There is a mantra often applied to business ‘If you always copy what others are doing you will always be one step behind.’
English rugby league is the corner takeaway to the fast food franchise that is the Kangaroos in terms of resources.
The Australian team will always boast a larger talent pool to choose from when it comes to picking Test sides.
Instead of being a pale imitation of the grinding, clinical and disciplined game that has brought Australia so much success over the years, England need to find a different product.
Former Great Britain centre and current RL Ireland board member Des Foy believes that it will require a “new mindset” if England want to be successful.
“If you play the Australians at their game you might get a couple of breaks and score 15 or so points. But the Aussies will score 20-30 plus.
“The question is how do you get that when every coach is either an Australian or someone trying to emulate successful Aussies.
“New Zealand used to play a game that was full of offloads, which coupled with Johnson’s flair and powerful, fast backs always gave them a chance of toppling Australia.
“Now they have abandoned that for a Melbourne Storm style grind and they have gone backwards in my opinion.”
My best memories of Great Britain are dominated by players with outrageous skills such as Tommy Bishop, Roger Millward, Brian Lockwood, Dave Topliss and Ellery Hanley.
Those skills appear to have been constrained in the modern player in effort to match the Aussies for fitness, attitude and discipline.
“It’s pandemic. Kids are all using the same plan. Scoot or drive for two or three tackles followed by a ‘block’ play and then kick.
“The Ipswich Jets two seasons ago played what appeared to be a crazy style of rugby league. They would go wide early with offloads galore. It worked and they won the Queensland Intrust Cup and the play off against the NSW winners. Leigh played like that also under Rowley in England.”
England appear to have the personnel to exploit an expansive style of play. The talented George Williams and fullback Jonny Lomax, who can also play in the halves, are exciting prospects and wingers McGilvary and Hall are world class. Throw in a solid, athletic forward pack and the opportunity is there
Current England coach Wayne Bennett is a master of clinical rugby league having won his most recent premiership with St George Illawarra mostly in that fashion.
Bennett pointed to mistakes – dropped balls, penalties conceded and England not kicking the ball out when given a penalty – as the reason for the 36-18 loss.
English sport has a recent and admittedly successful history of looking down under for answers.
U.K. Sport contracted Aussie coaches, administrators and ideas in the lead up to the London Olympics with unprecedented success buoyed by national lottery funding.
English rugby union recently employed ex Wallabies coach Eddie Jones who delighted in coaching them to a 3-0 series win, humbling the Australian team, on their home soil last year.
If England are to rise up they will need to employ an innovative and daring coach not indoctrinated in the Australian way.
There is no denying that grinding mistake free footy works but it will always work best for the Kangaroos.
If the Kiwis are to be a chance on Sunday they will need to revert to their ‘Polynesian’ style of game, letting the ball do the work with offloads and second phase play.
Australia’s defence will become uncomfortable if the attack is unpredictable.
If not at full time they will also be one step behind the Aussies.
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