England have not been a good team in a long time for rugby league anyway. They’ve come close to winning World Cups and the Four Nations tournament when that was a thing, but we’ve always found a way to beat them in the end. Only New Zealand has really been the other RL team that has given Australia trouble at times in recent years. Apart from that loss to Tonga in 2019, New Zealand has been the only team to outmatch us when they’ve played at their best.
2025 Kangaroos Ashes Tour
- Thread starter innsaneink
- Start date
Rock Hopper Steve
Well-known member
And a good thing to it has been boring when the one team dominates the world, knowing that they are going to win again is a bit of a turn off.
I’m still looking forward to the World Cup next year, but I already know we’ll be in the final when the time comes. Only question is who will we face? Most likely it’s NZ unless Samoa or Tonga pull off the upset and make it. England definitely won’t and neither will the other teams who play in it. The rest will just be making up the numbers.
Rock Hopper Steve
Well-known member
Favourite wil be who wins tomorrow between Samoa and Kiwis you would think.
You’re probably right, but I think NZ will win it tomorrow. I hope it’s a good game but.
Tucker
Well-known member
Only way they will improve is for them to regularly play Australia.
That’s how NZ, Tonga and Samoa have improved. Regular checkups. Their players all play in the NRL.
Samoa are a bit different, they are basically another Australian team, full of born and bred Australians who have been raised in our systems and mostly all play Origin.
England are at a distinct disadvantage. Only a couple each year play NRL. They need regular contact with our players….at least 2 series every 3 years.
That’s how NZ, Tonga and Samoa have improved. Regular checkups. Their players all play in the NRL.
Samoa are a bit different, they are basically another Australian team, full of born and bred Australians who have been raised in our systems and mostly all play Origin.
England are at a distinct disadvantage. Only a couple each year play NRL. They need regular contact with our players….at least 2 series every 3 years.
Jolls
Well-known member
Cleary has been like a headless chook all series
Tucker
Well-known member
He needs a big 2026 to be the Kangaroo 7 for the WC.
gallagher
Well-known member
Dumbarse Daley will pick him regardless of form for NSW unfortunately
Siberian Kitten
Well-known member
Surprised how ordinary Australia has been. Want to see Moses replace Cleary in rep games. Munster and Grant have pretty well carried the team in this game.
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gallagher
Well-known member
Such a messy game, a hard watch
diedpretty
Well-known member
Yea - i have been wondering if his heart is really in the game at the moment. He has achieved pretty much all there is over the last few years. His heartthrob Mary Fowler is on the other side of the world and her football and out of football careers are going ahead in leaps and bounds. He has previously said how much he wants to have a family of his own. Money isn't an incentive as he is rolling in it. 2 years to go on his contract at Penrith - will be interesting to see how it all pans out.
Even if they did 2 series every 3 years I doubt that’s enough for them to catch up unfortunately. The standards in England are nowhere near our standards and I just don’t see how they’ll be able to catch up. Let’s say it was announced there was a 3 game series between England and Australia for the next 10 years, 30 games in total and Australia has a real good chance of winning all of them, maybe 28 at a minimum if England do improve facing us. I don’t see us losing a series if that was to occur. Only chance I think England have of now catching up to our level is for them to increase their standards to ours as best as possible playing in the SL or any other RL competition they have over there.
Tucker
Well-known member
Overall, this has been a successful tour for the Kangaroos.
We took over a very new and inexperienced team and they weren’t given the opportunity to gel and fine tune their play through warm up tour matches.
They were asked to do this during Test matches in front of sold out crowds, missing their experienced captain and golden boot holder for 2 out of the 3 games as well. They managed to let in only 2 tries across 3 games which was excellent, whilst scoring 11 tries themselves. They were patchy, rusty and all the similar adjectives, but they were also hard, resilient, creative and effective.
If kept together, this squad will only improve as they get used to each other and that spells big trouble for any other country with designs to take the WC trophy next year.
It should also be noted that Samoa and Tonga got belted in successive tours there over the past 2 years. In fact England has flogged every country they’ve hosted or played over the past 4 years until the Kangaroos turned up.
Hopefully they learn from this experience and come ready to rumble next year. Tonga and Samoa are learning a lot from this current Pacific Championships series with NZ in hot form as well.
I’m still looking forward to the World Cup.
We took over a very new and inexperienced team and they weren’t given the opportunity to gel and fine tune their play through warm up tour matches.
They were asked to do this during Test matches in front of sold out crowds, missing their experienced captain and golden boot holder for 2 out of the 3 games as well. They managed to let in only 2 tries across 3 games which was excellent, whilst scoring 11 tries themselves. They were patchy, rusty and all the similar adjectives, but they were also hard, resilient, creative and effective.
If kept together, this squad will only improve as they get used to each other and that spells big trouble for any other country with designs to take the WC trophy next year.
It should also be noted that Samoa and Tonga got belted in successive tours there over the past 2 years. In fact England has flogged every country they’ve hosted or played over the past 4 years until the Kangaroos turned up.
Hopefully they learn from this experience and come ready to rumble next year. Tonga and Samoa are learning a lot from this current Pacific Championships series with NZ in hot form as well.
I’m still looking forward to the World Cup.
Tucker
Well-known member
Probably not but what they are doing now is providing a false reading of where they are at. We have provided a proper barometer.
Last year they beat up on France and Samoa.
The year before they bullied France and Tonga.
In 2022 they looked very strong in their WC before inexplicably choking to Samoa in the semi final.
My point is, they haven’t played us since the WC Final of 2017 where they almost beat one of the best Kangaroo teams ever assembled.
To be the best you have to be exposed to the best and they haven’t been for far too long.
innsaneink
Well-known member
Theyve had to deal with England slowing the ruck right down....its made.fir a bit of a grinding series, no fluency...the refs have been quitenlazy too letting alot go
I actually didn’t realise it had been that long since the last time both teams faced each other prior to the ashes this year. I do agree with your last sentence, but our standards have increased a lot in those 8 years with all the rule changes that have come into play since then. I hope the English do find a way to improve but I just don’t see it happening anytime soon unfortunately. But like you, I am looking forward to the World Cup next year and hope it’s a great one for all involved.
innsaneink
Well-known member
Roos defense for that 15 minute period afternhalf time won them the game...Poms had an enormous amount of ball in our red zone but did sfa with it.
Grant deserved mom he had a great game..Munster good majority of the series
Cleary is.like a.pigeon holed actor famous for one role...cant perform outside his well known structure.
Marky marks hands are back to when he first come on the scene, couldnt catch a thing.
Great to win 3 zip but really a fairly average test series for.mine....we did not dominate which i guess weve become used to
Poms.had their best chance being only 4 down at half time i imagine they wouldve been.very confident about their chances in the sheds...but our defense too good.
More pommy broken hearts everywhere...lol
Grant deserved mom he had a great game..Munster good majority of the series
Cleary is.like a.pigeon holed actor famous for one role...cant perform outside his well known structure.
Marky marks hands are back to when he first come on the scene, couldnt catch a thing.
Great to win 3 zip but really a fairly average test series for.mine....we did not dominate which i guess weve become used to
Poms.had their best chance being only 4 down at half time i imagine they wouldve been.very confident about their chances in the sheds...but our defense too good.
More pommy broken hearts everywhere...lol
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Really the only thing he hasn’t done is seal an Origin series. He’s won it but I don’t think he’s been the key reason NSW have won when they have.
Tucker
Well-known member
He ruled the series during Covid.
That was Penrith plus Latrell and Turbo v QLD.
