St George Illawarra playmaker Gareth Widdop insists England can make the necessary adjustments that will help them secure a series victory over New Zealand.
England drew first blood with a win in Hull but a 9-2 defeat in the second Test at London’s Olympic Stadium on Saturday means the series will be decided in front of a capacity crowd at Wigan’s DW Stadium next Saturday.
The Kiwis have the momentum after outplaying their hosts for long periods at Queen Elizabeth OIympic Park, where only heroic defence kept Steve McNamara’s men in contention.
Although James Graham had a try controversially disallowed by the video referees, England struggled woefully to create chances, which Widdop put down to their arduous work in defence.
“It was obviously a close game,” said the Halifax-born St George Illawarra half-back. “To the boys’ credit, we defended really well. At times we were under a lot of pressure on our own line but we kept turning up and that probably took its toll on us a little bit.
“It’s always hard when you’re defending so much and you’re scrambling. You get into your attack and there is lack of energy I guess.
“But, in saying that, it’s 1-1 and obviously do-or-die next week now and we’re certainly confident. We’ve got a great team and we showed last week we can do it.
“If we can defend like we did tonight and just fix up our attack a bit, we’ll be fine.
“Hopefully we can hold the ball a bit more and put them under a bit of pressure.”
Widdop, who won his 17th cap on Saturday, looks certain to keep his spot for the decider but McNamara is certain to consider a new halfback partner after Wigan youngster George Williams struggled to step up to the mark.
McNamara could go back to the tried and trusted Matty Smith, Williams’ half-back partner at Wigan, or take the bold option of giving Castleford’s Luke Gale his debut.
The coach might be swayed by the actions of his counterpart Stephen Kearney, whose late decision to call up 21-year-old Kodi Nikorima for his full debut paid off handsomely.
The Brisbane utility player, who had not played a full 80-minute game in senior football before Saturday, added variety to the Kiwis’ attack, helped set up the only try for Shaun Kenny-Dowall and defied an attack of severe cramp to go agonisingly close to scoring himself.
Nikorima was initially dropped from the bench after acting as back-up for hooker Issac Luke in Hull but was recalled by Kearney in place of Tui Lolohea.
“We had a lunch on Thursday at New Zealand House and he just pulled me aside after that and told me that I was playing this week,” he said.
“I wasn’t too disappointed when I was left out. I love winning and spoke to Mooks (Kearney) and said ‘you do what’s best for the team. nothing will change from me’.
“Then, when I got the nod, I was definitely excited and I honestly didn’t tell anyone apart from my missus. I don’t think anyone back home was watching me.”
Kearney said: “I just got a feeling over the course of the week that Kodi would handle the decision a little bit better. I thought he was pretty good.”
Niall
Guest
Gale is one of my favourite players, its a shame he's never had a chance at a bigger and more stable club. If he played at Saints, Wigan, Leeds, Warrington, your boys in the red or even your enemies on the other side of the city you'd think he would have been capped by now. I think England need to put the ball in James Graham hands alot more and give him different options. A wrap around runner, an inside runner and a man out the back. Its the Bulldogs main attacking weapon and can genuinely open up a defence and even if it doesn't it will stop the three-on-one gang tackling that has slowed down the pace of the last two tests because having all those options occupies so many defenders. On a different note, Andy. What's the story at Hull KR lately? Not heard much about signings for next year apart from McCarthy annoucing his NRL move. Your rivals Hull FC have made some good signings for next year and in my opinion should really be challenging for at least a Challenge Cup next year.
Andy Sharpe
Roar Guru
Renegade, we have to make changes as the attack was stale on Saturday. Gale will bring something fresh and is a more experiences half back than Williams - he's been wound the block a time or two just not at international level. I think Roby and Hodgson are now very close but offer different strengths from the same position. Roby will go all day from acting half and make good yardage and will tackle anything that moves - Hodgson is more creative with ball in hand and also a hard defensive worker - Roby has done nothing wrong in my eyes - we just need to play to Hodgson's strengths and allow hi more time to do what he is good at.
Renegade
Roar Guru
I'm not sure about that Andy... Roby is still your best hooker in my opinion. Hodgson will overtake him eventually but I don't think his already there. Williams is still obviously young and inexperienced at this level however I'm not sure putting another rookie in at halfback in the decider will help but keen to see Gale get a run.
Andy Sharpe
Roar Guru
Niall, it was an awful game to be played at the Olympic Stadium - a brand new venue for RL and because the game was poor the atmosphere never built as both sets of fans never had much to cheer. England defended superbly but were very poor in attack.
Andy Sharpe
Roar Guru
If England are to have any chance of winning then Luke Gale must start at half back in place of Williams and Josh Hodgson needs more game time - he has out performed Roby with the ball in his hand in both tests but had nowhere near enough game time on Saturday. There seem's to be an infatuation with Roby - he is a great player and tackles non stop but does not offer the same amount of skill level out of dummy half as Hodgson does.
Niall
Guest
Really poor game. Hopefully it will end with a bang in Wigan. I'd love to see a couple of changes for both teams. Hoping Luke Gale gets a chance in the 7, a genuine footballing halfback, and I'd like to see Rona on the wing for NZ. Hopefully the kiwis can get RTS in some space and the game doesn't descend into three-on-one wrestlathons like the first two games. I expect another arm-wrestle but I'll keep hoping :)
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
The timing was just a little off and the ball didn't bounce forward the way he may have expected it to. His body had traveled too far past the ball (we're talking centimetres here). No luck at all there but that's how it goes.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Yeah he definitely missed it and ended up grounding it with his lower region I think.... that's why he laid there for a while sucking in the big ones.
Cedric
Guest
Controversial try? I thought blind Freddie could see Graham just clean missed the ball. Lucky though, it was close!