The Foxx's tale: A kick, a chase, a place in history

On the 50th anniversary of a spectacular Graeme Langlands effort dubbed ‘the greatest Test try never scored’, it was fitting that Ben Hunt and Josh Addo-Carr would combine for a freakish four-pointer that helped propel Australia into the World Cup final.

Played on November 11, 1972 the decider between Great Britain and Australia in Lyon featured a long-range special by GB skipper Clive Sullivan and the Langlands leap of faith ruled out by referee Georges Jameau for offside, although replays showed the try should have stood.

After 80 punishing minutes the 1972 Cup final finished deadlocked at 10-10 and even 20 minutes of extra-time couldn’t separate the two sides, with Great Britain declared the winners courtesy of finishing higher on the table.

The similarities between rugby league Immortal Langlands’ ‘no try’ and Addo-Carr's try against the Kiwis are uncanny, both men chasing kicks and catching the ball on the full to leave team-mates in awe and defenders bamboozled.

Playing at his second World Cup, the magic Dragon Langlands was part of an all-star backline that featured fellow Immortal Bob Fulton, Mark Harris and Ray Branighan as well as scheming halfback Dennis Ward, the man who put the kick in for 'Changa' to chase.

A member of Manly’s premiership-winning side that season, Ward had all the tricks and then some, and it was his vision and pinpoint kick from 30 metres out that set up what should have been a try for the ages.

To be fair to the man with the whistle, there was no video referee in those days, so the only assistance on the offside call would have come from his linesman.

Legend has it that Mr Jameau entered the Aussie dressing room after the match to apologise for making the wrong call, but regardless of his mea culpa, Langlands and Ward would forever remain in the ‘best try never scored’ category.

No such drama for the magician Addo-Carr and his assistant Hunt, who combined for a semi-final pearler at Elland Road that helped the ‘Foxx’ level team-mate Valentine Holmes’ record of 12 tries at a World Cup.

Taking the ball 40 metres out on the last tackle, Hunt launched a high kick towards the left corner, where he hoped the Kangaroos could keep the Kiwis hemmed in.

What eventuated was something a whole lot more spectacular than that.

“They shot out of the line and Nate [Cleary] passed to me and I was just thinking bomb it to the corner and keep them in there,” Hunt said.

“I’m not too sure what happened on their side of the ball but ‘Foxy’ got down there and we got a bit lucky I guess.

“Foxx let us know all the week the record was coming – he deserves it, he does a great job of finishing.

“To get the opportunity to play at Old Trafford is something we’re really looking forward to. We dug in deep there tonight – we had to reach for everything

“That last 20 minutes felt like Origin – get through your sets, kick to the corner and tackle your butts off. It’ll be like that next week.”

Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga, who scored one of the most famous tries in Kangaroos history at Old Trafford in 1990, described the Addo-Carr try as “fantastic, unbelievable”.

“Josh is playing good footy and we love having him part of the team,” Meninga said.

“That’s what playing for your country produces, games like that where you have to find that little bit extra in effort levels and you get the victory.”

For skipper James Tedesco, the Addo-Carr show has been a joy to watch from his position at fullback as the tries have continued to pile up.

“That’s just what Foxy can do. His speed puts him in positions that not many other players can be in so worked out well,” he said.

“That end to end footy, we had to dig deep for 80 minutes. We definitely could have been cleaner in some areas but we’ll take those lessons and get ready for a tough challenge next week.”

If Australia are to make it a three-peat of World Cup titles when they meet Samoa at Old Trafford, the freakish instincts of Addo-Carr will need to come to the fore as he looks to break Holmes’ record with a 13th try for the tournament.

Whether it comes from the boot of a team-mate as it did with last weekend’s wonder try, or the hands of a team-mate as it did against Scotland when Matt Burton produced an outrageous piece of skill to keep the ball alive before Addo-Carr kicked for himself and chased through to dot down, Meninga and Tedesco will just be happy to see the Fox on the run yet again.