- 2 months ago
After England lost the opening Test of the Ashes 26-6, Peter Smith, Sam Brocksom and Sam Cook discuss what went wrong for Shaun Wane's side on this week's Serious About Rugby League Show.
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00:00Hello, welcome to the Serious About Rugby League show. I'm Peter Smith, standing in this week
00:11for Will Jackson, and I'm joined by the two Sams, Sam Cook and Sam Broxon. Hello, everybody.
00:20Obviously, the main topic of conversation over the past few days and weeks, in fact,
00:25has been the Ashes Test Series. We're finally underway at Wembley last weekend, and I think
00:33from an English point of view, it was a bit of an underwhelming start, really. England
00:39well beaten, 26 points to six by Australia. Sam Cook, what went wrong?
00:49I think it was attitude. I think there was almost a bit too much respect and a bit
00:55I kind of want to say the occasion got to them a little bit. I think both teams were
01:01very scrappy. I think that's also one of the worrying things. Australia have clearly got
01:05a lot. They've got a big jump to make. And obviously, England do as well. But I think
01:11Australia, I'm not sure, really got that much out of second gear. I think the first half,
01:16you'd say, was competitive. And then the Reece-Walk Schmitz, the break on their first set,
01:21and I think heads kind of went from that point, was Sean Wayne. I'm almost 100% certain Sean
01:28Wayne's halftime message was, we complete our first set, or probably our first three sets
01:32of the second half, and we pin them in and make it really hard. And Reece-Walk Schmitz
01:3680 metres on the first tackle. And then they score, I think two sets after that. And I
01:43think from that point, England didn't have a chance. I mean, they created stuff in the
01:47first half. Reece-Walk Schmitz, a couple of good reads. Tom Johnson kicks a little bit
01:53long. And they're marginal things. So it's not a complete write-off. But I think Australia
02:02didn't fear England at all. I was watching from home, I watched from the BBC, and Nathan
02:08Cleary's first words after the match was, it was fun. And if you're the half-back for Australia,
02:14the best player in the world, England have got a job to go and kind of rough him up and
02:18let him know that he's playing a series on English soil and that he's not going to have
02:21it easy. And for him, it felt like he wasn't obviously, I mean, he wasn't the most influential
02:26player, but he and most of the spine players didn't really get a big shot landing on him.
02:32And it felt like almost like it was an exhibition for Australia. I will go have a day out at Wembley
02:37and kind of just go through the motions. And that's how it felt to me. And I think it does
02:43sound a little bit archaic in thinking style, but nobody really went and put a huge shot on
02:49was, I think you need to kind of earn the respect of Australia and do it with a massive shot
02:58that makes them think twice. And I'm not sure at any point that happened. I think Herbie
03:02Farmuth went after it, but obviously as a century, he's not one of the big pack guys,
03:07but I'm not sure that many others really went after it. Maybe that's just because Australia
03:13are so good, but I'm not sure that there was the intensity needed for an Ashes game.
03:18And what was built up wasn't delivered on the pitch.
03:22Do you think we've got the enforcers either in the squad or in the competition, English
03:27qualified, who can do that though? Do we have a Peacock or a Morley or a Scullthorpe or
03:35anybody like that?
03:36Yeah, we don't have the players of yesteryear. And I do think that's an issue in terms of the
03:41personnel aren't there. I think Morgan Smith is probably the most, he fits the
03:48mould the most. I think he's very hard-nosed. I think Morgan Noles fits that mould, but he
03:53was asked to be a ball player. And I'm not sure that worked. I think all that happened,
03:59all that served to do was take Mikey Lewis out of the game a little bit more. And I
04:03understand that's the way England play when they've got Victor Radley. But I'd say Victor
04:07Radley's a better ball player than Morgan Noles. But Victor Radley still manages to bring
04:11that intensity. And I think part of the intensity as well is having played against these guys.
04:17Herbie Farnworth was a standout for me, but it's because he plays against these players
04:20week in, week out. There's no sense of being overawed. He goes after them because that's
04:26his job. Whereas I think some of the Super League players potentially were a bit like,
04:29well, that's Nathan Cleary. He's the best player in the world. And I think that could have
04:34been an element. But I think, yeah, Morgan Smith is someone who has to come in for me.
04:40But I do think, I appreciate your point, but I also think it's just, it is an attitude thing.
04:44You can become more, or you can just fall in tune and in line with more of an aggressive
04:51play style. It's not necessarily, oh, we don't have that type of player. Maybe we don't, but
04:57I think you can just dial it up a little bit. And I'd expect for games of this intensity,
05:02you know, what was, it was presented to us as if it was going to be a game of that intensity.
05:06I'd expect that the players would dial it up.
05:10Sam B, obviously it's must win now this weekend at Everton. Would you make changes? And if
05:17so, who would you bring in?
05:20Yeah, I think I would. I think you have to. As you mentioned, that physicality just wasn't
05:25there at Wembley. And I think the person, as Sam mentioned, who could have brought that
05:29was not playing and it was Morgan Smithies. So I think he has to come in and be that on the
05:34bench. I don't think he'll start because I think Nose will keep his place, be that, if that's the
05:39right call or not. But yeah, I think Smithies, for one, has to be in. There's been a lot of talk
05:47about Jack Wells being, whether he deserves his place after his performance, both in attack
05:52and defence. Obviously, we've all seen the Crichton effort. But I think AJ Brimson just
05:58brings that extra spark. I know Super League fans might not know a lot about him, but he
06:06knows the NRL, a bit like Farnworth and Smithies if he comes in. He can play one, he can play
06:15in the house. And I think even if he plays in that 14 role and we go with one hooker, he
06:21can bring that added spark that might just be that turning point that we need.
06:26Question for you both, really. Start with you, Sam B. Can England turn it around? Have
06:33you seen any signs that this England squad has it in them to get back on level terms
06:38with the Aussies? Obviously, it's win or bust at Everton this weekend. Even if they win
06:45that, they're going to have to beat Australia again to regain the ashes for the first time
06:49since 1970. Is that a realistic possibility?
06:55Probably not. I think that physicality is just not there. You know, I think what this
07:01series has been built on is the history. And we have had that pack in the past. You know,
07:08the peacocks, the mollies, the farrells, people that could take it to the Australians. And I
07:13think, I think it's summed up in, I think for the first set that we had, Tino, Farsu,
07:19Malawi, just, you know, put a right shot on Jake Wardle. And that, we knew that that was
07:25going to be the intensity that the Australians brought at Wembley. And like I said, I don't
07:30think that England have got that player that can take it to them and especially not for
07:35the full 80 minutes. So, yeah, there's always a possibility because, you know, the bounce
07:41of a ball, as we've seen many times, can change a game. But, you know, I think it's unrealistic
07:46to say that England can come back from here.
07:50Sam, Cook?
07:52I think I'd be slightly more optimistic, more so around the fact that it's not at Wembley.
07:59Wembley doesn't really serve England whatsoever in terms of atmosphere. Obviously,
08:04rugby league game's never been played at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, but it does, it's
08:10a stadium that's been built with Everton football come in mind. And they obviously had a huge
08:15atmosphere at Goodison. And I think they've tried to replicate that. And from what I've
08:18seen from Everton fans, they're quite happy that it's been done to an acceptable, a good
08:24level. So I think you're going to get the, it will feel a much more English heavy crowd.
08:30It probably also will percentage wise be more English heavy because obviously you've got
08:32a lot of Australians living in London and you've potentially got more, obviously it was one
08:37of the first, one of the, it was the second to sell out. So you've got what you'd, what
08:41you'd assume is going to be a more rugby league hardcore type fan. So I think that is a massive
08:46boost in England's favour. And I think, I think you do have to look like, they're going
08:53at halftime 8-0 down, but the first try, if you want to rule out for obstruction, you probably
08:58could, if you want to rule out for the forward pass, you definitely could. And then the
09:03penalty, I think, I think it's definitely a penalty, but it is just, it is just a penalty.
09:09So you can, you can make an argument and I know you can't work backwards on this, but you
09:14can make an argument. It could have been nil, nil at halftime. If you then look at the chances
09:18that England spurned, I think the one on the right hand side with Farnworth to Wellesby was
09:23a lot tougher because there was just such a limited corridor, but then the Wardle to
09:27Lewis one, I mean, that's, that's a massive chance. That is, that is a hundred percent
09:31a try saver there.
09:34That was more of a, that was more of a, sorry to interrupt, that was more of a quality play
09:39by Rhys Walsh, wasn't it?
09:41Yeah. And I think, and I think in, you can, again, you can overanalyze it, but I think in
09:48hindsight, does Jake Wardle next time think, well, he's already gone for the ball on the
09:53last occasion. So he's going to go for the ball again. So if I, do I sell him the dummy?
09:58But I think it's a, it's a big, it's a big call to make to try and sell a dummy in an
10:03ashes test to put yourself six nil up. So I think it was probably the right decision from
10:06Jake Wardle. But it is a quality play from Rhys Walsh. And then again, like, yeah, England
10:13had chances in that. I think they got a set restart or maybe I think it was a penalty, sorry,
10:18probably around the 15 minute mark. I think Matty Lee loses it in contact straight away
10:23on first tackle. So you probably most of that first half was played in Australia's half
10:29than England's half. It's just, they have that, that break, which again, you can say
10:34should be ruled out or whatever, but it's England have got to react to what happens. And I think,
10:39I think, so I think there is reason to be optimistic, but I think what has to happen is
10:43basics, just focus on basics, focus on intensity, put all of this, or the emotion of playing
10:50against Australia, kind of try and shelve that and just say, look, we're just going to
10:54execute, kick long. I don't, I think Mikey Lewis' kicking game wasn't bad. I don't think
10:58the kicking, the kick chase helped him out at times. I think the kick game got better when
11:04Lytton came on as well. So I think you can make an argument he maybe starts because then
11:09you've got him as the option as well, but I'd be more optimistic than, than Sam is,
11:14but that's more based on the fact of what the environment is in the, and the Hill Dickinson
11:19will help England more than Wembley will.
11:22I, while I was at Wembley, and I 100% agree with that. I think it was the right,
11:28and I said last week, it was the right place to stage the first test, or certainly London
11:32was, and Wembley has that prestige. There were a large number of Australians
11:37there, more than I expected. 60,000, good crowd, but it was very quiet, I thought,
11:45in the stadium. The crowd reacted a bit when things happened, but they didn't make
11:49things happen. They were, they were quiet when, when maybe England could have done
11:54with a lift, and I think they'll get that at Everton. Unconcern though, an Australian
12:00referee. Do we think that will, will have a big bearing?
12:05Yeah, I mean, oh sorry, I was just going to say about the play, the rook speed. I think
12:09statistically, I think Australia are about a second slower, because we're in the rook,
12:16and that's, you could almost say that, that's definitely going to, the deficit will be removed,
12:21because I think Grant Atkins is going to let it get played a lot faster, and it may even,
12:24may even go to Australia's favour, and they might play quicker, which is pretty terrifying
12:29when you've got Harry Grant, Reece Wolfe, Cam Mustard, Nathan Cleary, etc. So, I think,
12:35yeah, there's a big concern there.
12:39Yeah, I think exactly what Sam just said, it's going to be a lot quicker. It's,
12:43England are probably going to get penalised a little bit more, and they got away with
12:47some stuff from Liam Moore on Saturday. Yeah, the speed and intensity of Australia,
12:53and they're, they're only going to get better. As Sam said earlier, they were scrappy on Saturday,
12:58and, and yeah, it's, it's a bit of a daunting task for England, I think, on Saturday.
13:04Yeah, prediction-wise, I, I think, I can't see England turning it around. I just think Australia
13:11are better. I think they'll improve. I think England will probably improve as well, but I think Australia
13:16have got, got more improvement in them, and, and just a stronger all-around squad, really. They,
13:23they were well out the captain as AEO for, um, most of the game. He failed an HIA very early on. He'll
13:30be out this week, but things like that just don't seem to, to, to affect them much, and I, I can see
13:37them winning it by a bigger margin, something like 38-4 or, or something of that region. I sincerely hope
13:46no, I think that'll be a big blow for the English game, but I could see that happening. Um,
13:50predictions from you two? Sam B first? Um, I don't, I don't think it'll be as big as 38-4. I think
13:58Australia will probably score more, but I think we'll score more as well. Um, I'll still probably
14:02go about, you know, Australia by 16 points, something like that, but I think just like with,
14:08with Everton, you know, being a different ground, England might just have that little bit
14:12more spark in them that can, uh, get them over for a few more points.
14:18Yeah, I think something like around the 34-10, I think, I think you're looking at six tries
14:22to two sort of scoreline. I think, I think the big thing is what England look like. We're
14:29pretty sure there's going to be changes, but if you make changes, do you completely abandon
14:34what has been, like, developed for the last four years or so? Like, let's not forget that,
14:41obviously, yeah, Samoa and Tonga have improved because they've got heritage players. That's,
14:45that's the big thing this year. And that's why a lot of the discourses are England wouldn't
14:49beat Samoa or Tonga. And maybe in this instance, they wouldn't, but they still beat those teams
14:55and they improve, they've improved year on year. So I don't think we need to completely abandon
15:00everything. And I don't think Sean Wayne's the type of coach that we are. I think he backs
15:05him up. And I think to an extent, that's why this, this credit in the bank sort of rhetoric
15:11that we have with him, I think it probably works a lot this week because he can kind
15:15of, someone like Jack Willsby, who we know didn't have his best game, he's probably going
15:19to get, whether he plays or not, he's going to get that arm around the shoulder from Sean
15:24Wayne. And Sean Wayne, he knows that Sean Wayne loves him and really cares about him as a
15:27player. And I think that's beneficial in training and then in the game, if he plays
15:32or not. So I think don't need to, changes need to be made, but I don't think, I've seen
15:37suggestions of making like seven full changes and I'm like, well, I think you can't go into
15:42a team with a completely different team and expect a different result. You're probably
15:48harming yourself more than you're actually aiding yourself. So I think there needs to be a voice
15:53of reason. I think England's coaches have that, but I do still think that Australia
15:58are too good because we know they're going to improve a lot. Even if England make an
16:04equal jump forward, you've still got the margin of victory that we have this weekend.
16:08So I think it's going to be quite comfortable for Australia, but I do think the atmosphere
16:12will help a lot in terms of maybe keep it closer for longer. Because even though the scoreline
16:16was close for much of the game, I think it was an hour mark when they scored their third
16:21try, they were kind of, they were just coasting really. It was kind of when do they want to
16:27punish us rather than anything else. But so improved performance, but arguably a bigger margin
16:36of defeat, which is be ironic.
16:38Well, let's hope we're all eating humble pie this time next week when we review the second test, but I'm
16:46not sure we will be. On a sort of related topic, a lot of Australian bigwigs over in this country for
16:52the test series. We understand that there's meetings going on round about now to discuss potential options,
17:01maybe the NRL getting involved in Super League. That's been a hot topic for quite a while.
17:08Do we think that would be a good thing if it happened, Sam B? And could you see it happening realistically?
17:15I think, first off, I think it would be a good thing. You know, the NRL is making far much more
17:22profit than we are, an incredible amount. And I think that the way that their games run, it'd only benefit
17:30us. Expansions, obviously, a touchy subject in UK Rugby League. Obviously, we've got to lose
17:38this year. But I think if the NRL were to come in, I think we would see that expansion more often.
17:45And like I say, that's only a good thing for the game. Whether it will happen is a completely
17:50different question. I know they've said in the past that if Nigel was still involved, that they won't
17:56get involved. And I think the report this week is that they'll only get involved if they have full
18:01administrative control. So I think it'll be a tough, tough gig for the likes of Wood and that to give
18:10up. But yeah, I think if it does happen, it'll only benefit our game over here.
18:13Sam C, could you see short-term self-interest give way to the interests of the game as a whole? Can
18:26you see the club owners and the people who are of control at the moment in Super League
18:31handing that over to Australians?
18:36I don't think so. I think self-interest is the big word there. I think there's a lot of
18:41clubs that are focused on what they can get and protecting what they have got already. I think
18:48you look at the teams, I mean, Wigan were the team to initiate the Las Vegas interest,
18:52and then they kind of invited warrants on. Those two teams have a very similar
18:56sort of view of the game in terms of long-term, you'd say. And I think for all the sort of
19:03perceived power that they may have, the vote clubs kind of have equal vote. And it's a bit irrelevant,
19:11really. You might have the bigger high-profile names that the NRL might only be interested in the teams,
19:19such as Wigan, Warrington, Leeds, Saints, the whole clubs, etc. And some of the bigger clubs, but
19:23teams that are not in that mix will have the same rights effectively. That's just the way that it's
19:31structured over here. Whereas in Australia, you've got, I mean, you've got way more stuff. There's the
19:36CBA, the Collective Bargaining Agreement, there's all the player associations. It's more of a union,
19:43and that's never been able to happen over here, primarily through what you've mentioned there about
19:49self-interest. So I don't think we can expect to see anything. I think it's probably a case of
19:55the NRL will end up walking away after feeling like they've just been banging their head against
19:59the wall, to be honest with you. But the fact that some clubs, such as Wigan and Warrington,
20:06are still trying to advocate for it, still trying to almost end in an SOS, like, come and help us.
20:13I think there's, we're going to see these rumours and reports sort of circle around for a while,
20:18but I just don't think it's going to happen, which is a shame, because you look at how well
20:23their businesses run, I think they fork, I mean, some of the profits they make, and the game's not
20:27just about profit, but it is important. Clubs over here lose money regularly, and they lose lots.
20:33But also, like, the way they're taking the game to new places, not just Vegas, but even internally,
20:40like, Perth is effectively our version of London. It's completely, it's on the complete opposite
20:47side of the country, but they know they can take a game there, or take a team there and kind of make
20:52it thrive, going to PNG. And I think that sort of forward thinking is, it's what Super League,
21:01or the English Rugby League needs, but I'm just not sure that we'll get it. I don't think it'll be well
21:05received all that. I think a lot of clubs are my view as interference rather than help.
21:11You mentioned London there. Obviously, there's a growing Aussie influence at the Broncos. We've all
21:19seen their new look. It looks to me like a seahorse rather than a Bronco.
21:24That was my first thought as well. A little bit odd, but these things always take a bit of time
21:30getting used to, and I think they've got some outstanding ideas down there. They're wanting to
21:37become London's club to get all the sort of a hub for Rugby League in London to get all the
21:42community clubs involved. And they've some big plans, led by Gary Hetherington, who steps down
21:50as Leeds-Rhinos chief executive on Friday at the end of the month. He's been there 29 years,
21:57more or less, exactly. Sam B, obviously you've got Leeds-Rhinos connections. Do you think,
22:05how, well, I was going to say, do you think he'll be missed? Of course he'll be missed.
22:10Can the club thrive without him? And what has he done for Leeds over the years? Obviously, I appreciate
22:17you've not been around throughout his reign. You're far too young, but he's certainly been a
22:24huge bearing on the Leeds club, hasn't he? Yeah, he has. And actually, I've not been around for that
22:30the whole time. But at the time that I have grown up, Leeds have always had success. Obviously, that
22:35golden generation is what I grew up with watching Rugby League. I think the past couple of years have
22:42been difficult or different. Since COVID, it's been different for Leeds. And I think they will miss him,
22:51but the amount of success that he's brought to the club, not just the trophies, but the way that the
22:58clubs run, the foundation, he's a key member of that. I think he's the life chairman of the foundation.
23:04And that's what Leeds is one of Leeds' biggest positives. That's where their grassroots come
23:14from. And that's why they're so successful in the academy and stuff like that. And I think,
23:20yeah, just, I mean, he was the one that basically saved the club back in the 90s. And then he's just
23:28gone on from that to the golden generation. And then, yeah, his success at Leeds has just been
23:34unmatched, I think, and they will miss him.
23:37Sam Seed, do you think these are maybe concerning times for Leeds with, obviously,
23:43people like Gary Hetherington going? There's been a big change in the youth department with
23:47John Bastian and Simon Bell going to Wakefield. I think it's seven players have left since the
23:55end of last season. And so far, though, we believe that Donnie Levi's incoming, they've
24:01not announced any more signings. Should Leeds fans be getting a little bit twitchy, do you think?
24:09I think there's two ways to answer. I think with the Gary Hetherington departing, I think if Gary
24:14Hetherington would have left two or three years ago, then there's big reasons to be concerned. But I
24:20think with the introduction of Ian Bleas as kind of sporting director, he doesn't obviously fill the
24:26role, but he kind of is a big figurehead at the club. Obviously, you've got Jamie Jones, Buchanan
24:31taking over as well. So I think, and then the fact that you've had obviously not success in terms of
24:38silverware, but success in terms of a much improved season, it seems stable under Brad Arthur. Obviously,
24:45the contract questions will always pop up with him, as long as he's got an interest in the NRL, which
24:51seems to be his main thing. But I think the club's in a far better place than if Gary Hetherington were to
24:58have left maybe at the end of the COVID season or 2021. So I think that's a positive. But in terms of
25:05the immediate future with the club and players leaving, I think there's a reason to be concerned. But I think
25:10what I've just said about Ian Bleas, in my opinion, is a man who can be trusted, I think,
25:16in terms of recruitment, he's got a track record of bringing on players. I think the more pressing
25:24issues, what you mentioned there about John Bastian leaving that youth set up, I think that has been
25:29the foundation of what makes Leeds so good. It's really exciting for Wakefield. I think if they can
25:35harness the sort of and combine the spending power they've got at the moment, which is akin to sort
25:41of like whole KIs recruitment model, but then also bring in the youth system that can provide top
25:47quality players. I mean, they have done so already, but under John Bastian, that's only going to improve.
25:53So I think that's more the issue for Leeds. I'm not sure what the plans are there. You'll probably know
26:00better than me. So I think you've got to focus on that, but they do need a few more signings. I think
26:06you look at the pack and it's lost a lot. Sam Lassone obviously never started, but played every
26:13single game off the bench. Very hard sort of position to fill in terms of what he brings.
26:19James Bentley's left, Morgan Gannon's left. There's a lot to bring him. But then you remember that Mike
26:25Kasiva is basically a new signing this season, so you can kind of consider him a new signing. But I
26:30think there's a lot to be done. But I think in Ian Blee's, fans should trust that argue. But again,
26:38you're looking at that youth thing. That's where the main concern would be from me.
26:43On the subject of recruitment, just finally to wrap things up. Question for you both. Start with
26:52Sambi. Which club do you think has had the best recruitment of the off season so far in Super League?
27:01I think only time will tell, but I think the signs for Catalan are looking quite well. They've obviously had a
27:07huge rebuild, a huge overhaul. They've lost about 13 players, and then they've brought in 10 as it
27:14stands. So I think this year will be quite a transformational year for them. I know most of
27:20their deals are like two-year deals. So I think the first year will be just getting that new team to
27:25bond. And then the second year, if they progress, then that's when the contract renewals will come in.
27:32But I think the likes of Toby Sexton, Lewis Dodd, Charlie Staines as a winger. You know,
27:40people like that who have that in our experience. And in the case of Dodd, he's a Super League winner.
27:47You know, they've got that experience that can transform this Catalan's team. I think the
27:53position between Sexton and Dodd will be a bit interesting because they're both halfbacks.
27:57So it'll be interesting to see who takes on the, you know, sixth role and be that more creative
28:04off-the-cuff player. But I think, yeah, the signs for Catalan are good at the minute. And yeah,
28:10let's hope for another, well, if they can perform, you know, they were League Leaders' Shield winners
28:15in 2021. So if they can get back to that sort of, you know, level, it'll only be good for the
28:21competition and for the game in France.
28:25Samson?
28:27I think there's a couple, but I think the one that I'm drawn to is Castleford. New coach there.
28:32I think Chris Chester's proven what he can do in the recruitment game with what he did at Lee.
28:38So I think there's a lot of potentially unknown names, but I think you can kind of put a bit of
28:43confidence in the fact that they may or they hopefully will turn good for them. But then also,
28:47you've got some established Super League names. The Hull FC boys have come across Jordan Lane,
28:53Jack Ashworth, who will be banned for the start of the season. But Tony and Hud have both come
28:58across from Wakefield. I think Hud actually is, Hud, I think he's very underrated. He's only a one-year
29:03deal for him, but I think he kind of, he's that sort of gritty hooker, real physical. And I think
29:10Castleford will appreciate that as a blend of what they've brought in the spine,
29:14with they've brought some players across the broad, obviously. And I think working at where
29:19they all play is another question, because obviously they've brought Dejan Arce last year,
29:23but since brought in Blake Tarfe. And then they've got, they've got the wingers as well,
29:28wingers and outside backs in Rivelawa and Vallemere. So I think that's quite interesting,
29:34especially when you're in blending in the new coach. I think it could take a long
29:39or a while to get sort of incorporated, but I think there's positive signs. I also just want
29:44to quickly mention York. I know that they have to build a lot because they've come from the
29:49championship, but some of the signs that made it really impressive. Paul Vaughan is obviously
29:53probably a headline in it. But then you've got a few other Super League players. Sam Wood
29:59played it for England last year. Sangari had a good season, so finished the season really strong.
30:05John Benison at St. Helens was kind of out of the picture, but then he has this good playoff run.
30:12There's a few others as well in there. I think that's quite interesting to see, because again,
30:16Mark Appelgarf didn't really get a proper shot of it. Wakefield, that was a terrible squad,
30:21terrible situation. And I think he's proven that you can coach. You can coach very, very well.
30:27So with this squad that was already competitive in the championship and dominant in the championship,
30:32in fact, adding these Super League players is a pretty interesting answer.
30:38Thank you. Thanks to both of you. I think we'll wrap things up there. If you could like this video
30:45and subscribe, we'd be very grateful. And please tune in next week when we'll talk about how England
30:51turn things around and stun the Aussies at Everton. Thanks for watching. See you later.
31:03Thanks for joining us. Please like and share, and we'll see you next week.
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