Winning urge fuels old enemy
ENGLAND’S veteran captain Sean O’Loughlin says the expectation for a victory over Australia has existed before every Test he’s played, with or without the coaching of Wayne Bennett.
Australia have won all 10 Tests against an English or British team since O’Loughlin played with a Great Britain side that upset the Kangaroos in 2006 in Sydney.
It was a preliminary match in a Tri- Series eventually won by an Australian side coached by Bennett, who starts his second campaign as England boss in the World Cup opener in Melbourne on Friday night.
Asked if there was impatience in England for Bennett to help win a trophy, O’Loughlin said: “As long as I’ve played international games, there has always been an expectation for us to get one over the Aussies or Kiwis.
“This time, we have a blend of senior players and a lot of quality lads who have been playing well for their clubs. Potentially, we have a good chance.
“The boys have been looking forward to learning from Wayne. He knows his stuff. His man- management is very good. He gets the best out of players.”
O’Loughlin said Bennett had strived to put a “club feel” in place around the players after they failed to reach the Four Nations final last year.
Bennett said regular get- togethers of the English players before and after their May Test win over Samoa in Campbelltown were part of the teambuilding endeavour.
O’Loughlin, 34, said halfback Luke Gale and wingers Ryan Hall and Jermaine McGillvary were players who would catch the eye.
Gale won the English game’s main individual award, the Man of Steel, this year.
“Gale is a real general. He gets the boys around the field but he’s pretty dynamic as well,” O’Loughlin said.