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The canny relaxing of rules meant Pacific islanders such as Jarome Luai and Jeremiah Nanai - currently involved with Samoa - could also play Origin, thus bolstering both assets with the top players.

Jeremiah Nanai, Josh Addo-Carr and Angus Crichton all crossed to put the Kangaroos 18-6 ahead at half-time after Semi Valemei gave Fiji a shock lead.

After Nanai cancelled out Valemei's fourth-minute opener, Australia found their rhythm, going into an eight-point lead when Addo-Carr ran the length of the field to score a stunning intercept try midway through the first half.

HBU’s Orion Olivas was sacked for a loss of 15 yards by Nanai Nathalohn and Jared Pedraza on the final play to preserve the 17-point comeback.

Intern Oussama Nanai acknowledged that the drumbeat of grim virus numbers has left many people feeling numb, and he urged everyone to visit an ICU to put a human face to the figures.