Kangaroos fired up over England claims
The Age
Wednesday November 11, 2009
SIMMERING tensions between the two Four Nations forward packs have boiled over just days out from the final at Elland Road.Kangaroos second-rower Anthony Watmough is vowing to use a slur from England's skipper Jamie Peacock as motivation for victory on Sunday morning, firing that "if they bring it, we're going to take it straight back to them".Peacock, the rugged English forward, claimed that New Zealand's forwards had been more physical than the Australians after England's clash with the Kiwis. And that has riled the Australians ahead of the decider.Asked if the forwards would use it as motivation, Watmough said: "Definitely. Benny Hannant and Petero [Civoniceva] bashed them [when the two sides played in Wigan]. They stuck it to them. Why do you think Greg Inglis could do what he did? It was because of them two and Hindy [Nathan Hindmarsh] in the middle. They [the English] didn't even look like going through us in that first half at all."Physical? I saw him [Peacock] get put on his backside a few times. I think the boys will step up. What do you do? Take a backward step? Your credibility as a forward's gone. If they bring it, we're going to take it straight back to them."–Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy has been named International Coach of the Year after the team's third NRL premiership.Bellamy edged out one of his assistants at the Storm, New Zealand head coach Stephen Kearney, as well as Bulldogs coach Kevin Moore, in claiming the award presented at the Rugby League International Federation gala dinner in Leeds.Storm skipper Cameron Smith was named at hooker and Greg Inglis at centre in the International Team of the Year.Player of the Year award went to Parramatta's Jarryd Hayne.
© 2009 The Age
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