England can gain ultimate honour
O’Loughlin fighting to make final
MARTIN OFFIAH is backing England to defy the odds and win the World Cup – and says they should be honoured by the Queen if they topple Australia.
Wayne Bennett’s side face a mountainous task to defeat the Kangaroos in Brisbane on Saturday in what will be England’s first World Cup final appearance since 1995.
Back then, legendary former Wigan winger Offiah was in his pomp and part of an England side who lost 16-8 to Australia at Wembley.
Fast forward 22 years and world domination beckons again, with Offiah optimistic about England’s chances of overcoming a star-studded Aussie side on their own turf.
Offiah scored an incredible 501 tries in his career, was awarded an MBE in 1997 and is immortalised in a bronze statue outside Wembley.
The 50-year-old Londoner, affectionately nicknamed ‘Chariots Offiah’, said: “The physical challenge of playing Australia is immense but England are more than capable of beating them in a one-off game – and I’m backing them to do it.
“We have a number of world-class players who play their club rugby in Australia and are accustomed to playing in big games.
“Sam Burgess is a world superstar and, after the debacle of the 2015 rugby union World Cup, it would be a nice story for him to win a World Cup in rugby league.
“We have a great forward pack with players like James Graham, Alex Walmsley,
LINE-UPS
ENGLAND Widdop; McGillvary, Watkins, Bateman, Hall; Brown, Gale; Hill, Roby, Graham, S Burgess, Whitehead, O’Loughlin (capt). Interchanges: Walmsley, Currie, T Burgess, Heighington. AUSTRALIA Slater; Gagai, Chambers, Dugan, Holmes; Morgan, Cronk; Woods, Smith (capt), Klemmer, Cordner, Gillett, McGuire. Interchanges: Graham, McLean, Campbell-Gillard, Frizell. Sean O’Loughlin and Elliott Whitehead, who is a stand-out player in the NRL.
“If you look at our bench, it shows the strength in depth that England have.
“I wouldn’t be too surprised if NRL clubs tried to sign Jermaine McGillvary after the tournament he has had.
“He’s a modern winger and a far more complete player than I was.
“I lived and died by my tryscoring ability, whereas McGillvary can score the tries that I did but he also works as hard as someone like Jason Robinson did. “Ryan Hall had the tag of ‘world’s best winger’ at one point but I think McGillvary definitely has that ENGLAND forward Chris Hill says captain Sean O’Loughlin is on the mend ahead of Saturday’s World Cup final but insists he is not irreplaceable.
O’Loughlin, right, was considered doubtful by head coach Wayne Bennett after suffering a quad injury during England’s 20-18 semifinal win over Tonga last Saturday but has been now and I have really been impressed with Kallum Watkins as well during this tournament.
“It would be immense if England won the World Cup – for the sport in general – before the next tournament here in 2021.
“I remember the national frenzy when England’s rugby union team won their World Cup in Australia in 2003.
“Clive Woodward got a knighthood off the back of that and Jason Robinson an OBE.
“If England win, then it should be MBEs all round and I’d certainly be leading the calls for that to happen.” England hooker Josh Hodgson has been ruled out of the final with a knee named in the team to face Australia at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
“He’s doing everything possible to get fit,” said Hill. “I saw him this morning and he’s moving a lot better. We’ve got a couple of AUSTRALIA
Brasher, Wishart, Coyne, Hill, Dallas, Fittler (capt), Toovey, Pay, A Johns, Carroll, Menzies, Larson, Dymock. Subs: O’Davis, M Johns, Smith, Kosef. Tries: Wishart, Brasher. Goals: A Johns (4). Referee: Stuart Cummings Attendance: 66,540
scored a try. It was disallowed because I was supposedly in touch but if they had had video referees, the try would definitely have been given.
“We had beaten Australia several times before and always knew we were capable of doing that. Sometimes in life things just don’t go your way – and the 1995 World Cup final was one of those.” days yet and see. “If he doesn’t play, obviously it’s a loss but someone else will step in.” Bennett has recalled veteran forward Chris Heighington in the only change to his semi-final line-up. The 34-yearold Cronulla second row has been handed the so we’ll injury, meaning St Helens’ James Roby could play the full 80 minutes in the game’s most pivotal position.
Offiah said: “Roby is more than capable of doing that because he’s a great player and it’s a fantastic opportunity for him.
“Wayne Bennett is a guru and I’m sure he would like to turn over his own country. He’s got us to a World Cup final and it’s all there for England now.”
Offiah looks back at the 1995 defeat by Australia as a missed opportunity. He said: “I made a long break early on down the left-hand side and passed the ball to Paul Newlove, who
THE LAST TIME ENGLAND WERE IN THE WORLD CUP FINAL
ENGLAND 8 AUSTRALIA 16
OCTOBER 28, 1995 - WEMBLEY
ENGLAND
Radlinski, Robinson, Connolly, Newlove, Offiah, Smith, Goulding, Harrison, Jackson, Platt, Betts (capt), Clarke, Farrell. Subs: Mather, Cassidy, Pinkney, Joynt. Try: Newline. Goals: Goulding (2).
wait vacant bench spot, with James Roby starting at hooker in place of the injured Josh Hodgson.
Roby is the only other specialist hooker in the 24-man squad but Hill believes the St Helens star will be able to play all of the game. “Robes can do 80 minutes, he has done it for 15 years in the Super League and he has done it internationally,” he said.