For all the waxing lyrical about the incredible ability of Sonny Bill Williams, he isn’t the most important player at the Rugby League World Cup. In fact, he isn’t even the most important player in his own side.
It doesn’t stop there for silver medal SBW though. He’s also only the second best acronym in his own side.
I recently pondered whether the class and guile of the Kangaroos could be contained. After watching the big three countries run around and witnessing the paths to the final laid out before them, I believe they most certainly can.
Australia will be coasting to the final, while England and New Zealand will be battle-hardened and high on confidence after overcoming the other in the semi-finals, barring any incredible upsets which change this trajectory.
I’m not quite sold on England yet, but New Zealand definitely have the firepower to ambush Australia once again, and it all comes down to the acronym which has topped SBW OMG – JWH.
The Kiwis were an absolute powerhouse against Samoa while Jared Waerea-Hargreaves was on the field, scoring at better than a point a minute at one point.
During the period he was off the field, Samoa mounted an astonishing fightback, only for the Kiwis to regain control and power home once the premiership-winning prop returned to the field.
It was no coincidence. When Waerea-Hargreaves enjoyed a stint on the sidelines through suspension, the Sydney Roosters also experienced their flattest patch of the year.
In an era when being a front rower is going out of fashion, Waerea-Hargreaves is proving that there is almost nothing as valuable as a big, strong and talented prop.
Statistically he was dominant, making 18 runs for 162 metres, but what Waerea-Hargreaves brings to the table goes beyond numbers. He is the style of player Australia do not want to face up against – a dominant front rower.
Tim Sheens has been playing with one prop on the bench before it was the latest rep fad and he has continued to do so in the RLWC.
The only issue? James Tamou and Matt Scott are coasting on 18-month-old form.
Should a Trans-Tasman final occur, the battle in the middle will be New Zealand’s to lose as they’ll be led by the best prop in the world in Waerea-Hargreaves, and ably assisted by Moa, Bromwich and Matulino.
Andrew Fifita is in excellent form and did not look out of place in a Kangaroos jersey, but the fabled ‘footwork’ that coaches love to look for through the ruck is useless when there are no props to start the roll-on and the play-the-balls are slow.
The English front row busted eight tackles between them, while Tamou and Scott failed to break one.
The sight of George Burgess charging over the try line twice (one luckily a drop ball) is a potent reminder Australia is far behind England and New Zealand when it comes to middle third firepower.
Waerea-Hargreaves is the best in the world – Tamou and Scott aren’t even the best in Australia.
The ambush is on again and it could very well come to fruition, but Sonny Bill Williams isn’t going to be the magic touch. If New Zealand wants to win back-to-back World Cups, it’s going to be off the back of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.
Twitter: The_Hoss12
Tom
Guest
Tamou is playing better than Scott. Same with Parker to Cordner. Fifita needs to come off the bench like papalii as inpact forwards. 1. Slater 2. Hayne 3. Inglis 4. Jennings 5. Morris 6. Thurston 7. Cronk 8. Gallen 9. Smith 10. Tamou 11. Myles 12. Lewis 13. Bird 14. Evans 15. Fifita 16. Parker 17. Papalii
Tom
Guest
I believe Pat was using satire to express the bad habits Sheen's second rows have for running side wards.
Muzz
Guest
Semi Breaking news Inglis to play fullback against Fiji
Johnno
Guest
I do Ra. The Paul brothers had there chance at the rugby league world cup final 2000 vs aussies best when it mattered most and all the guys on both sides in there prime Both had good forward packs so cross that out Aust: Joey at hooker,Kimmorley,Fitler,Lockeyer at full back,scott hill at lock, and a fairly young 23yr old trent barrett on the bench in the final haveing his best season NZ:- Paul Brothers,stacey jones, anthony swain hooker,richie barnett fullback,wiki at lock And the aussies won, so when it counted stacey and the paul brothers lost. But quality players. And Wendall Sailor outplayed Lesley Vainakolo when it counted. Oh and another former kiwi I forgot to add half, Stu Galbraith former Eel lol.
Relic
Guest
SBW??
Ra
Guest
You didn't see very much of the Paul brothers did you Johnno? Sadly none of us saw enough of them, because they played their club league in England, but when they got together along with Stacy they dominated the Aussies and dominated world rugby league. So I don't think you have enough evidence to make definitive judgement Johnno, but that's ok, its your opinion. I saw Freeman when he first stepped up for the Kiwis, he was dynomutt, I'm sure he had ADHD, he was super quick. I'd rank him and Benji in the same class, freakish broken play runners, individuals in a team sport. As you can see I don't go for the, this player is better than that player, especially players from different era. Two halfbacks I liked from a bygone era or two are the former Kiwis half Kenny Smith and your very own Peter Stirling, yes there are heaps and heaps more to choose from, but I like those two.
Ra
Guest
So second row going sideways is team going sideways, easy for in out defence
Ra
Guest
Tim didn't say that, but I've been to a few of Howie's training camps in Wellington back when we were there.
Glenn Innes
Guest
Strongly disagree with this article to win games ultimately you have to score tries and SBW is their avenue to the try lineLook at the history of origin. Qld dominated the eighties because we had one Walter Lewis - when Wally gave it away we lost three series in a row.NSW has not won a series since Andrew Johns gave the game away.Remember the time Bennett dragged Langer back from England for a deciding game - he did it because he knew that without him QLD simply didn't have enough points in them. There are two things about really big games one is you need to be able to turn field position into points and secondly tries (especially long range tries against the run of play) are gold - they turn games and it is SBW not JWH is the man who can produce them. Also for mine the other Kiwi who must fire is Johnson he can't afford to play like he usually does for Auckland he needs to be prepared to cop some bruises and take the ball right to the line indeed acclerate at the point of contact - the kid has speed to burn but it will not help the Kiwis if he spends his time catching and passing.SBW and Johsnon must fire if New Zealand are to defend their title.
Unconvinced
Guest
JWH will either be the hero or villain because he's a hothead.
NingNong
Guest
He's in great form BUT he's good for a head-explosion moment which can change a game. The Aussies will target him coz he can be a liability with his temper.
Johnno
Guest
Scott good for some feedback, glad some one gave an input. I didn't see much of Gary Freeman, the whiz would put in effort don't know much about his kicking game organisation, he could be brave tackler. Stacey Jones would be good enough to match it no doubt. The Paul brothers could play but not in the Joey,JT,Daley, Lockeyer levels.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Johnno I know he is a columnist here but Gary Freeman was very over rated, especially in his later years. Stacey Jones was a stand out 7, but he was still not your real organiser. To be honest, they have never had one like a Joey or JT but the 2 guys together now are a great combination. Each would struggle one out but they are world class together.
Tom
Guest
Much like a Jarryd Hayne, Slater is a player who always steps up in rep games despite bad form in club footy.
Muzz
Guest
I suggest you take another look at his 2013 form,average at best.His performance againts the Knights in the preliminary final was beyond belief.Forget the other night v England,the stakes were low.Kiwis will test him and he will crumble as he did in the last world cup final.
Johnno
Guest
NZ halves over the years 80's: Gary Freeman,Clayton Friend untility- kurt sherlock 90's: a bit of gary freeman, Stacey Jones(genuine world class one of best halfbacks rugby league has seen last 30 years) 2000's: Henry Paul, and Utility-Robbie Paul both World class, but not as good as Daley,Brad Fitler,Lockeyer, Scott Hill, or Brett Kimmorley in his prime, but Paul brothers definately as good as Terry Campese, jarred Mullen, Mitchel Pearce, Ben Hornby, kevin walter types, and probably as good as Trent Barret. 2000's Benji Marshall to sometimes best player in the World, Thomas Leulaui utility and still in NZ world cup squad 2013 2010's Kieren Foran world class (better than Paul Brothers,Terry Campese,Mitchel Pearce types) not yet as good as stacey Jones, or Daley,Johns,Fitler, but may one day.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
NZ have NEVER had a problem in the fowards, but they have in the halfs and they finally have a combination that works. Why all the focus on their forwards? If they are to beat the English and Australia it will be because of Foran and Johnson. Dont forget Ben Matulino and Greg Eastwood have not played as yet either.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Muzz U have dropped Billy Slater...I doubt we would have beaten the poms without him the other night. Have another drink.
zak
Guest
a bit early too make these sorts of statements..sbw is a proven big game player in both codes sounds like the same vitriol.that predicted his first season back would be a failure nek minit......
Col Quinn
Guest
Three cracking game: - Aus v England, NZ V Samoa and now Scotland V Tonga! The passion, guts and determination in the Tonga Scotland game had to be seen to be believed. These games with passion and skill are reigniting strong interest in international RL and definitely helping the games expansion in the UK and Europe.