Australian vice-captain Paul Gallen is relishing the chance to take on England and the Burgess boys in the rugby league World Cup opener – and welcoming the opportunity of cooler weather in the UK.
The Kangaroos went through their final hit-out on home soil on Sunday in temperatures nudging the mid-30s at St George Illawarra’s Kogarah Oval in Sydney.
The team will fly to London on Monday afternoon before jetting onto Manchester where they’ll be in camp until the October 26 encounter with England in Cardiff.
It will be the third time Gallen has played in the UK and the Cronulla skipper says it’s a place he has fond memories of, having tasted success in the 2009 and 2011 Four Nations series.
“I love going on tours, I love the plane flight over there hanging out with the boys,” Gallen said.
“I don’t mind the weather to be honest. You can see how white I am – these days aren’t for me.
“I really enjoy the towns, the atmosphere at the games and I have had success over there and hopefully I can do that again.”
A crowd of around 70,000 is expected for the opening game at the Millennium Stadium and Gallen expects the winner of the forward battle to decide the outcome of the game.
In addition to Sam, Tom, George Burgess and James Graham, Parramatta-bound prop Lee Mossop will be in England’s starting line-up along with outstanding hooker James Roby.
And Gallen knows full well the winner of the group will almost certainly have a clear run to the final with the losers likely to play New Zealand in the semi-finals.
“You don’t want to take the other nations for granted as they will be wanting to give it to us,” he said.
“But if you win the game it will mean you are a fair way to the final.
“It’s massive game first up but it’s in Wales and hopefully the crowd will be on our side against a very good England team.
“It’s the talk before any Australia game the battle in the forwards. It’s going to be really hard for us. England have some class forwards and the experience of the Burgess boys and James Graham in the NRL.
“It’s going to be a tough task for us but we have to get the job done.”
Centre Michael Jennings scored a hat-trick in his only Kangaroos appearance in 2009 and the Sydney Roosters star is battling with Brent Tate and Josh Morris for the other centre spot alongside Greg Inglis.
The former Penrith flyer is hoping his form in helping the Roosters win the NRL premiership this year will give him a head start.
“Coming off a grand final win and getting on this tour, it’s been a great year. I can’t wait,” Jennings said.
“I feel fresh in the mindset but my body is not as fresh as it could be but I am ready to play and hope to get the chance in the first game.
“Hopefully when I do get the chance to pull on that jersey I can get another hat-trick.”
