Rugby League Ashes 2025: England v Australia Kangaroos

[Manc in London]

Paul Sulthorpe and Garry Schofield were up there with any Aussie half-backs.

Danny McGuire was never picked for England and Great Britain anywhere near enough. He wasn’t even picked for the 2013 World Cup squad and was barely picked for 2008 World Cup games. But he was a big game player, winning the Harry Sunderland twice (both after he stopped getting picked for England), and scorer of 276 tries in his career including 39 one seasons, as a half-back… he only played 19 games for England and GB in a 21 year career.

But outside that, there aren’t many. Like you say, the Aussies have numerous names like that. Even Andrew Johns only played for Australia 26 times in a 21 year career. Some never even picked.

As for the pack, McMeeken was class in Saturday, the back row of Knowles, Pearce-Paul and Watkins all played well n’all. But it’s a far cry from the quality of depth we had in the 00s: Morley, Newton, Peacock, Fielden, A.Farrell, McDermott, Anderson… then the 10s: S.Burgess, Roby, Graham, Westwood, Ellis, O’Loughlin, G.Burgess, Hill…

Paul Sculthorpe (played only as a half back because our halves were shit but he was a very good loose forward) and Schofield as good as Andrew Johns, Alfie Langer, Darren Lockyer, Jonathan Thurston, Ricky Stuart, Cooper Cronk and Brad Fittler (played loose forward too but nowhere near as much as Sculthorpe)? Not a chance. Not even in the same stratosphere.

As for Danny McGuire haha

I watched a lot of junior rugby in Australia, such as Newtown, Wombats, Redfearn and the Dolphins. There were players at that level who would be professionals in the SL. The players did not have the physicality to play at the top level as most were still young but the skill levels and intelligence was often better than SL level.

Look at Jackson Hastings. Superstar at Salford who won Man of Steel. He could only make 5 starts last year for an average team.

I missed Ellis when talking about forwards. He was very good. I think our forwards are okay. Certainly not a massive gap between them and the Aussies. I don't think there has been a chasm in the quality of forwards since the 80s.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

Paul Sculthorpe (played only as a half back because our halves were shit but he was a very good loose forward) and Schofield as good as Andrew Johns, Alfie Langer, Darren Lockyer, Jonathan Thurston, Ricky Stuart, Cooper Cronk and Brad Fittler (played loose forward too but nowhere near as much as Sculthorpe)? Not a chance. Not even in the same stratosphere.

As for Danny McGuire haha

I watched a lot of junior rugby in Australia, such as Newtown, Wombats, Redfearn and the Dolphins. There were players at that level who would be professionals in the SL. The players did not have the physicality to play at the top level as most were still young but the skill levels and intelligence was often better than SL level.

Look at Jackson Hastings. Superstar at Salford who won Man of Steel. He could only make 5 starts last year for an average team.

I missed Ellis when talking about forwards. He was very good. I think our forwards are okay. Certainly not a massive gap between them and the Aussies. I don't think there has been a chasm in the quality of forwards since the 80s.

True what you say about Jackson Hastings. It's also true that he's one of the worst players to ever play for Great Britain, Certainly, not as good as Danny Mags.

I recall our media was obsessed with saying Lockyer was a defensive liability for the Aussies. That wasn't reflected in test matches or the State of Origin performances..