Smith up for bruising battle
CAMERON SMITH is unlikely to forget his fi rst meeting with Great Britain in an Australia jersey.
“I got quite a hostile welcome – a smack across the face in the fi rst run I had after coming off the bench,” said the Kangaroos captain. “It was from Terry Newton, he was a tough old hooker.”
It was a Tri- Nations Series match in Sydney in 2006, and the hosts were defeated 23- 12.
Much has changed since. Smith has established himself as the world’s best hooker, Newton is sadly no longer with us, and Australia have not lost to Great Britain or England since.
Tomorrow at the Millennium Stadium, that record will be put to the test in the World Cup opener against Steve McNamara’s side.
“We have been fortunate to get victories against them ever since but we know it’s a different prospect this year,” said Melbourne Storm’s Smith, 30.
“They haven’t done too badly performing in tournaments; it is just they haven’t been able to take any silverware away with them.
“But England have wonderful players across the park and a lot of those guys are now playing in the NRL. Sam Burgess has had a fantastic season with South Sydney.” Smith has played alongside Gareth Widdop at Melbourne for the past three seasons and they won the NRL Grand Final last year.
Smith said: “I love playing beside Gareth and hopefully he will get a fair amount of game- time for England. He’s a very dangerous player.”
Prop Andrew Fifi ta could make his debut for Australia from the bench.