The Kangaroos depart for London on a mission to finish captain Darren Lockyer’s career on a high.
We got a sneak preview last Sunday at Newcastle, how focused the lads are heading into this year’s Four Nations.
I have never seen a more dominant opening 20 minutes from a rugby league team. Sure they may have slackened a little, but the damage to the Kiwis was already done.
New Zealand will get better, but I’m not sure they can turn things around quickly enough to stop a Kangaroos squad that look hell bent on sending Darren Lockyer out a winner.
The Four Nations schedule sees Australia and New Zealand meet first up at the Halliwell Jones Stadium in Warrington.
A week later, Australia will meet the old enemy England at Wembley. It will be the first Test match played between the two nations at Wembley, since the 1995 World Cup final where Australia defeated England 16-8.
The last match Australia played at Wembley though, was in 1997, when the Australian Super League team that featured a young Lockyer at fullback played Great Britain. For the record Australia won that game 38-14.
Australia’s last pool game is against Four Nations’ new boys Wales at the Racecourse Road Wrexham. Wales have never beaten Australia before and I expect that to stay the same.
But the Welsh are known to spring a few surprises. I do recall one memorable game between these two nations. It was the semi-final of the 2000 World Cup.
Although the final score was 46-22 to the Kangaroos, the Welsh side almost pulled off the upset of the decade with a youthful Lee Briers leading the charge.
After the three pool games, Australia should cruise into the final at Elland Road in Leeds with only injuries being a concern, but unlike the other nations, Australia has the depth to cover a range of positions.
Paul Gallen has proved twice now that he can easily adapt to the front row in big games. Luke Lewis is one of the most underrated players in the game and can play anywhere, as can Beau Scott and Chris Lawrence.
But the backbone of this Australian side is the Queensland connection. If Thurston, Smith, Lockyer or Slater get injured, they have ready replacements in Cronk, Boyd and rookie Daly Cherry-Evans.
The Maroon influence was obvious in Newcastle last week and you will see it again throughout the Four Nations.
I would like to see an Australia versus England final, but I think the Poms are a year or two off and Wales are there for experience.
So that makes it an all-southern hemisphere final once again and for Lockyer to go out a winner.
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