England RL miles behind Australia: Hanley

[Farmduck]

Former champion Great Britain rugby league star Ellery Hanley admits he can't envisage England surpassing Australia on the international stage in his lifetime.

In a remarkable appraisal of the state of the English Super League, the 51-year-old savaged the quality of the domestic game in England and said until it was up to scratch the national team would continue to fail against Australia.

Hanley, who earned 36 caps for Great Britain and also spent two years as coach of the national team, acknowledges there are talented players in the current crop of English stars.

But he believes the disparity in class between the top and bottom sides of the Super League will always hold England back.

"Well they won't (surpass Australia), I don't think that will happen in my lifetime anyway," Hanley said on Friday.

"I say this with respect to Great Britain (but) the Super League, as much as you have Stevo (commentator Mike Stephenson) and those guys calling the game saying it's the greatest game and greatest contest - it's not.

"The truth is it isn't. Because they don't have enough strong individual teams there.

"There's only four teams in the competition who will win the trophies at the end of the season.

"And all the rest just juggle positions basically and from time to time one of the teams below outside the top four will beat the top side, but that's only now and again."

Hanley says Australia and New Zealand will remain on top in the Four Nations and World Cup tournaments because their players are largely drawn from the NRL - which he describes as "a million miles" ahead of the Super League.

"Until they create a situation where all the teams in the competition in the Super League are viable in terms of competing against one another, they'll be a long way behind Australia," he continued.

"In Australia they play with intensity. Every single game is intense and the level is just so far ahead of England.

"... It's the best league in the world by a million miles. When you compare it with Super League, there is no comparison. None whatsoever."

[The Swede]

Too true, Mr. Hanley. Too true.

[Cheese]

bang on.

[HKR AWAY DAYS]

He is right, but this is something that has been said many times before.

We always say, 'find a solution' but nobody actually comes up with one.

Why? Because we need investment and there isn't a platform for that.

[drsrhino]

Hardly a revelation ellery!

Its one of those "no shit, sherlock!" moments.

[The Swede]

(06-15-2012 09:56 AM)HKR AWAY DAYS Wrote:  He is right, but this is something that has been said many times before.

We always say, 'find a solution' but nobody actually comes up with one.

Why? Because we need investment and there isn't a platform for that.

We need more than investment mate. At least more than financial investment. We need a group of executives who actually know what the f*ck they're talking about and what they're doing. We need them to come up with the ideas required to invest in the long-term salvation and growth of our game and our players, and we need a competent coach who's ideologies expand beyond the quite sickening and bloody annoying notion of 'I'm a Kiwi, but New Zealand can't be arsed with me, so give me the number 7 shirt, eh?'

[whotobeA]

There are a number of factors imo & i'm not sure that just the lack of SL competition is the greatest reason. The first & biggest factor for me is the pool of players & massive grass root system they have. Said a million times but SL clubs rather buy decent imports than put extra in to the youth.

With similar coaching systems, facilities & conditions for our players this could well be a good start to matching them but its much bigger business over there, our sponsor is diggerland ffs! I personally think we could compete with them squad v squad in the next few yrs but obviously they could send 3 squads as good as ours.

[HKR AWAY DAYS]

(06-15-2012 10:59 AM)Saint Until I Die Wrote:  

(06-15-2012 09:56 AM)HKR AWAY DAYS Wrote:  He is right, but this is something that has been said many times before.

We always say, 'find a solution' but nobody actually comes up with one.

Why? Because we need investment and there isn't a platform for that.

We need more than investment mate. At least more than financial investment. We need a group of executives who actually know what the f*ck they're talking about and what they're doing.

One word: David Gallop...!!

[The Swede]

(06-15-2012 12:23 PM)HKR AWAY DAYS Wrote:  

(06-15-2012 10:59 AM)Saint Until I Die Wrote:  

(06-15-2012 09:56 AM)HKR AWAY DAYS Wrote:  He is right, but this is something that has been said many times before.

We always say, 'find a solution' but nobody actually comes up with one.

Why? Because we need investment and there isn't a platform for that.

We need more than investment mate. At least more than financial investment. We need a group of executives who actually know what the f*ck they're talking about and what they're doing.

One word: David Gallop...!!

What of him?

[HKR AWAY DAYS]

Get him involved. He'd be perfect for it!