DANNY A RHINOS HERO
England send a World Cup message
WAYNE BENNETT says England’s World Cup prospects will benefit from their tough win over Samoa after his side laid down an early marker in Sydney, Australia.
Ryan Hall and Stefan Ratchford touched down in the first half before Josh Hodgson, James Graham and Jermaine McGillvary completed an impressive victory.
Sam Burgess, Hodgson and Graham all produced titanic efforts up front as Bennett’s side significantly improved on last year’s disappointing Four Nations.
With the entire Samoa team coming from Australia’s formidable NRL and including two of the stars of the competition in Joey Leilua and Anthony Milford, some had feared an England defeat in preparation for October’s World Cup bid.
But with their front row trio leading the way, they dominated the muchvaunted Samoan pack from the start and withstood a second-half comeback.
With Luke Gale and Kevin Brown linking well at half-back it provided DANNY McGUIRE’S late try helped Leeds Rhinos record a 30-24 win at Catalans to keep the pressure on Castleford at the top.
The Rhinos twice battled back from two-score deficits to move within two points of the Tigers.
Tony Gigot’s late penalty looked to have earned a share of the spoils, but after Adam Cuthbertson’s plenty of satisfaction for Bennett after he failed to take England to last year’s Four Nations final. He said: “It was what we wanted – a tough game of football and we were challenged a fair bit.
“You won’t get any better sitting watching the other nations play.
“I was really pleased with the way we added on from the Four Nations and what we did in the month over there in November. We didn’t get the players in until Monday night so it was a big effort. We didn’t have a lot of time.
“We only had two training sessions, on Wednesday and Friday, and they were two 30-minute sessions. But this week has been great for us – it’s brought us together and we needed it. It’ll be a big help for the World Cup.”
Canberra back-rower Elliott Whitehead was another to impress as England built a 14-0 half-time lead.
Tries by Leilua and Milford hinted at a comeback, but Hodgson’s well-worked score in between meant England were always two scores ahead and Graham and McGillvary sealed matters. marauding run took the Rhinos down field, McGuire dummied over for a trademark try from close range.
Wakefield completed the double over Leigh and inflicted an eighth straight defeat on the Centurions.
Leigh replied from 20-0 down to lead in the second half before three Trinity tries – including a second for skipper Danny Kirmond – secured a 40-26 win.