Contrary to the fears of many, the spine of the English rugby league side was able to match it with their more fancied Australian counterparts in the World Cup opener at Millennium Stadium on the weekend.
Unfortunately for the joint hosts, however, their much-vaunted forward pack turned in a right old embarrassing performance.
Not embarrassing in the regular areas of hit-ups, tackles and metres gained mind you.
But man oh man, has a major rugby league tournament ever included a bigger bunch of ball-dropping, brain-dead bellends than the 2013 England engine room?
I understand it’s not unusual for a footy team to have the odd ‘Empty’ or ‘Nought’ up front, after all a Rhodes Scholarship isn’t necessarily a requirement for being huge and running over the top of people.
But the English players the other night managed to make a number of decisions that Luke O’Donnell in his elbow/spear-tackle combo prime would describe as “a little silly”.
Which, considering coach Steve Mcnamara had sidelined nutters James Graham and Gareth Hock for being a bit loose on the juice, is quite astounding.
Having sat through the game again yesterday, I am convinced Ben Westwood’s half-time routine must have consisted of washing a box of angry pills down with a pint of Red Bull, then squeezing a tube of Deep Heat into his underpants.
I am loathe to pin a loss on a single player, but when you’re six points behind, 20 min to go and two metres out and you can’t play the ball because you’re too busy trying to niggle the marker for the 20th time, fingers need to be pointed.
Follow this up with a piggyback penalty, then more mindless push-and-shove to agitate a clearly frazzled referee Henry Perenara and you’ve got an export quality scapegoat.
Luckily for Big Benny, NRL star Sam Burgess then chipped in with a lazy coat hanger on Sam Thaiday that probably won’t make the cut for Burgo’s next pectoral laden DVD.
Even the unassuming Englishman Carl Ablett got in on the act, proving, despite the Sterlo hairdo, he was definitely no relation to any AFL player by running 30 metres sideways to shoulder an Australian player out of contention of a bomb, which then resulted in a penalty goal to put the match beyond reach.
Now I know international rugby league, on a whole, is a little bit angrier than your club stuff.
And, as a nation, the English have a proud history of out-angrying other sides via some well ‘ard lads in the pack.
I appreciate this and, if nothing else, it has provided fans with many famous, often hilarious, rugby league moments of lunacy.
But to see the solid efforts of most of the English team go down the gurgler because their forwards lost the plot was a bit of a downer.
England had a prime opportunity to defeat Australia after going ten-nil up on the weekend, and if by chance they find themselves in the same position later on in the tournament they’ll need to be prepared to turn the screws.
Something they will continue to find difficult when they’re carrying a bunch of players with a few screws loose upstairs.
Jz
Guest
LOL sports freak
Renegade
Guest
Anne and sportfreak are clearly friends.... the funniest part is, they are actually the same person.
Anne
Roar Rookie
The reason no one is blogging about it is hardly anyone watched it. Interest at my workplace even among the league diehards is minimal. In fact I don't know any of my friends or colleagues who did watch it live or on IQ.
In Brief
Guest
To be honest, I prefer watching sport in small stadiums. I take it you are being disengenuous but it's actually not a bad idea to take the World Cup to intimate venues. They actually got that one right. The NRL could consider this for some games.
Col Quinn
Guest
CC, just ignore him. A response is a waste of time.
cowelly
Guest
Just like how the victorian 'ex-pats' brought a couple of teams to QLD for their comp and pretend it's worthy of a mention? Don't worry buddy, your preseason comp that no one cares about is just around the corner. I guess, until then, you'll just have to watch something else.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Well league does have agrowing presence in the PI for starters.That would suggest perhaps they do get league
sportfreak
Guest
I guess the challenge that we in Aus have with League being the number 1 sport is that in the smaller natios, rugby union has a growing presence and dont 'get' league.
Squirrel
Guest
I like the World cup concept even though some players could play for multiple countries. It is still a celebration andvery enertaining. They just have to ook at ways on how to build the game in minor countries as it is a marketable game.
sportfreak
Guest
Sorry guys, I seem to have offended for no reason.. Let me be clear, I watch league - the Australian Football League in fact so I know all about creating imaginary, mystical international teams/leagues/ competitions. Just because a couple of bored expats decide to build a comp in say South Africa, it doesnt mean its worthy of a mention. Look at Gaelic Football. Heck theres a comp in Sydney but it doesnt mean its worthy of a world cup. But go Italy!
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
How do you get through unmoderated sportsfreak? Exams over? Schoolies week not too far away,you will be in your element there.You wear a red bandana by chance? Or you just seeking a couple of minutes of fame,to overcome ennui.Your insecurity sticks out like Bill Lawry''s honk.
Col Quinn
Guest
Another "I like Rugby League but" contributer. Go play your game elsewhere. Every RL suporter is sick and tired of the constant small minded rubbish written about the World Cup. Why do you think after a cracker of a game so few supporters have written anything? We are tired of the rubbish responses.
sportfreak
Guest
Comment removed.
Anne
Roar Rookie
Sport freak, why the need to be so unkind? This is leagues show piece and while the term "World Cup" if used very liberally it still provides the only forum for the code to try and get some international exposure. I'll refer you to a previous post where I think league should focus on a end of year club series involving the top 4 NRL and top 4 SL clubs to try and build exposure rather than try and compete with the global big boys Football and Rugby.
sportfreak
Guest
I’m really enjoying this year’s world cup for quite a few reasons. Eligibility – Did they change the rules so that even if you’ve played for a country in the past, you can now play for whoever you want? Is saw Mini playing for Italy the other night which was cool but didn’t he play for Australia? I like the manufactured pools so the weak countries don’t play the strong ones. Thats clever and guarantees a manufactured final – clever. The creation of teams where they don’t have their own comp or even a single pro team is a great idea. It gives the comp a real ‘international feel’ which is good when at work as we can talk like the soccer and rugby people. The US for example is a clever one – its just a shame that no-one bought the rights to watch the game so the citizens of the US can’t see these committed foreigners playing in their jersey. Stadiums – holding games in tiny stadiums is also a good move. A crowd of 8000 means we can start talking about ‘near’ sellout crowds. I like that a lot Expansion – I like how they are playing this world cup in the North of England. There is nothing like ignoring the rest of the world to keep your small band of supporters happy. I guess the next world cup will be in Australia as well which will be a good move.
Mike from tari
Guest
The poms were good up to a point but then went off their plan, Sinfield should have been in the forwards, haven't they got a 1/2 back or 5/8. Don't know what Farrer came on for, he disrupted the attack.
Chris Chard
Expert
Don't know about you Col but i'd put trying to start a fight with Fifita in the silly category! Great player, but a bit more composure in the big matches would do his side a world of good. Not just in internationals either... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCmbHOYQMRk
Col Quinn
Guest
Chris, Just watched the game for the second time. Westward did one silly thing. He was central to England’s defence. When he went off towards the end of the first half it was no coincidence that was when Australia fired. Westward was intimidating the Australian forwards
Kris Swales
Expert
Backs packing into scrums is the dumbest tactical initiative since the kicking duel.
Chris Chard
Expert
Rumour has it Adrian Morley was dirty on Burgess for waiting till late in the game to pay tribute to his coathanger on Robbie Kearns many moons ago