Halves: Luke Keary and Daly Cherry-Evans v Tui Lolohea and Ata Hingano

Keary won't remember much about his Test debut after being concussed early against the Kiwis but as reigning Clive Churchill Medal winner there is no doubting his quality. DCE showed glimpses of his best in a largely forgettable season for Manly, including an excellent performance in helping the Maroons win a game three dead rubber.

Lolohea and Hingano each have no shortage of talent but both have struggled to command a starting spot in the NRL, with the former now headed to Leeds and the latter still serving as a backup at the Raiders. They combined for 15 NRL caps in 2018.

Verdict: looks to be the area with the biggest gulf between the two teams and a healthy advantage to Australia.

Cherry-Evans opens up on the Des Hasler solution

Manly skipper Daly Cherry-Evans has offered his support to the prospect of Des Hasler returning to Brookvale, describing him as a formative character in his career. Hasler's management is negotiating with the NRL club, with Sea Eagles chairman Scott Penn confirming Hasler is a contender to take over the NRL coaching job from Trent Barrett. Cherry-Evans is the only remaining member of the Manly side that Hasler guided to victory in the 2011 grand final before his acrimonious departure to Canterbury.

"Tim Sheens gave me an Aussie jersey, Mal Meninga a Queensland (jersey) and Des Hasler at club," Cherry-Evans said. "So those three coaches are people that I'll never forget. "If I was to link up with my first-ever first-grade coach, I'd be all for it." The northern beaches are often referred to as the "insular peninsula" and Sea Eagles fans live by the motto "No one likes us and we don't care". It's often said that Manly needs a coach ingrained in the Manly culture to thrive and Cherry-Evans described Hasler as one of the architects of the Manly siege mentality. "Everyone hates Manly so our backs are against the wall and we love playing that style of footy and living with that mentality," Cherry-Evans said.

Kangaroos look to Cherry-Evans' guidance

His years in the representative wilderness must seem an eternity ago for Daly Cherry-Evans after the Kangaroos heaped praise on their recalled playmaker ahead of Saturday's trans-Tasman Test in Auckland. Prop Aaron Woods backed coach Mal Meninga's declaration that the Kangaroos are now Cherry-Evans' team to guide while Tom Trbojevic hailed the halfback's mental strength. The DCE love-in is in stark contrast to just three months ago when speculation was still rife that Cherry-Evans' representative cards had been permanently marked after reportedly falling out with Queensland Origin players. The public perception wasn't helped by Cherry-Evans' infamous fallout with Manly teammate Jackson Hastings in April.

The Sea Eagles skipper began to turn the tide when he made a stunning Queensland return and sparked a State of Origin game three win in July, ending a three-year Maroons exile. Woods said Cherry-Evans had already won over his Kangaroos teammates ahead of his first Test in four years. The bench prop said the playmaker had been entrusted with the reins of a new-look Kangaroos featuring four rookies, backing Meninga's claim that Australia were now "his team". Woods said it was up to Cherry-Evans to take control of a rookie spine, with fullback James Tedesco, pivot Luke Keary and hooker Damien Cook all making their Test debuts.

DCE fan Keary to click with Cherry-Evans

Kangaroos selection has proven to be the ideal hangover cure for Luke Keary. But the Sydney Roosters' NRL grand final hero is not expecting to toast long term Test success as Cameron Munster's Kangaroos replacement. Keary admitted he was a little worse for wear when Kangaroos selectors called on Sunday to confirm he would replace Munster for Australia's end of year Tests.

The 26-year-old Roosters playmaker slots into the halves with Daly Cherry-Evans after Munster pulled out of Saturday's Test against New Zealand and the October 20 clash with Tonga due to personal reasons. Keary was excited by the news but did not exactly feel like celebrating after leading the way during the Roosters' NRL premiership festivities.But Keary had no complaints after going from green around the gills to wearing the green and gold when he lobbed in the Kangaroos camp in Brisbane before they fly to Auckland on Tuesday.