RL Weekly: Knockout Fever, Samoa Danger And Creating A Legacy

Another week in camp but this one feels different.

England report back to Robin Park with intense focus to create a legacy, and an infectious energy to do just that.

There was a real upbeat feel about Shaun Wane’s post-match press conference at Bramall Lane on Saturday. Mind you, it would be difficult to be downbeat after a 94-4 win.

READ MORE:

Flanked by man-of-the-match Mark Sneyd and in-form captain George Williams, Wane held the demeanour of a man who is enjoying every minute of an experience he has waited a lifetime for. And one who firmly believes his plan to win a World Cup featuring the mighty Australia and New Zealand is right on track.

With every squad member having been used through an ultimately comfortable run through the group stage, Wane will now select for a World Cup final, and will hope to do so three times in a row.

There was very little to be learned or gained from the record-breaking thumping of an emerging nation like Greece. England did what they were expected to do. But with every game momentum builds, form improves and combinations grow slicker.

Star man Dom Young told The Sportsman that there will now be a huge step up in quality for the do-or-die knockout games.

And there will be.

Papua New Guinea should provide the quarter-final opposition and are a real danger, having been unfortunate not to beat Tonga in a thrilling first group game.

Hooker will be a key role for England here - Andy Ackers played an excellent full 80 minutes against Greece which ironically will allow a fully-rested Michael McIlorum to come back into try and harness PNG’s livewire Edwin Ipape, Leigh’s Betfred Championship Player of the Year.

Samoa’s big win over France on Sunday sees Matt Parish’s side through to a quarter-final with Tonga that already looks like the game of the tournament.

It is fair to say Samoa and France have gone in opposite directions since their respective defeats to England. The French looked battered, bruised, bedraggled, with half their team strapped up to play. Samoa looked every bit the champion side we all expected on day one in Newcastle when England ran riot against an undercooked and under-prepared opponent.

Many wrote Samoa straight off after that one, probably naively. They were fresh off the plane, had barely trained and had half a squad of NRL Grand Finalists still recovering from those exertions. They now look formidable and there is every chance they will get to come toe-to-toe with England again in the semis in what would be a very, very different contest.

Other stars of the show in Sheffield on Saturday included Tom Burgess, who answered England’s calls for more energy off the bench with a performance full of impact and Victor Radley’s dad Nigel.

England planned to rest Radley at the weekend, but the Sydney-born forward was desperate to play in his dad’s home city, with Nigel and his other son Harry flying in for the game from Down Under.

Nigel is a huge Sheffield Wednesday fan and was desperate to see his son at Bramall Lane - home of rivals Sheffield United. Family and friends sunk pints, enjoyed the game, and Nigel made a name for himself in a half-time TV Interview by referring to England coach Shane Warne.

Elsewhere in the final round of group games, some huge scores underlined the ongoing challenge for international rugby league.

Sunday saw Samoa beat France 62-4, Lebanon thump Jamaica 74-12 and Tonga destroy Cook Islands 92-10. England also hit 90 the day before, with Australia hammering Italy 66-6.

These scorelines remain an unfortunate inevitability of the World Cup group stage of an international game that needs big and immediate focus to build momentum for growth.

Critics will suggest it makes a mockery of a tournament that only a few sides can win, but that is pretty unfair. Indeed therein also lies the argument and evidence for the progress already made.

Previous tournaments have seen a fight to even find a competitive second semi-final, with Australia, New Zealand and England the only real contenders. Now we already have real excitement at the last eight stage. International rugby league is getting there, but must be prioritised going forward.

Legacy is as important as impact for the World Cup in this regard.

Jamaica bowed out with a third successive defeat and their half-time flash interview given by captain Ashton Golding was particularly memorable and inspiring.

42-0 down to Lebanon at half-time after a humiliating 40 minutes for his nation, Golding was grabbed for the mandatory quick touchline chat before heading into the dressing room.

Met with a slightly strange question about his side’s “amazing first five minutes” Golding snapped at the perceived condescension, and his passion poured out, showing all the frustrations of a rugby league nut who just wants to see the game grow.

“It’s bitterly disappointing but I don’t know what you want me to say,” the Huddersfield man barked with wonderful raw emotion.

“We can’t come to these tournaments and expect just to do one thing in the game and expect the world to be lit on fire.

“How do we want people to see us when we finish this tournament? How do we?”

This, in a brilliantly emotive snapshot, was the legacy word in focus in its rawest form.

Creating a platform for the sport to thrive is one thing, but the product then has to do its bit. Golding’s frustrations resonated powerfully on many levels.

Huge congratulations meanwhile to England’s Physical Disability Rugby League team who won the first ever PDRL World Cup, beating New Zealand in Warrington.

TV personality Adam Hills has been a vocal supporter of the sport and scored a try himself for Australia earlier in the day. England’s win was another huge boost for the competition priding itself on being the most inclusive World Cup ever staged.

This now feels like a big week for all three of England’s teams as the women’s and wheelchair competitions commence, and for the tournament as a whole.

The foundations have been laid by Wane’s squad of die-hards. Now it’s time to build the house.