Roby - Great team spirit

Roby: everybody excited

It's vital this year that we've got a really good team spirit. With a good blend of players from different teams, we've got that and everybody is enjoying each other's company.

James Roby
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St Helens hooker James Roby insists England's team spirit could not be stronger ahead of Saturday's Gillette Four Nations clash with Australia.

A split between players from Grand Final rivals Leeds and Saints was cited as one of the reasons for England's poor showing in the World Cup, but Roby reckons the mood in the camp this year could not be better.

"There's a great team spirit," he said. "Training has been really good and intense and everybody seems to be having fun.

"We're having a good laugh. A lot of the lads knew each other from the mid-season Test against France and there is a good banter going on.

"It's vital this year that we've got a really good team spirit. With a good blend of players from different teams, we've got that and everybody is enjoying each other's company.

"If we turn up on the day and play like we've practised, we're capable of beating anyone. There is no reason why we can't go on and win this tournament."

Roby is confident England can turn the tables on the Kangaroos following their record 52-4 rout in Melbourne just 12 months ago and believes they can take encouragement from their tournament-opening 34-12 win over France.

An England victory would guarantee the hosts a place in the final at Elland Road on November 14.

"The disappointing thing last year was that we didn't show what we were capable of," he said. "We let ourselves down as well as everybody else but hopefully we'll turn that around on Saturday.

Improve

"Coming off the back of the win over France, there are a lot of things we can improve on but everyone knows that and we're taking that into account.

"No disrespect to France, but when you play Australia it's one of the biggest games you'll play in your career and everybody is getting excited."

Roby will go head-to-head with Melbourne Storm hooker Cameron Smith, who scored the Kangaroos' equalising try in their 20-20 draw with New Zealand last week.

"I think he's a brilliant player," Roby added. "I don't watch too much of the NRL but every time I do see him he's the stand-out player.

"He's a very good organiser, has a good kicking game and is a great tackler. He's got a great all-round game and I rate him very highly as a hooker and fellow professional."