England under performed says Peacock

Gutted England captain Jamie Peacock believes it could be time Super League teams adopted the southern hemisphere style of rugby league to compete internationally.

The shattered England skipper, uncertain if he’s played his last game for his country, felt officials back home had to take a hard look at how the game is played in Australia and consider adopting that style.

“Super League is more exciting to watch but it doesn’t mean international success,” said Peacock when asked if England had to change its domestic game.

“Do you want international success and have a different style of football, or do you keep what we’ve got and keep it more free flowing?

“That’s for the people at the top to decide with some input from the players.

“I see Australia had a big (NRL) meeting with a lot of its players involved and I think that is something that needs to be done with Super League.”

Playing under Australian referees throughout the World Cup, England never adjusted to the wrestle in the ruck nor the use of dummy and decoy runners out wide.

Time and again players threw their hands in the air, screaming at referees for obstruction penalties because defenders felt impeded by opposition decoy runners.

“It’s been tough adapting, it’s a different style of play with the ruck and how the 10 metres is policed,” said Peacock.

“What’s actually thrown at you out wide is different from what we deal with in Super League.

“There’s a lot less wrestling and a lot more emphasis on the speed of the play the ball, so the damage is done down the middle.

“But the damage was done out wide here.”

What is not different though is catching and passing the ball and numbering up in defence which England did so poorly in Saturday night’s semi final loss to New Zealand.

Super League form was left at home and the English were the disappointments of the World Cup after promising so much.

Losing twice to New Zealand, whom they embarrassed 3-0 in a home Test series a year ago, suggests they have a lot of work to do.

Their Australia-born coach, Tony Smith should have prepared them better knowing what they would be up against in the tournament.

The fact lightweights Papua New Guinea stunned them in the opening game was enough warning but they were flogged by Australia in a masterly display by the Kangaroos and comprehensively beaten by the Kiwis in back-to-back games.

England do have some class acts.

Five-eighth Danny McGuire has great hands, reads the game brilliantly, has speed and strength and his try just before half time, and another in the second half, underlined his quality.

Prop James Graham has ball skills that also make him dangerous along with centre Martin Gleeson.

Peacock, 31, was blunt in his assessment of the World Cup effort: “We under performed.”

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