rlengland teamrl

players from 9 different teams named for tomorrow's game

Why is there no outrage?

Because only an idiot would try and compare a schoolboy tour to a senior international competition where they did have neutral refs there and available to be chosen.

Have you become so desperate for attention that you've had to start scraping the barrel for such weak material? Next thing you know you'll be reduced to targeting what supermarket RL fans shop at for desperate material....oh wait.

Jack Cogger and Brock Lamb are the halves for Australia.
They are both a year young, having both just turned 17 a few months ago.

They are the results of the so called "High Performance Unit" set up by Wayne Bennett at Newcastle 3 years ago. They were already elite players at under 14s level before being chosen to be amongst the 15 players in all age groups given special treatment in the HPU. For the last 3 years they have been overseen by Phd qualified trainer Colin Sanctuary and former firstgrade halfback Troy Pezet.
They both have skills well beyond their years, with Lamb having a kicking game that most NRL halfbacks would envy.
They have made every rep side for NSW and Australia since they were 14 and both were promoted to the NYC under 20s comp the day they turned 17 - and helped the Knights win the minor premiership in that grade, with both turning in MOTM performances in different games.
The other graduate of the Knights HPU you may have heard of is Sione Mataútia, who recently became the youngest ever player for Australia at 18.

When Nathan Tinkler bought the Knights, part of the deal was to put an extra million dollars a year into juniors, and this is where the money was spent.
Cogger and Lamb have probably had more money spent on them to this stage of their careers than any players in League history, and they have skills way, way beyond their years.

Interesting stuff. Lamb has been absolutely outstanding so far on this tour. Cogger a bit quieter, but you can still see the potential.

I love these tours. Wish the RFL would market them a bit more aggressively.

Cogger is the son of former Leigh player Trevor

I don't really agree with the idea behind the Knights High Performance Unit because I don't think you can pick future firstgraders at 14, but obviously it is working.

The guy the head coach position was first offered to was Craig Sandercock, but he got a better offer. After that Wayne Bennett convinced former Australian coach Graham Murray to set up the unit, but he got sick and was replaced by Parramatta lower grade coach Troy Pezet. Knights head trainer Jeremy Hickmans (supposed to be the best in the business) recruited a trainer for the HPU from the same University programme he attended in England.

The idea seems to be to not spend money on hundreds of kids in the hope that a few will come good, but to identify the very best at a young age and give them world class coaching and training - much like an Olympic athlete would get.

Any relation to ex-Oldham player John Cogger?

Any relation to ex-Oldham player John Cogger?

Trevor is John's brother I think

Interesting that in the interview with Jack Cogger doing the rounds at the moment he says he is loving England and would be back to play there if the NRL doesn't work out for him. Sounds like his dad and uncle might have told him it's a good thing to do.

Cogger is having a good game so far.

16 - 4 to Australia
Cogger sounds like he is having a very good dig.

England Academy could do with being gifted another favourable penalty count of a magnitude of say 21-7 in their favour if that half time scoreline is anything to go by.

England are not giving up.
22-12 now, but it's only 4 tries to 3 with England kicking none and Lamb kicking 3 from 4.
Heaps of penalties going to England now.

1 minute to go - Australia on the attack
Brock Lamb got man of the match - commentators hardly called him.