As an England fan iam not getting too giddy about the Aussies dropping out as our already poor back line has been weakened further with Pryce, Eastmond and Mc Guire all injured.

I'm not sure where you've heard people say it will be a breeze for England, certainly not from this thread?

Compare the team above with the one that beat England in the last 4 Nations final

1. Billy Slater
2. Jarryd Hayne
3. Greg Inglis
4. Justin Hodges
5. Brett Morris
6. Darren Lockyer (c)
7. Johnathan Thurston
8. Petero Civoniceva
9. Cameron Smith
10. Ben Hannant
11. Luke Lewis
12. Paul Gallen
13. Nathan Hindmarsh

14. Sam Thaiday
15. Anthony Watmough
16. Kurt Gidley
17. Brett White

Which would you rate as the stronger?

Makes no difference, we'll still get snotted

See, the problem I have with this attitude is that if the players think that we will never win

We need the players, especially the young players like Tompkins, Eastmond etc to go out there with confidence... they are quality players and they should believe in themselves

Australia went for decades losing regularly to GB... despite the past 30 years, the Ashes score line stands at 59 wins to Australia and 55 to GB (up to and including the 2003 series)

It really winds me up this defeatist attitude

Who's whinging? You?

I can't wait to see such a new looking Kangaroos. I believe there's some players you've yet to be introduced to.

We have our own massive problems, Yeamans pulled out

Or maybe the players have realised the international scene is a joke and would rather have a long offseason to rest and recoup

It doesn't matter who the aussies have out because they will just take some players off fiji, tonga, samoa or the kiwis to fill the gaps

Gotta love this thread.....same as all the others before an international comp......england v australia....australia v england......and hardly a mention of the current world champions who are playing at Home........

Probably start as favourites,look a big,physical squad.

If I was sitting down on the 13th of November to watch an England vs. New Zealand Four Nations final, I would be a very happy man!

Loads of rumours flying around over here regarding life bans for a betting scam to be handed out after the Grand Final...all unsubstantiated at this point, so no names being named, but a couple of biggies including a north eastern teams latest big name signing


I repeat...pretty unsubstantiated rumours....but you never know.

So who have Gateshead Thunder signed?

Paddy Power


He's a mad gambler him

Can't call me on that one, I keep trying to remind people that the Aussies arn't world champs.

I've heard this 3 x cowboys, 1 x bulldogs and 1 x Storm players will be receiving life bans after the grand final. And as you have said rumour's going around that a few big names are involved.

Kiwis are great value at $6.

Australian bookies have no clue when it comes to international rugby league. Looks like time to clean up again a la 2008.

if australia really valued international RL players would defer surgery till after

these players have carried these injuries for months, deferring surgery till the season is over

clearly they and their clubs just dont give a stuff about international RL so forget about all these conspiracy theories

This is sadly true to a large extent.

The game still hasn't quite got it right since the SLW. Until we have more players, like Prince has today, speaking about the desire to represent Australia, we won't get back to our international potential for rugby league WITHIN Australia.

Having said that, New Zealand have a mighty side irrespective.

Ditto.

wow...the aussies are rattled..

i've just posted this on the league unlimited forum



the 4 horsemen being inglis,thruston,slater & lockyer......

anyway apparently i'm "floating pretty close to a ban for that comment.."

aaaawwwww

They really are rattled! What happened to all the bulish arrogant remarks about how great they are and how easily they will stuff us? Now it's 'We don't like international RL anyway'. I fancy us to do the Australia/Fiji/Tonga/Samoa/NZ/PNG Kangaroos and the World Champs will breeze past them.

It's nice to dream I suppose!

Not really a dream is it? You'd think the Kangaroo's arrogance might have died down after the Kiwi's took the WC from you, but it was like you didn't realise that you wern't the best side in the world anymore such was you're over confidence and arrogance.

Why don't you generalise about Australians more broadly...