Gale can be force to end 22 years of hurt
He stopped short of claiming his side could win the World Cup for the first time since 1972, but england coach Wayne Bennett believes a first final appearance in 22 years is a realistic aim.
the Australian, who took charge in 2016, will take his side into battle against his home nation and the tournament hosts in Friday’s opener. Bennett’s nous, coupled with the number of players in his squad based in Australia’s NRL, have led to increased optimism that england can pull off an upset.
However, the wily 67–year-old is only aiming to make the final at this stage and see what transpires from there.
‘I’m really pleased with preparations,’ Bennett said. ‘they’ve been with me 12 months now, so we know each other. there’s much better acceptance of what we need to do. We won’t be at our best on Friday night. they won’t be at their best, either. It’s about where we’re at in six weeks’ time. We want to be in that final — that’s our aim.’
england are second favourites to the all- conquering Aussies and any hope of an upset rests on Bennett’s half-backs.
super League Man of steel Luke Gale will partner NRLbased Gareth Widdop as they go up against new Australia duo Cooper Cronk and Michael Morgan, who has the onerous task of stepping in for injured talisman Johnathan thurston.
Bennett is taking little comfort from the absence of thurston, but is delighted with the form of his two playmakers.
‘I don’t think you get too many advantages over Australia and I’m not counting on that being one either,’ he said.
Widdop, captain of st George Illawarra, was second only to Australia skipper Cameron smith in the voting for the NRL’s prestigious player of the year award. ‘Gareth is really confident and that rubs off on other people,’ Bennett added. ‘Luke won Man of steel and I can see how much more confident he is this year.’
Meanwhile, sam Burgess has hit back at claims from Rob Andrew that his inclusion in england’s side for the 2015 rugby union World Cup was an ‘almighty blunder’.
In a new book, former RFU boss Andrew has written that Burgess, who was fast-tracked into the squad despite having not played union before his switch to Bath in 2014, was a ‘rogue ingredient in the mix’.
Burgess, who returned to league after england’s ill-fated campaign, told BBC Radio 5 Live: ‘Rob wasn’t really around the camp. Rob didn’t see the work I put in, Rob didn’t see how I contributed to the squad. Rob’s sitting from an outsider’s view.
‘I’m very proud of my performance for england and what I contributed to the team.
‘Unfortunately, results didn’t go as we planned, but Rob’s entitled to his opinion. He’s trying to sell his book.’
AUSTRALIA: Slater; Gagai, Chambers, Dugan, Holmes; Morgan, Cronk; Woods, Smith (capt), Klemmer, Cordner, Gillett, Trbojevic.
ENGLAND: Lomax; McGillvary, Watkins, Bateman, Hall; Widdop, Gale; Graham, Hodgson, Hill; S Burgess, Whitehead, O’Loughlin (capt). Replacements: Walmsley, Heighington, T Burgess, Roby.