What England Bring to the Table

We know what the Kiwis and Kangaroos will bring to this tournament, and we have a pretty fair idea of what Samoa have up their sleeve, but England. England are a different kettle of fish.

We know they will have a pretty fearsome front row rotation with the Burgess twins and James Graham set to combine.

We know that Gareth Widdop will be directing play in the halves and that our main man Sam Tomkins will be lurking out the back looking to link up with his wingers.

And well that’s about it. These are players we have seen on a regular basis in the NRL, but the rest of their squad do their thing over in the Super League.

The travelling English will bring with them their Young Player of the Year, Daryl Clark. No biggie, sure but he also won the Man of Steel award effectively getting the NRL equivalent of Rookie of the Year and the Dally M medal. The 21 year old Castleford junior looks set to start for England with wobbly ankles forcing James Roby out.

So yeah, he’s coming with some form. Look for his pace around the ruck to cause a few problems.

Clark recently piped up about wanting to play in the NRL, like many an Englishmn willing to test themselves, but we are unlikely to see him anytime soon as the ink dries his four year contract with Warrington, after having come through the Castleford system.

Another strike player for England will be Leeds centre Kallum Watkins. Like Clark, a prodigal son from Leeds he made his debut as a 16 year old and his gone on to develop a well-rounded game at centre for his club and country.

Watkins is not caught out on defence easily but it’s for his offence he was rapidly promoted for. Naturally he has the physical assets - size, pace and strength - but as he’s matured his decision making on attack is often spot on. If he was to develop a threatening aerial game he’d be like Jamie Lyon, but bigger.

And captaining England will be Wigan lock Sean O’Loughlin. A loyal Wigan man through and through, he looks set to stay with the club till he’s old and grey, as he is keen to continue into coaching following the end of his playing days.

O’Loughlin has plenty of reliable lieutenants in the likes of Graham and Widdop but his graft and leadership will be invaluable if England are to upset Australia and New Zealand.

With a powerful front row rotation and a strong spine of Clark, Widdop, Matty Smith and Tomkins this English team could stun the understrength Kiwis and Kangaroos.

As always the Roos will still be strongest side but their new combinations will be tested by a rather settled England side.