Rugby League - 4 Nations Tour

2009 Four-Nations Snapshot - The 2009 Four-Nations series will be a first for international rugby league. With the ongoing improvement of France, the successful Tri-Nations series has been expanded. The Four-Nations is scheduled to take place in England and France in October / November this year.



Unlike the 2004 and 2005 Tri-Nations series that saw the games kick off in the southern hemisphere, Australia and New Zealand will play in London with a World Cup Final re-match. The tournament will also be a big step up for France as they try re-establish themselves as a league powerhouse and match it with the best three rugby league playing nations in the world. Each team will play each other once in the pool rounds reducing the tournament duration from seven to four weeks. The format will be much like the early World Cup competitions.



The performance of the French in the 2008 World Cup had raised some doubts over their automatic inclusion in the 2009 Four-Nations. France were well beaten by Fiji in the Pool stages of the World Cup and many argued that Fiji should be included instead. The RLIF have shown faith in France by providing them with automatic inclusion.



France are currently the 2nd biggest league playing nation in Europe with local competitions dating back to 1934. The inclusion of the Catalans Dragons in Super league in 2006, Toulouse Olympic in the Co-Operative Championship in 2009 and the ongoing improvement of the Elite Competition have made France the obvious choice this time round.



The RFL have indicated from the 2010 Four Nations onwards, the 4th team will need qualify via the Pacific Cup or European Cup. This is great news for the growth of the international game.

Morris brothers Brett and Josh will become the first twins in 17 years to tour for Australia after the St George Illawarra star was called into the Four Nations squad on Thursday.

Tryscoring winger Brett Morris was added to the Kangaroos after Brisbane's Israel Folau withdrew with an ankle injury.

Bulldog centre Josh Morris had already been selected in the 24-man squad after his standout season, which included a NSW State of Origin debut, since leaving the Dragons.

The selection means the identical Morris brothers will become the first pair of twins to be selected for Australia since Kevin and Kerrod Walters, who played two Tests in 1991 before touring with the World Cup squad in 1992.

Brett's addition to the Kangaroos also ends the biggest Test snub in more than 50 years after the minor premier Dragons were overlooked for the Four Nations touring party.

Dragons coach Wayne Bennett had questioned why his players had been left out of the Kangaroos squad, incumbent winger Darius Boyd dumped despite solid performances in the May 8 Test and Queensland's State of Origin triumph.

Boyd was expected to be called in after Folau's injury, but it was Brett Morris who won the battle, completing a fairytale season which saw him claim the NRL tryscoring title.

While the Morris twins already share a special family bond, Test skipper Darren Lockyer says all 24 members of the Kangaroos would be forever bonded by their experiences touring the UK and France together.

Lockyer has toured there five times for Australia and rates it among his career highlights.

"I've had some good memories touring England," he said.

"Some of my fondest memories playing for Australia and some of the friends I've made playing rugby league have been from tours to England.

"I'm sure this group will be the same.

"If we're prepared to go over there and do some hard work and get some success there will be a bond formed between them all."

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SOME of rugby league's most prominent figures have joined the push for Matthew Johns to return to the fold.

Premiership-winning coach Chris Anderson, former Test coach Ricky Stuart and champion fullback Garry Jack have all claimed his return to the game is overdue.

Melbourne Storm halfback Cooper Cronk has also backed his return.

Jack suggested Johns should be welcomed back as part of Channel Nine's Four Nations tournament coverage.

"I think he deserves a second chance. Everyone likes Matty,'' Jack said.

"It's unfortunate what happened, but you forgive and move on. I think Matty has got so much to offer the game. I'd love to see him back for the end-of-season tour coverage. Having someone like him involved, be it in the media or coaching, is a plus for the game.''


Johns remains devastated after being stood down by Channel Nine from his role as co-commentator and co-host of The Footy Show for his involvement in a sex scandal in New Zealand in 2002.

Even his closest friends and family are concerned for his welfare.

Anderson, who coached Johns at Cronulla in 2002, said it was imperative the 38-year-old understood how much support he had within the rugby league family.

"For Matty's sanity, I think he needs to get back on the horse,'' Anderson said. "I've been talking to him a little bit, and I think he's a little bit shy about coming back."

"I think it's important for Matty that he knows the rugby league fraternity is behind him. He was hurt big-time. It was pretty poor what happened.''

Stuart said he had attempted to make contact with Johns on several occasions.

"Matt's got my 100 per cent support,'' Stuart said. "I'd like to think that we'll see Matty back doing what he does best sooner rather than later."

"But I think it's also important he does it on his own terms and when he feels he and his family feel ready.''

Not yet ready, Johns knocked backed an approach from Nine to be part of the commentary team for the finals series.

Cronk, whose Melbourne career has been closely guided by Johns, said: "I'd support any one of my friends in any circumstance.''

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A Cameron Smith try two minutes from fulltime has allowed Australia to snatch a dramatic 20-20 draw with New Zealand in their Four Nations rugby league clash at the The Stoop in London on Saturday night.

The tournament favourites looked gone when they trailed 20-14 with two minutes left on the clock before Smith burrowed over from close range after Greg Inglis had popped a desperate ball out the back.

While the result did little to help either side in their bid to qualify for the final, it did give the tournament the competitive start it was craving after fears the Australians would romp away with the trophy.

It was an inauspicious start for the Kiwis with Fuifui Moimoi stepping on the dead ball line as he fielded the kickoff, but in a sign of things to come, the Kangaroos couldn't take advantage of the leg-up.

New Zealand tackled with ferocity, and when Moimoi made amends with a powerful run to get them into the opposition half for the first time in the match, it was 6-0 after five minutes with Frank Paul-Nuuausala scything through.

Despite their surprise lead, the Kiwis were holding on for dear life with errors and four straight penalties giving Australia all the field position and possession they could hope for.

But the Kangaroos seemed rattled by the punishment being dished out by the Kiwis - in particular by young tyro Jared Waerea-Hargreaves - and it was hardly surprising to see Darren Lockyer turn over the ball when penalised for running behind a teammate.

Debutant winger Brett Morris then spurned the Kangaroos' best chance when he tripped over his own feet ten metres out from the Kiwi line, but he ensured it would be a first game to remember for all the right reasons when he scored shortly after.

The move was inspired by Smith deep inside his own half, the Australian hooker sending Greg Inglis away with a delightful flick out the back before he found Morris in support to lock it up at 6-all in the 28th minute.

Kangaroos backrower Paul Gallen entered the fray and immediately found himself in hot water after a swinging arm on Isaac Luke sparked an all-in brawl which was lucky to end with 26 players still on the field.

Given the commitment shown in the first half, Kiwi coach Stephen Kearney would have been devastated with the meek surrender less than four minutes into the second period when Johnathan Thurston stripped the ball off Lance Hohaia to score from five metres out.

Another Hohaia error when he dropped a bomb which Adam Blair was ruled to have cleaned up from an offside position allowed Thurston to extend the advantage to beyond a converted try via a penalty goal.

Junior Sau then dragged the Kiwis back into the contest when he bulldozed through four defenders, but his side still trailed 14-10 when Luke missed a conversion he should have made.

The pro-Kiwi crowd could smell blood and their side lifted accordingly, an Inglis fumble giving them a scrum feed ten metres out from the Australian line from where Hohaia brushed past a poor Billy Slater tackle, the conversion giving New Zealand back the lead.

The match looked theirs when Frank Pritchard went over out wide with less than four minutes on the clock, but Bryson Goodwin's missed sideline conversion left the door open for the Kangaroos.

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Australia have refused a neutral referee for their clash against England in Saturday's Four Nations game.

English referee Steve Ganson will now take charge of the game at the David Whelan Stadium in Wigan.

Australia were given the option of New Zealander Leon Williamson or Frenchman Thierry Alibert but refused after claiming they were not full-time refs.

Ganson officiated Australia's 20-20 draw with New Zealand on Saturday in their opening Four Nations game.

Kangaroos coach Tim Sheens was unhappy with Ganson's performance in that game saying: "Hopefully, we'll understand him a little better next week."

Alibert is, in fact, in his second season as a full-time Super League referee, and both men took charge of Test matches at last year's World Cup.

England won their opener beating France 34-12 at the Keepmoat Stadium on Thursday.

(If Australia goes down, due to a poor understanding of northern hemisphere rules, they'll only have themselves to blame, my two cents)

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An error ridden performance has seen the Kiwis knocked out of the Four Nations league tournament, beaten 20-12 by England in Huddersfield.

After trailing 18-6 at half-time, the Kiwis got right back into the match with a try straight after the break.

But Kevin Sinfield kicked a penalty for England with 10 minutes remaining to boot the hosts into next week's final.

Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney paid credit to England.

Kearney said England were a lot more physical in some aspects and were defensively strong in the first half which took its toll.

For the first time in the Four Nations, England managed to score the first try when the impressive Kyle Eastmond dived over after a bust by powerhouse Sam Burgess.

But the Kiwis always looked dangerous when fullback Lance Hohaia chimed into the backline and winger Bryson Goodwin's 25th minute touchdown put them back on course.

Sam Tomkins kick in broken play handed Peter Fox his England try at 37 minutes but what really did the damage was the winger's second, moments from halftime.

NZ debutant Keiran Foran, usually a five-eighth but playing in the centres, was caught in no-man's land defensively as Chris Bridge found his outside man unmarked and man of the match Kevin Sinfield did well to convert from the sideline.

Earlier, Australia confirmed its place in next week's final with a 42-4 win over France in Paris.

They will meet England in the final.

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A row over the choice of referee is threatening to dominate the build-up to Saturday's Four Nations final between England and Australia at Elland Road.

The three men chosen to select the official have picked their own countryman, and only further negotiation will settle the matter.

Kangaroos coach Tim Sheens said: "I'm obviously in favour of the Australian.

"From what I hear [Shayne] Hayne will be named the international referee of the year. It's become political."

St Helens referee Steve Ganson, who was in charge of the Kangaroos' opening matches against New Zealand and England, is the choice of the Rugby Football League's director of officials Stuart Cummings.

With Sheens picking Hayne, that left New Zealand representative Ian Mackintosh with the deciding vote. But he caused a stalemate by opting for the Kiwis' own referee, Leon Williamson, who was in charge of the England-France and France-Australia matches.

Cummings said an attempt to break the deadlock would now be made through telephone talks overnight and second-choice preferences may have to be taken into account.

Australia have previously objected to both neutral referees - Frenchman Thierry Alibert is the other member of the four-strong team of officials - and lost out to England in the choice of official for their game at Wigan.

"Since we've played England under an English referee, I don't see why England should whinge or worry about us playing under an Australian referee," added Sheens.

England assistant coach Steve McNamara said: "We are happy to abide by whichever decision is made. We've been asked our opinion and we've passed that on to the people who make those decisions.

Sheens is likely to leave out rising star Michael Jennings for the finale. The 21-year-old Penrith Panthers centre scored three tries on debut in the Kangaroos' 42-4 rout of France to put pressure on Brisbane's Justin Hodges.

But Australia, who made seven changes from the side which beat England 26-16 in Wigan, will go back to basics.

Sheen said: "There is a small tweaking of the side but it will be based around the one that played at Wigan.

"Some of the young fellas put their hands up but whether they are ready for the intensity of this game is yet to be seen. You've got to keep it in perspective.

"He [Jennings] picked up a loose ball and did a couple of nice things too but I thought the full-back [Kurt Gidley] was the best player on the day."

Sheens was not surprised by England's 20-12 win over New Zealand on Saturday, revealing that he had been in a minority in the Australia camp to tip the hosts to reach the final at the expense of the World Cup winners.

"Most people picked New Zealand but I thought they had the forward power to control them," he said.

"To beat New Zealand given their form - I think they were the form side out of the three of us - they have obviously done very well."

Like Australia, England will select from a fully-fit 24-man squad and McNamara hinted they are likely to stick with Kevin Sinfield at hooker following his man-of-the-match performance at Huddersfield - and also retain 20-year-old half-backs Sam Tomkins and Kyle Eastmond.

"We'll make changes if we think it's appropriate," McNamara said.

"But I certainly thought between six, seven and nine we had a good combination. I thought Kev Sinfield, in particular, playing a different position to his club position suited him at international level."

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It might not erase the bitter memories his moment of madness that cost Australia the World Cup, but Kangaroos fullback Billy Slater extinguished some of them by effectively delivering the Kangaroos the Four Nations.

Australia ran out comfortable 46-16 winners over England in the end, but not before trailing 16-14 early in the second half. And it was Slater who engineered it, scoring three second half tries and setting up another to ensure the tournament favourites secured the trophy.

Before a spirited crowd of 31,042, Australia led 14-10 at halftime but when Souths-bound forward Sam Burgess scored with his first touch after the break, the rank outsiders were in the game, right up to their eyeballs.

Australia quickly regained the lead four minutes later when Slater scored a soft try from dummy half, and when Kangaroos winger Brett Morris latched onto a cross-field kick from Johnathan Thurston shortly afterwards, Australia led 22-16.

Slater then produced a freakish play shortly after that when he batted a Darren Lockyer grubber kick back into the in-goal, just as it appeared to be going dead.

Hooker Cameron Smith pounced and grounded the ball. Australia then went on a try-scoring spree, but the scoreline belied just how close it had been for most of the match.

The night belonged to Slater, of course. A year ago, he produced the 61st minute howler in the final against the Kiwis when he threw a suicide pass for Benji Marshall to score the decisive try. In Leeds this morning, it must have seemed like a distant memory.

The win had a tinge of controversy, with Kangaroos centre Greg Inglis awarded a dubious try in the first half that took video referee Phil Bentham and Australian "video observer" Shayne Hayne an eternity to decide.

Hayne was given the role after the ARL lost a political battle to have him given the match. Who knows what was said between the two officials, but without their favourable decision, the short-priced favourite would not have led at the break after England had taken a 10-6 lead earlier in the half.

There were also concerns for England centre Michael Shenton, after a suffered a sickening head clash with Kangaroos prop Ben Hannant in the 60th minute and had to receive oxygen on the field before being carried off in a neck brace. He was later cleared of any serious injury.

From the very first play of the match, when Hannant wound up and was thumped by England hardman Adrian Morley, it was clearly evident that it ... was ... ON.

While Australia had a video decision go against them in the ninth minute, when winger Brett Morris was adjudged to have dropped the ball while trying to bury the opening try, England certainly had the best of it early.

A minute after the Morris no-try, England lock Sam Burgess produced two blinding left-foot steps to score a four-pointer that must have reverberated all the way back to Redfern.

The 20-year-old first slipped inside Petero Civoniceva, then fullback Billy Slater, to dive over. If Elland Road had a roof, the reaction of the crowd would have blown it off.

He almost engineered a second try moments later, but when halfback Johnathan Thurston intercepted with the Poms pressing their line and raced downfield, it delivered Australia the territory it had been searching for.

It quickly materialised into points with Morris scooting over out wide. Halfback Johnathan Thurston's conversion from near the sideline locked it at 6-all. If you thought there and then that England's passionate start had burnt out before it started, you were mistaken.

In the 19th minute, England halfback Kyle Eastmond produced a pin-point cross-field kick for Winger Peter Fox, who outleapt Hayne and came crashing down for the try that gave the home side a shock 10-6 lead.

Hayne looked like he'd blown a try after conceding one six minutes later, when he found space on the left and smoked downfield but ignored Slater looming on the inside in support.

Instead, he kicked ahead for Inglis, who looked like he had failed to ground the ball. After an eternity, Bentham and Shayne Hayne awarded the try, much to the disbelief of the crowd. Another difficult conversion from Thurston gave Australia the lead for the first time at the match.

Thurston added another two shortly afterwards when England backrower Gareth Ellis was penalised for taking him out, but as they headed up the tunnel at the break it was obvious who had been the better side.



Fulltime Score:

AUSTRALIA 46 (B Slater 3 B Morris 2 J Hayne G Inglis C Smith tries J Thurston 7 goals) bt ENGLAND 16 (S Burgess 2 P Fox tries K Sinfield 2 goals) at Elland Road. Referee: Leon Williamson.

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