I swear the longer you spend over here the softer you become. A couple or three months ago you wouldn't have been that nice.

I look at at our pack, which is as good as the Aussies and the Kiwis, and consider how recently the Aussies have proved not to be completely invinsible and I start to get excited. We might not have come away with the cup last year, but we put in a good foundation performance to build on. Our biggest weakness is our backs, but with a strong forward game and canny coaching we're in with a shout. Then I remember who the coach is. Thoroughly depressing!

Part of me doesn't want England to succeed so I don't have to see that fat smarmy face with that expression he has that says "I am awesome, I really am awesome! Just so awesome"

Although Barry McKenzie is no fan of superleague, the England Rugby League team, or England itself I genuinely mean it when I say that English RL supporters deserve far better than what they are being served up at International level.

If I was English and I had paid good money to fly to Australia in 2008 to follow my national side and I witnessed the crap they turned out in their games I would be spewing. The side went out there for a holiday. Nothing more. Nothing less.

I havent been to that many games during my time in the UK but I will honestly say, with my hand on my heart that EVERY English RL fan I met at Wigan (and I met quite a few, before the game around the ground, in the stadium and afterwards in the Walkabout) were friendly, helpful and genuinely all round nice people. One positive memory I will take back to Australia with me at the end of the year.


I cant see Englands 2010 4 nations being anything other than a repeat of Englands last trip in 2008. A narrow win angainst PNG if they are lucky. Losses to the Kiwis and the Kangaroos.

Unless a miracle happens the only question will be how many they lose by.

I think the 10 people that think England will win all of their games plus the final against Australia have been out on a social night with Gareth Hock in June 2009


Toot toot

We'll win a game, against PNG.

Anybody that thinks Eng have a pack that can match Aus or NZ is seriously dreaming.

australia's pack is weak....it's the allstar backs that did them out the crap

It's the forwards which produce the platform for the backs to thrive.

Congratulations to Australia's mickey weak pack against England's awesome pack in recent fixtures.

46-16 and 52-4 readily spring to mind

England might beat PNG... just!

They could well lose to this lot next week though...

NEW ZEALAND MAORI: Kevin Locke (Warriors), Sandor Earl (Penrith), Timana Tahu (Parramatta), Clinton Toopi (Gold Coast), Arana J Taumata (North Queensland), Rangi Chase (Castleford), Jeremy Smith (Wakefield), Willie Heta (Otahuhu), Aaron Heremaia (Warriors), Weller Hauraki (Crusaders), Justin Horo (Parramatta), Bodene Thompson (Gold Coast), Kevin Proctor (Melbourne), James Tamou (North Queensland), Sam McKendry (Penrith), Russell Packer (Warriors). One player to be added from Kiwis.

Geez thats a good looking side.....

I want England to win as much as the next man. BUt if you seriously think the Aussie pack is weak then youre in dreamland sunshine.

The Aussie forwards aren't any bigger or faster than the English ones, Burgess and Ellis have proven this to be true this past season.

It is their ball skills and reading of the game that sets them an extra level.


Graham/Fielden/Morley/Peacock/Burgess/Ellis etc... are all huge guys and hard as nails, but when it comes to that game winning slip pass or that one crucial offload at the right time, we have nobody. Hock was a one-off who got himself banned but even then he isn't consistent.

Not watched Eorl and the Gryphon this year then?

bollox....

it's been thruston and lockyer thats produced the platform and slater and inglis thats performed the coup de grâce