Wednesday 29 November 2017 10:19, UK
Australia full-back Billy Slater has identified his former Melbourne team-mate Gareth Widdop as England's main threat in Saturday's World Cup final.
The wheel has turned full circle for Halifax-born Widdop, who started his career in the Melbourne juniors as a full-back but switched to stand-off because of the presence of Slater in the No 1 jersey.
Widdop, who moved on to St George Illawarra four years ago, made such a success of the switch that he finished third for the Dally M player of the year award in 2017 but has found himself back in his old full-back role for his country and has played a key role in England's run to the final.
"Gareth is just a natural footy player," Slater said. "He can play anywhere really. As long as he has got the ball in his hands, he is going to be a danger to the opposition.
"He'd always had this sort of potential. We all know what Gareth Widdop is capable of.
"He has got a running game but is more a skilful passer of the football. He poses a threat out the back and distributes the ball on to his outside men.
"Being aware of where Gareth is at all times when they are attacking our line is probably key for us. He is a big indicator of where they are going to go. He is probably their strike weapon."
Slater has also been impressed by England's wingers, Jermaine McGillvary and Ryan Hall, and reckons the final could be finely-balanced.
"They have got just as much chance as us," he said. "It all comes down to the 80 minutes on Saturday night. Whoever performs the best and plays the best rugby league will win the World Cup.
"They have put themselves in a pretty handy position. Both their wingers have really impressed me, especially after our first encounter down in Melbourne.
"McGillvary and Hall are so hard to handle, they are big, strong lads so we are going to have to make sure our kick chase is the best it's been all tour and handle them with a lot of numbers and be quite physical because that is how they run the ball."
Meanwhile, the 34-year-old Slater admits the game at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium could be his last in the green and gold as he weighs up the prospect of retiring from representative rugby league with only one end-of-season Test match lined up for the Kangaroos in 2018.
"You never take these sort of jerseys for granted," he said. "I know that first hand after missing out over the last three years through injury.
"It's been a good run in the green and gold so if this is my last game then I'm OK with that.
"If I retire at the end of next year I'll have to make a decision if I play that last Test match or whether I hang it up at the end of the season. I don't know yet."
