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International Rugby League - Four Nations

Tomkins is key to breaking the Lock

Here we go again. Elland Road, England versus Australia – the nation’s rugby league fans hold their breath.

And, if that wasn’t enough, the 80 minutes will see Aussie captain Darren Lockyer bring down the curtain on arguably one of the greatest careers in the history of the game.

England, and before that Great Britain, have been lambs to slaughter far too often for the Kangaroos – with Lockyer their chief tormentor. Ladbrokes are expecting to witness another almighty chasm in class, with England at 4-1 and the tourists just 1-5.

However, and I’m honest enough to admit my heart may be ruling my head a little, I think Steve McNamara’s improving hosts have a realistic shout of causing an almighty upset.

I refer to the great Muhammad Ali – a father of many fabulous quotes – who once said: “He is who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.” England will need to chance their arm to beat the Aussies, but for the first time in many a year, we have backs who the Green and Golds will be wary of.

Sam Tomkins has been the player of the tournament. Along with winger Ryan Hall, the full-back has excelled on the big stage. Hall has produced three breath-taking finishes to catch the eye, while Wigan’s talisman has been at his elusive and dangerous best.

Tomkins is England’s key man. England’s pack was formidable last week against the Kiwis, even better than in their 20-36 Wembley defeat to Australia. The likes of Jamie Peacock and Adrian Morley, though, have laid down a decent platform before – it just hasn’t always counted for much.

But with the likes of Tomkins, Tom Briscoe and Hall feeding off a quickly improving half-back partnership between Kevin Sinfield and Rangi Chase, you sense England have points in them.

Jack Reed and Kirk Yeaman are looking like England’s best centres since Keith Senior and Martin Gleeson, and all in all – if McNamara’s team match or better their defensive efforts against New Zealand, you sense a giant-killing could be on the cards.

Tomkins is a solid 5-4 to score anytime, while Hall looks a stand-out price to claim the final try of the game at 11-1 (both Skybet).

For those of you who are not buying into my wave of optimism triggered by last Saturday’s 28-6 success over the Kiwis, the Aussies are evens with Stan James to win by 13+ points.

All eyes will be on Lockyer – the master craftsman of creative rugby calling it a day. I just hope I’m watching the old warhorse Peacock finally lift some international silverware come the final whistle.

International Rugby League - Four Nations

It’s Hall or nothing for England now

There’s a famous saying that ‘good things come to those who wait’, but patience is a luxury England can ill-afford in Four Nations rugby league. It’s all or nothing against the Kiwis on Saturday.

Only a win will see Steve McNamara’s men through to the Elland Road final next weekend and – at 11-8 with Betfred – I’m backing our lads to secure another crack at the Aussies.

Last Saturday’s enthralling 20-36 Wembley defeat to the Kangaroos restored pride among English fans. There were moments when our lads seemed to have the beating of the Green and Golds, and boy did the partisan crowd lap it up.

The adrenaline fuelled buzz as Ryan Hall stormed over for a sensational second try was a rare moment for English rugby league fans. For a few glorious, couple of seconds, it was the men in white who looked like the masters of their trade.

Sure, reality bit back hard. The Aussies – with the aid of one or two questionable calls from the official - reiterated their clinical prowess with ball in hand. We were not far off, though.

McNamara’s men will need to up their game once again. International rugby league leaves little room for error. You either gel quickly, or you’re doomed. Last week’s showing would suggest England are making good progress. Bring on New Zealand.

Led by the irrepressible talents of Benji Marshall, the Four Nations and World Cup holders have a handy knack of raising their game when it really matters.

The bookies are finding it hard to choose. Coral have the Kiwis at 8-11, while England’s 11-8 represents a much shorter return than the widely available 5-1 on offer against Australia.

England’s forwards ran the show early on against Australia. With an intimidating and partisan crowd behind them at the KC Stadium, I’m expecting the hosts to come flying out of the traps once again.

Hall’s finishing prowess and his blossoming partnership with centre Jack Reed caught the eye last week. Back the Leeds winger to open the scoring with the first try – 12-1 with Blue Square.

All eyes, of course, will be on England’s Kiwi-born stand-off Rangi Chase – 25-1 to score the first try in this contest against his countrymen. His country of birth that is.

A sublime talent, capable of unlocking any defence – Super League’s Man of Steel has plenty in his locker. For me, though, Chase epitomises individual class. To flourish at international level, he needs to start appreciating the players around him a little more. The likes of Sam Tomkins and Kevin Sinfield should not be wondering what Chase is going to do next.

At club level, Chase runs the show for Castleford. With England, his combination play with Sinfield and when Tomkins comes into the attacking line, needs to be slicker. Fingers crossed.

New Zealand’s biggest threat comes at half-back –it’s the very reason Chase turned his back on Stephen Kearney’s team. Marshall, Kieran Foran, Isaac Luke, Thomas Leuluai, Nathan Fien and Shaun Johnson. His chances were limited.

England’s defence will have to be tighter. If it is, I’ve no doubt we’ve got the forward power and attacking artillery to see us home. An England win by 13+ points is 5-1 with Stan James.

Tom Briscoe was cruelly denied a Wembley try last week – the winger is 14-1 with Betfred to grab the final try of the game on what is a more familiar stomping ground.

International Rugby League - Four Nations

Capital punishment for England at Wembley?

 

I always find it tough tipping a winner between the Aussies and England. My heart says we're in with a shout - my head tells me I should be worried.

The bookies rarely get their prices drastically wrong and Skybet's 1-6 on a win for the Kangaroos is the best you'll get on Tim Sheen's men.

Sportingbet have Steve McNamara's hosts as far out as 6-1 - surely we're got more chance than that. We all hope so.

Comfortable wins over France and Wales have done little to suggest - not that they ever could - that we're ready for the Green and Golds. The International Rugby League Awards in London on Wednesday night underlined the task facing England - not one of our boys made it into the team of the year.

But enough of the sulking... I think we can give the bookies and Australia a run for their money. Back at Wembley and with a partisan crowd behind them, I fancy England's pack - led by Jamie Peacock, Gareth Ellis and Adrian Morley - to provide a decent platform for the likes of Rangi Chase and Kevin Sinfield to cause our visitors a few problems.

England's strength lays down the middle. With the likes of James Graham, Ben Westwood and Chris Heightington also in attendance, I'm expecting an explosive start from the guys doing the hard yards.

In full-back Sam Tomkins we have an elusive attacking talent that the Aussies will be wary of. The Wigan favourite looks a bargain at 14-1 with Ladbrokes to grab the first try.

England, though, are still gelling and +16 point handicap at evens with bet365 looks the best way to cash in. A good display, though, and who knows what we could do come the final at Elland Road.

Greg Inglis is back for the Kangaroos, but should be a little rusty after so long on the sidelines. A breathtaking centre when in full flow - let's hope, for England's sake, he takes a while to get into his stride.

Full-back - and newly crowned player of the year - Billy Slater is 12-1 to grab a hat-trick and that's surely worth a flutter. The Melbourne ace always looks outstanding against England.

As for Wales versus New Zealand - the Kiwis by 51-60 points is 10-3 with Ladbrokes. It should be a massacre.

International Rugby League - Four Nations

Will Mr Sheens' 4-9 Kangaroos be cleaning up?

The biggest question facing this year's Four Nations is the same one that greets every international rugby league tournament. Can anyone stop Australia?

Tim Sheens' Kangaroos are red-hot favourites at 4-9 with bwin to give retiring captain Darren Lockyer the perfect send off and - let's face it - if you had to put your mortgage on it, that's exactly the outcome we'd all go for.

Home advantage and colder conditions are in England's favour, but given the gulf in talent between Super League and the NRL, it may count for very little.

Steve McNamara's men are 7-1 with Betfred, but will need to gel quickly if they are to compete with the Kiwis and Australia. There was very little in last week's 32-18 win over France to suggest the hosts are ready to trouble the big two.

Saturday's clash with Wales - 250-1 no-hopers with Stan James - allows England the opportunity to sharpen up over another 80 minutes and this delay before the real action begins could be invaluable.

Wales' chances of being competitive rests in the hands and boot of Lee Briers. That said, an England win it will surely be and victory by 31-35 points catches the eye at 6-1 (Stan James).

The Kiwis - 7-2 with Skybet - were blown away by Australia two weeks ago, but you'd be crazy to write off the World Cup winners. With the mercurial talent of Benji Marshall pulling the strings, anything is possible.

Australia, though, will edge tonight's match at Warrington. Blue Square offer 10-11 on a win for Sheens' men by 13+ points and I think that's worth a punt.

The pivotal game in this tournament is set to be England versus New Zealand - the victors of which should meet the green and golds in the final. The creative influence of Kiwi-born stand-off Rangi Chase could prove decisive for England and I'm backing them to reach the Elland Road final. Don't let me down lads.

Aussie full-back Billy Slater tops the top tryscorer betting - 8-1 with Skybet, but if you want a patriotic punt, Ryan Hall is the most reliable winger in the English game - 10-1 with Skybet.

As for an outright winner... let's watch a few games first, but Australia - as always - are the team to beat.

International Rugby League

Chase-ing the dream - is it a step too far?

If you’re patriotic about rugby league, the sight of Rangi Chase in an England shirt tonight is a bitter pill to swallow.

Quite simply, if coach Steve McNamara had enough belief in the English talent at his disposal, Chase wouldn’t get a look in.

McNamara’s selection is a kick in the teeth for English rugby league – make no mistake about it. What he’s saying is clear: We’re not good enough to beat the Kiwis and Australia in the Four Nations.

To give ourselves a chance we need to capitalise on some pathetically weak international regulations that allow us to pick an outrageously talented stand-off born in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand in 1986.

And talented Chase is. Man of Steel in Super League this season and an attacking threat every time he has the ball in hand. He could really make a difference to England’s chances.

But, if like me, you regard the ideology of international sport as the opportunity for men to represent their country and test themselves against the rest of the world – well, this really isn’t it.

Sure, we’ve done it before with Maurie Fa’asavalu and England’s cricket and rugby union teams are also an insult to the old phrase 'representing your country'. It’s the same with other nations too, but it doesn’t make it right.

It’s a means to an end for Chase. He’s desperate to play on the biggest stage of all. Despite all his patriotic English bravado and McNamara churning out ridiculous comments like “he’s committed to the cause” – one thing is for certain – if Kiwi captain Benji Marshall wasn’t around, Chase would be wearing a black shirt this Four Nations.

Gareth Widdop and Danny McGuire both lay in waiting. Widdop has enjoyed a sensational season in the NRL with the Storm at stand-off and deserves the chance to impress for his country of birth.

McGuire ended the campaign in great form for Leeds. If McNamara thinks Chase isn’t stopping English talent from representing their country then he needs his head testing.

If England – 7-1 with Hills to win the Four Nations – are lifting the trophy come November 19, I’ll be bursting with pride. But it won’t be the same feeling as if they’d done it with just English talent. That would be something special. Instead, they’ll always be a bitter taste.

Challenge Cup Quarter-Finals

4-1 drop goal could clinch cup classic

LEE-DING THE WAY: Briers can inspire Warrington down back to Wembley

Back from a glorious two weeks in the Dominican and rugby league welcomes me home with a Saturday Challenge Cup blockbuster. The other three quarter-final contests promise to be tasty clashes as well.

Champions and Super League leaders Wigan Warriors are 7-2 with Unibet to win the Cup before coach Michael Maguire returns Down Under to link up with South Sydney, but will have to overcome holders Warrington Wolves - 12-5 Sportingbet to seal a hat-trick of Wembley triumphs.

The Cherry and Whites were my pre-season tip to top the regular season standings, but Wire to take the Grand Final honours at Old Trafford. This should be an almighty blood and thunder contest between the two best teams the country this campaign and it's a tough one to call for punters.

Wire have ran in 35 more tries than Wigan in Super League this term and Tony Smith's defence has been imposingly cruel, though the Warriors have shipped 10 less points themselves.

Both head into this fixture in fine form, Wigan with six straight wins and Warrington five. The bookies are, not too surprisingly, struggling to split the two - hosts Wire slight favourites at 17-20 (Sportingbet) and Warriors at 5-4 (Blue Square).

Wolves won 24-6 at Wigan in round seven and if they can put in a similar defensive effort will not be too far off the money.

I think home advantage and the return of Lee Briers could prove decisive for Warrington. Victor Chandler offer 4-1 on a drop-goal being scored in the 80 minutes and I think that's a great offer given this should be tight, the importance of the game and, of course, the presence of one-point specialist Briers.


Last year's finalists Leeds Rhinos head to the KC Stadium to face their tormentors in the 2005 showpiece, Hull FC.

Surely the Airliebirds will improve on their dire showing in the 20-0 defeat to the Rhinos last week, but Paddy Power offer 4-6 on another Leeds win and the gulf between both sides last week suggest that is the mosty sensible bet on offer.

Leeds are also way off the pace in Super League and the Cup offers what is realistically their only chance of silverware. Danny McGuire can lead the way at 12-1 with Stan James for the first try and a Rhinos win by 11-20 points is 10-3 with Paddy Power.

St Helens, winners in 2006, 2007 and 2008 will also realise that Wembley is also their most likely route to success this season and the visit of Hull KR is unlikely to halt their march into the semi-finals.

Winger Jamie Foster is in red-hot form right now, five tries in his last two games, and is the best bet in first try stakes - 8-1 with Hills, while Saints are bound to deliver with a handicap at -14 on offer at 10-11.

In the remaining quarter-final Castleford Tigers welcome Huddersfield Giants and this game is all about the hosts' in-form stand-off Rangi Chase - 16-1 with Sky Bet to grab the first try of the game.

The Giants 36-0 loss at Bradford last week was a real surprise and I think Cas can rub salt into the wounds at 7-4 with Totesport.

If you're chasing a treble, wins for Leeds, Castleford and Warrington combine at a price of 8.5-1.