Everyone wins in WAYNE’S WORLD
SAMOA are going to be very difficult opposition for England this morning – we will have to play very well to win, that’s the top and bottom of it.
The players understand that as a team and are ready to go out and perform.
We’ll be playing in front of a hostile, partisan crowd against a skilful and physical team – it will be a real test in every sense.
There has been some criticism of the decision to leave out three players from Super League who have travelled across the world.
But we couldn’t be expected to go with just 17 players. When you travel for 24 hours there is a strong chance of picking up niggles and we had to have a squad of 20.
Wayne Bennett has got to pick his best side and this is who he wants to go with. What I would say to the clubs involved is that they will be getting players back that have improved by being coached by Wayne.
They will have also benefited greatly from being in and around the squad for a week.
Every player wants to be in the side and get as many caps as they can, but they understand that we have some strength in depth and there were always going to be some good players left out.
We’re in a World Cup year and with potentially six matches to play, there’s a real chance all 24 members of that squad will feature.
And part of being involved in international set-ups is being able to handle disappointment.
You might be the best player at your club and guaranteed a shirt, but that isn’t the case with England and everyone is fighting for a place.
It’s great that the team has managed to get together again before the World Cup, and in Australia as well where we’ll be based.
Just the experience of travelling and training in these conditions is something that will help come the end of the year and the World Cup.
The mood in camp has been very positive all week. I watched training this week and have seen some very good sessions during my career, but this one was right up there in cohesion and intensity.
We’ve had a look at where we went wrong in the Four Nations and how we can rectify that, and we’re looking to put a few things in place against Samoa.
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