Despite New Zealand being the reigning champions and England having the home ground advantage, the Kangaroos are firm and rightful favourites for the 2013 edition of the Rugby League World Cup.
In a squad that can only find room for two players who won the NRL premiership on Sunday evening, the question that has to be asked is this – can anybody stop the Kangaroos?
While seeing just who of the minnows will swim ahead of the school is certainly of keen interest to me, none of them will push the might of the green and gold.
If they do, it will be nothing short of a Herculean effort.
The Kiwis struggle to perform at their best against England in England, being on the receiving end of 28-6 and 20-12 losses in their last two meetings there, at the ‘09 and ‘11 Four Nations respectively.
Some may argue that New Zealand also perform to a higher standard in longer tournaments, but that is something of a copout now that they have just as stable a 17 as Australia.
Conceding 26 points in the second half of the ANZAC Test is certainly a bad omen for New Zealand and not one that the benefit of a longer campaign will soothe.
England are the most likely for mine to be able to stage an upset victory over the Aussies. The home ground advantage is huge, but not even that is as huge as their forward pack.
James Graham, George Burgess and Sam Burgess are all in the upper echelon of NRL forwards.
From the admittedly small sample space of what I have seen of O’Loughlin, Roby, Hock and Mossop, they are all excellent footballers in their own right.
The backline is not as strong but there is some genuine strike through the likes of Gareth Widdop, Josh Charnley and Sam Tomkins.
A brief glance over the Australian squad, no doubt still hurting from their failure to secure the 2008 World Cup, and any hopes of an English victory are buffeted by immense doubt to say the least.
When the current Clive Churchill medallist is unlikely to force his way into the starting side, the strength of this group is undeniable.
The combinations between the Queensland contingent are impossible to emulate for the other contenders.
These old heads are complimented beautifully by the youth brigade led by uncapped but in-form NSW forwards Andrew Fifita and Boyd Cordner, an absolute smorgasbord of rugby league talent.
My excitement for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup is unfettered by the shadow of a Kangaroo-led massacre hanging over it; I can only build the marvel at any upsets.
But with the weight of the 2008 loss still hanging heavy on Australia and the incredibly talented squad they have assembled, it’s hard to envision the Roos even needing to get out of second gear to regain the Cup.
Twitter: The_Hoss12
ken
Guest
Not that there's any surprises but that is simply a ridiculously potent 3/4 line... The rest of the side is great too of course No team is unbeatable though, the aussies always look unstoppable but we don't hold the trophy
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
Agree with that side completely Zug. Right balance of experience, talent, size and match winning ability.
Yorkie
Guest
Glenn, With regards to the English forwards James Graham and the Burgress boys have already shown they can match the NRL players and Lee Mossop is going to Parra next year and so was Hock but he has since back tracked hence they are held in high esteem. Also Roby the hooker and O"Loughlin the Wigan loose forward are excellent players who are more than a match for the Aussies. The issue is we only have Sam Tomkins at full back (who is going to Warriors next year) and Ryan Hall ( who broke Slaters collar bone and scored 2 tries at wembley a few years ago) on the wing who are world class in our backline, some people might argue Charnley the Wigan winger is but I am not convinced. Hence our great super league half backs and remaining back line will get crushed by the Aussie opposition which is far better. The English teams best chance is to try and dominate with the forwards and restrict the Aussie play makers and backline from having it's maximum imput but even then I cannot see the English 3 quarters and halves causing to much trouble :-(
killaku
Guest
So does that mean you choke on the big stage now
Adam Everitt
Roar Rookie
In recent times New Zealand have matched and often beaten Australia in tournaments but have struggled in mid-season tests. Being the optimist that I am, we the English will defy all odds and beat Tonga in the final ;)
Glenn Innis
Guest
One final word on the World Cup is that the problem with the pacific Island nations getting stronger is that it comes at the expense of New Zealand. For example I understand Steve Matai has chosen to play for Samoa, that is a big loss for the Kiwis if Matai was an Australian he would be in my Australian team he has developed into an absolute top class centre,, the Kiwis don't have enough depth to be losing players of his quality.
Glenn Innis
Guest
Yorkie - It is very hard for me to make an informed call on the England squad because I don't watch much English Rugby League and even if I did it is still hard to get a guide on how the players will go against the elite of the NRL, It is a bit like junior football a kid may look great playing in the Balmain juniors but how well would he go if you took him out to Penrith to play.until it happens you are only really going on gut instinct.As far as England are concerned I am really just going on past peformance.
Yorkie
Guest
I echo the points made above that the smaller nations teams look a lot more competitive this year than in previous tournaments and some very interesting games will be played out between them. I also agree that England have a much stronger team this year than we have seen for the last 20 years and that the forwards are the best in the comp IMO. Englands issue is in the backs - we only have half of a world class back line and 2nd grade stand off and scrum half. Also the subs bench is a problem because we can fill it with quality forwards but we have no backs of world class available. With regards to the Aussie team i agree that on paper the comp is theres to loose - but games are not played on paper and that is something the aussies learned the hard way against NZ in the last world cup. I would also argue that this aussie team is not as good as the last world cup squad so both England and NZ should be encouraged by their squad selection. A big issue for me is if NZ can put in some decent performances - as mentioned above they dont seem to perform very well in the English Autumn and the competition needs all 3 major powers to be firing in order to make the comp successful. Hopefully NZ will be on fire, the English forwards can compensate for the lack of half backs and the aussies get to big for there boots and the comp should be excellent :-)
Glenn Innis
Guest
I give the kiwis a much better chance of causing a boilover than England - if they can manage to make the final.The thing with the Kiwis to paraphrase from that old nursery rhyme is that when they are good they are very good but when they are bad they are horrid. Against that I hope for the sake of the tournament England make the final and indeed for the good of Rugby League as an international sport they win it and beat Australia to do so. The former is quite possible as for the latter - well I wouldn't puy stolen money on that outcome.
The Koomz
Guest
Kiwis won fair and square in 08, even Lockyer was embarrassed by being MOM. Benji was in some rare form that year but I cant see them retaining the cup this time and that is only if SBW unexpectedly participates in the World cup.
Renegade
Guest
I'm not convinced we are going to dominate this tournament.... we look very beatable and England and NZ look stronger than they have ever been. Looking forward to a great tournament.
Johnno
Guest
A bit like rugby union it takes alot of time. Heck scotland have never beaten the AB'S apparently. But i'd say Fiji/Samoa/Tonga/PNG/France, are now at where say Italy/Scotland are in rugby. There all not up to beating the big 3, but if at full strength are about 20 points of the pace, 30 at worst. Basically a roosters vs Eels 2013 side perhaps. But all these teams are now almost full time ESL/NRL players.
Hossey
Roar Guru
It will definitely be competetive amongst the 4-16. Tonga and Fiji have especially talented sides. The real issue is trying to get one of them to cross over and become competetive with the big 3.
Johnno
Guest
poms at home will lift a bit, they have a better forward pack this time than last few years. At home they always do better. Will it be enough, probably not, but at home are capable of an upset, as are NZ vs Aussies.
Glenn Innis
Guest
International Rugby League runs like this - If Australia are off their game and New Zealand or England are playing to their absolute potential and the rub of the green is going their way then they can sneak a narrow victory over the Kangaroos.If the exact opposite happens Australia win by forty because they are a twenty point better side than England or New Zealand. The problem our two main rivals have is they are short on depth and always have to carry a few players in their teams that are simply not up to taking on Australia and these blokes get exposed if Australia are anything like on their game The one hope for the poms and Kiwis is in a tournament format they only have to beat Australia once unlike trying to win a three test series against us - that gives them both some chance if everything goes their way in the final. None of this is xenephobia it is just reality Australia dominates international Rugby League and with the huge advantages we have in playing numbers so it bloodywell should - there would be something seriously wrong with the sport in Australia if we were not dominant.
Johnno
Guest
This World cup will be far more competitive, than the 2000 or 2008 version. Tonga have just named there squad, full of ESL and NRL players. Only 4 in squad have no ESL or NRL experience. Aussies have not get better since 2000 or 2008, have not got worse, but have not got better. NZ are the same. England have got better. The rest of the teams outside the big 3 have all got better. Fiji/Samoa/Tonga/PNG/Wales/France the gap has closed. France has 16 out of 24 players from catalan dragons, so that means all 16 are full time pros in ESL, and the other 8 are probably full time or semi-pro a few from NRL. One of the big 3 will still win it, but the minnows have all got better, the gap has closed.
Renegade
Guest
Do you really believe that?
Col Quinn
Guest
Complete rubbish. Typical zenophobic Australian. You have been listening to much to Hadley.
doubledutch
Roar Pro
To be brutally honest, no one can beat Australia if they actually want to win. Remember up until a few years ago (namely the last world cup) Australia had won ever major League tournament, cup and series for 28 years straight! I actually think the Aussies lost to the Kiwis just to keep the game interesting at international level because no one wants to see the same country winning all the time. That said, Australia is going to Bulldoze England in the final since the Kiwis are not good enough. Hell if you dressed England or NZ up in a blues outfit and didn't tell QLD they were not NSW and played them during ORIGIN, they would hammer them most likely a 100 nil.
Clark
Guest
Don't worry, us Kiwi's will be there, definitely have the team to go all the way again, 2008 was an amazing moment for us.