SMITH MAKES A MESS OF TONGA
Harry admits ‘messing about’ helped him prove doubters wrong
HARRY SMITH says oldfashioned “messing about” helped lead to England’s brilliant highlight against Tonga as he again proved the doubters wrong.
With captain George Williams returning from a two-game ban, the Wigan scrum-half got the nod ahead of Hull KR livewire Mikey Lewis for the third and final Test.
And Smith, 23, delivered with a superb display, including a mesmerising off-the-cuff kick to set up Harry Newman’s first international try.
He arrowed a low angled kick from one side of the Headingley pitch to the other and right into the grasp of the Leeds centre. It almost looked like a 50m pass as Smith helped set up a 26-0 lead against toothless Tonga, Shaun Wane’s side storming to a 3-0 series whitewash.
Wane said it was, in part, down to the work of his assistant Lee Briers, the mercurial ex-Warrington and Wales stand-off who has transformed Brisbane’s attack this year after switching from Wigan. But Smith, awarded the Nan Halafihi Medal for player of the series, insisted: “I don’t want to give Briersy too much credit as he gets too much.
“We spoke as a half-back pairing to play more in this last game and back ourselves. If we see an opportunity, take it and the team will back you.
“That was just one of those moments. I’ve done a bit of work with
Briersy but that was more me. I do mess about and try different kicking styles at the end of training sessions.
“I saw the space and thought I’d give it a welly. It looked good didn’t it?
“There’s a bit of practice there but also a bit of natural instinct which you need at this level sometimes to score tries. It was good.” There was plenty to like about England’s display, with John Bateman tearing up Tonga once more and the likes of Tom Johnstone and Tom Burgess continuing their excellent autumn.
Warrington second-row Ben Currie came in as a makeshift centre and impressed, scoring one try and setting up another for veteran Canberra second-row Elliott Whitehead, who bowed out of international rugby league in style.
Wolves winger Matty Ashton also crossed from Newman’s class flick pass and Tonga did not manage a score until Elisea Kato’s 68th minute consolation effort.
Smith, who kicked all five goals and dictated so much of play, admitted: “It’s unbelievable to win 3-0. I don’t think many people thought we could have done it at the start.
“The bond we’ve built these last three weeks has been unbelievable. Personally, I knew I had to take my chance. And I feel I did a good job.”
ENGLAND WOMEN thrashed Wales 60-0 with two tries each for Amy Hardcastle and Tara-Jane Stanley, with Caitlin Beevers, Shona Hoyle, debutant Lacey Owen, Georgia Roche, Tamzin Renouf, Keara Bennett and Emily Rudge also crossing.