Bateman deserves his World Cup spot, says Hall
LEEDS RHINOS’ Ryan Hall has told critics to lay off centre partner John Bateman who remains a controversial pick as England try to win a maiden World Cup.
Head coach Wayne Bennett has plumped for the duo on England’s left edge once again in tomorrow’s semi-final against Tonga in Auckland.
Although Hall’s place in the side is unquestioned – the prolific winger is his country’s all-time leading scorer with 34 tries in 35 Tests – there has been much debate about Bateman’s inclusion.
The wiry Yorkshireman is, of course, a second-row by trade having come through the ranks at hometown Bradford Bulls before joining Wigan Warriors in a £100,000 deal in 2013.
Bateman, 24, plays the majority of his club football in the backrow and remains one of Super League’s most dynamic and competitive forwards.
However, Bennett has selected him in the three-quarters during the World Cup, despite St Helens’ Mark Percival being in the 24man squad and, moreover, fellow Dream Team centre Castleford Tigers captain Michael Shenton actually being left at home.
This decision has drawn some stinging criticism for, despite his defensive solidity being unquestioned, Bateman’s handling skills and ability to free his winger have been queried.
However, Hall, for one, is more than happy with the situation as England seek to reach their first World Cup final since 1995.
“We won the series in 2015 (against New Zealand) when he was my centre,” he said, Bateman having started all three Tests in what was his first season of international football.
“We are comfortable. I don’t like reading that people are not wanting him to play there. He is a great player and he deserves to be on the field, wherever it is.”
Bennett used Bateman as a second-row in last year’s Four Nations, the Australian’s first in charge of England.
However, the 24-year-old has played all four games in this tournament so far at left centre with Hall missing just one, rested for the pool win against France, which, coincidentally, remains Percival’s only outing.
With former Bradford teammate Elliott Whitehead and Sam Burgess at second-row, and Ben Currie off the bench, it is perhaps easy to see why Bennett feels at ease using Bateman’s talents in the backs.
Regardless of who plays where, though, Hall accepts England will have to deliver a tournament-best display to overcome unexpected semi-finalists Tonga.
The Pacific Islanders are undefeated in the World Cup after wins over Scotland, Samoa, New Zealand and Lebanon while England, despite winning all three matches since an opening defeat to Australia, have yet to deliver an authoritative 80-minute display.
“We have been trying to improve week-on-week in this competition; the games get harder as you go along and this week is no different,” said Hall, who lifted his sixth Super League title with Leeds this season.
“We will have to play better than we have already and we’ll probably need to be better than that the week after.
“I have got every faith in our guys to do the job that needs to be done.”
Their pool win over New Zealand made Tonga the first second-tier nation to beat one of the big-three at a World Cup.
Hall – part of the side that endured an agonising last-minute defeat to New Zealand in the 2013 World Cup semi-final – admitted: “We thought the Kiwis would have got to this stage, but it was not to be.
“If you look at it that way it is probably a favourable semi-final, but that doesn’t mean it is going to be easy.”
Meanwhile, it is 22 years since Denis Betts, the current assistant coach, became the last man to captain England in a World Cup final.
But Wigan loose forward Sean O’Loughlin has the chance to bridge the gap when he leads the team out at Auckland’s Mount Smart Stadium.
However, he was also at the helm when England were denied by a last-minute converted try from New Zealand’s Shaun Johnson at Wembley four years ago, something he hopes at last to put to bed tomorrow.
“It was probably one of the most disappointing games I have been involved in,” said the player, who celebrates his 35th birthday today.
“We played reasonably well. It was a good performance and we were in front for most of the game, but didn’t quite get it – you learn lessons from those games.
“The team has changed a lot since then, but the lads who were there knew how close we came to doing something special that year and appreciate the opportunity we have got now.
“There is definitely still an element of disappointment from that, but we have got an opportunity to put that right.
“For the country to be involved in a final would be massive.
“It is a special occasion for everyone – whether you are captain or not – and for the sport.
“There was a lot of support for us in 2013; people bought into that from outside rugby league circles.
“Hopefully the momentum we have got at the minute and going into a big semi-final, we can pick up that support again.”