Ellis praises Aussie depth

Ellis: Impressed with Aussies

I think we all know what we're up against. There's some fantastic players in their side that can do a number on a team and we need to make sure we're ready for them.

Gareth Ellis
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England forward Gareth Ellis praised the strength in depth Australia have at their disposal ahead of their Four Nations clash on Saturday.

Former Leeds Rhinos second-rower Ellis has just spent his first season with Wests Tigers in the Australian NRL, and he has been impressed with the Kangaroos' strength in depth.

Ellis says that Australia could pick two or three different teams and still be competitive in the Four Nations, but still thinks England can topple them in a one-off match and hopes that will be the case at Wigan on Saturday.

Ellis, 28, knows the Australian team as well as any of the England players having played against them for the Tigers this year, and he believes coach Tim Sheens, his club boss in Sydney, has assembled the best of the best.

"It's a worthy Australian team," he said. "The thing with the Australian game is there are that many players to pick from and there is always going to be a difference of opinion.

"You find there's some players who play State of Origin who don't play for Australia and the other way around because the selectors are slightly different.

Teams

"They could probably field two or three teams. What I've found is that every club has two or three superstars in their team and then there's those just underneath who are really good players as well.

"They seem to have a production line at all the clubs which is good to see from a rugby league point of view and I think England will eventually follow suit.

"It's starting to happen. It's a young squad this time around and some of them only made an impression in Super League in this last 12 months."

Ellis has been giving his opinion on the Aussies and will be leaving the preparations to head coach Tony Smith.

"Tony knows pretty much what he wants to do and what he wants from us," he said. "I think sometimes it can detract from your own performance if you get too focused on the opposition.

"I think we all know what we're up against. There's some fantastic players in their side that can do a number on a team and we need to make sure we're ready for them."

Danger

With Smith due to name his team on Thursday, opposite number Sheens thinks Ellis will be one of the biggest threats to his side on Saturday.

"I thought he'd take time to settle in but he didn't, he hit the ground running," said Sheens. "From game one he was strong, he hit hard and stayed out there for 80 minutes.

"He looked like an Aussie playing an Aussie game, he knuckled in and worked hard. We had a good season and he was outstanding.

"It will be interesting to see where Tony uses him. Last year in the World Cup he was replaced regularly during the game but there was only once in our season when he didn't finish the game and that was when he came off with five minutes to go.

"Under our conditions, which were hot, and the hardness of the ground means the game can be physical but he handled it pretty well. You only have to listen to opposition players, who said 'how hard is that Pom kid'."