, when he scored a try off the bench.
“He was always going to be in the starting side,” Walters said.
“I was really impressed with him last year on the Kangaroos tour, and he finished this season well for the Bulldogs – he was one of their standouts.
“The tougher it got in clubland, the better he went. That’s what I noticed; they had a tough period, but he seemed to be the one trying to come up with a big play or big tackle in the game.
“He stands for himself without going over the top. If someone wants to push his buttons, he’s happy to accommodate them.”
Preston said he would have been content to play one match in the tournament.
“As a competitor, you always want to be in the team,” he said.
“Now I’m in the position I’m in, I want to make sure I keep playing good footy and representing my country to the best of my ability. I’m so grateful Kevvie has backed me and given me this opportunity. I never want to let the jersey down.”
Preston has clicked with five-eighth Cam Munster on the left, along with centre Bradman Best, and says a possible World Cup trophy would go a long way to easing the pain of what unfolded at the Bulldogs, who started the year with so much promise but failed to make the finals.
“It was a rollercoaster when you think we won in Vegas, then went through a rough trot, I broke my arm – we’ll learn so much from this year,” Preston said.
“For me, to come into camp, and now have the chance to win the World Cup for my country, that would be the ultimate honour. I can’t wait.”
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
