NO REPEAT OF 2008 DEBACLE
Smith backs England to shine Down Under even if they don’t win it
TONY SMITH says Wayne Bennett’s England have a better chance of lifting a World Cup Down Under than his class of 2008 – but they remain longshots.
Smith (above, top) oversaw a disappointing campaign that saw England hammered 52-4 by Australia then beaten twice by New Zealand as they crashed out in the semi-finals.
The former Warrington coach believes this year’s squad, which warmed up with a 74-12 win over Combined Affiliated States in Perth on Friday, is much better placed to compete.
But he knows the Kangaroos – who England face in Friday’s tournament opener – remain the acid test for Bennett (above, bottom). Smith said: “Is it a stronger possibility this year? Absolutely. But I don’t want to heap the pressure on them or the coach because you’re up against the best in the world.
“I’m not saying it won’t happen at some stage, but I think the Australians are still a better team than England.
“Until we produce some people in the crucial positions, full-back, halfback and hookers, they should beat us.
“Are our footsoldiers, the people in between that, of similar sort of capability? Yes. But we haven’t got those worldclass players in key positions yet.
“We have to work out how we develop those so we can get a win and be able to reproduce it not as a one-off. We don’t do that and don’t have focus on developing those players – if we do, we’ll get them.”
The 2008 World Cup campaign was dogged by reports of a split in the camp between Leeds and St Helens players, which Smith admits was an issue. He added: “It was pretty unique because 70 per cent of the team was made up of two clubs that were smashing everybody else in the competition.
“We had St Helens and Leeds that met in several Grand Finals, and then you throw them together and ask them to be best buddies, it’s pretty tough to do.
“One team had a beer together and that’s how you become mates. Another group wanted to make some sacrifices, give up the beer and focus on the World Cup. “You had two different cultures coming together. Were there any big spats or bustups? No. Were they training side-by-side with each other? Yes.
“But would you say that they were as close as a team needs to be in those circumstances or had the same playing ability as our opponents? No way.”