England v Samoa: How can I watch it, and why are they even playing at all? SunSport gives you the lowdown
Controversy has certainly followed this fixture
ENGLAND take the next step on their way to potential World Cup glory when they face Samoa.
But not everyone is happy. Far from it.
Heading out to Sydney, Australia, to play in mid-season, while Super League matches are still going on, has not gone down well.
Neither has coach Wayne Bennett’s decision to include Chris McQueen and Chris Heighington, who sound about as English as Vegemite and Lamingtons.
However, this game is a vital part of England’s preparations for the Autumn’s World Cup, which takes place in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
Here SunSport gives you the lowdown on the game, which kicks off at 10.30am.
WHERE CAN YOU SEE IT?
HERE starts the issues. No TV broadcaster offered enough money to the Rugby Football League – although Premier Sports offered the most - to show it, so they decided to stream the game online themselves.
For the cost of £3.49, although it raises to £4.99, you can sign up to watch it through
The production will be professional, essentially it will be Australian TV’s cameras that film it and Andrew Voss will be commentating.
But to say the streaming decision has not gone down well is an understatement.
WHY THE CONTROVERSY?
IT WOULD not be rugby league without controversy.
Pay per view streaming? Controversial.
Including Australian-born Chris McQueen and Chris Heighington? Controversial.
Not involve Mark Percival, Scott Taylor or Alex Walmsley? Controversial.
Former Great Britain legend Garry Schofield believes coach Wayne Bennett is "bringing the game into disrepute" with his selection.
He said: “Sack him [Bennett] and his staff after this friendly and appoint Daryl Powell for the World Cup.”
WHY ARE ENGLAND PLAYING?
PUT SIMPLY, they have to. For too long international rugby league has been shoved to one side. Now, hopefully, things are changing.
England did have a mid-season game against the Exiles, a team made up of Super League’s best foreign players.
But not enough fans came to watch it, meaning the idea was canned. Which is a shame, as you’d get a hell of an Exiles team at the minute if the stipulation that players have to have been in the NRL is dropped.
EXAMPLE EXILES TEAM: Morgan Escare; Fetuli Talanoa, Mahe Fonua, Junior Sa’u, Steve Michaels; Albert Kelly, Thomas Leuluai; Ashton Sims, Matt Parcell, Luke Douglas, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Louis Anderson, Adam Cuthbertson. Interchange: Krisnan Inu, Todd Carney, Glenn Stewart, Romain Navarrete.
There are loads of other candidates too.
CAN ENGLAND LOSE?
DEFINITELY. This is the strongest Samoa side ever and is packed with NRL talent.
The last meeting at the 2014 Four Nations almost ended in a shock loss and Matt Parish’s side is certainly stronger on paper.
With Anthony Milford and Joey Leilua in the team, anything is possible from the Samoans in attack – they also have some very, very big men in their pack.
Sam Burgess and company know they are on for a game – they will have to be at their best to get a result in Sydney.
WILL DEFEAT RUIN ENGLAND’S WORLD CUP CHANCES?
IT WILL certainly be a blow but would it be fatal? No.
This year’s World Cup is likely to be the strongest ever, with several sides likely to emerge as contenders.
But England certainly have what it takes to reach the final, especially if the likes of injured George Williams and Gareth Widdop come back.
Sure, defeat would be embarrassing but would it mean we are out of contention for a final place? Hardly.
