The elite Leeds Rhinos dominate selection in the English
World Cup squad.

No less than eight of the crack English Super League side have won selection, including the skipper Jamie Peacock.

England has been honoured by kicking off the 2008 World Cup against Papua New Guinea at Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville on Saturday 25 October at 6.55pm.

They will relish the opportunity to map out a team to challenge Australia on Sunday 2 November at Melbourne’s Telstra Dome, beginning at 7.55pm. This game marks a centenary of Tests between the two countries.

England won the World Cup in 1954, 1960 and 1972.

The 1972 team was as good as you’ll get and absolutely pulverized Australia into submission.

Since then England has become extremely clinical in its approach to Australian encounters.

The clinical approach has failed.

Maybe England is ready to return to the “bad old days” when they played with fire and brimstone.

This squad certainly indicates a change is heart with the likes of Adrian Morley, Leon Pryce, who has declared Blackpool is a better place to live than Bondi, James Roby from St Helens, just three who seldom take a step in the wrong direction.

This is a not a baby faced side. No milky bar kids among this lot!

Peacock is 30, Morley 31, Keith Senior 32 and there are six others at 28 and seven more over 26.Roby and Lee Smith from Leeds are the youngest at 22.

And, yes, “the rabbit” Rob Burrow from Leeds will be in Australia calling the shots from the scrumbase.

England team to play Australia in Melbourne on the 2nd of November 

 

1
WELLENS
Paul

2
GARDNER
Ade

3
GLEESON
Martin

4
SENIOR
Keith

5
SMITH
Lee

6
PRYCE
Leon

7
BURROW
Rob

8
GRAHAM
James

9
ROBY
James

10
PEACOCK (C)
Jamie

11
HOCK
Gareth

12
ELLIS
Gareth

13
SINFIELD
Kevin

14
MCGUIRE
Danny

15
FA’ASAVALU
Maurie

16
MORLEY
Adrian

17
WILKIN
Jon