Quote: TrinTrin "I was at the Tonga v Samoa game, each side was at full tilt/speed in the collisions, not for one minute do I think we, England, cannot beat them, but, what I am convinced of is English RL players do not run at full yes full speed into collisions & certainly not for a full game, the supporters all around the ground ouud & ahhd, all the brutal contacts that could be heard only for players to rise & get on with things.
There was no thought given to safety !
These two teams players mostly play NRL, they never beat Australia/Australian players - So, in my opinion, Super League British players can match the skills of NRL players but NOT the 80 minutes constant high speed collisions.
However I would love us to do the lot of them !'"
Really disagree with this to be honest.
I don’t know if you were at the game of if you watched it on tv.
I was at the game and was underwhelmed by the contact from kick off. I was expecting huge hits from the off but they didn’t deliver instead going for a more measured approach.
Intensity did increase at about the 30 minute mark when you could hear the contacts from time to time and there was obviously a big hit or 2 not least from Katoa on the wing.
One thing that was very noticeable was line speed or lack of it.
Having been to a few England games our line speed has been unbelievable and been the foundation for our attacking defence.
Both Tonga and Samoa in comparison to England looked very laboured jogging off the line, where England have been running/sprinting.