Sponsored by
Leeds Rhinos: Smith's eyeing up Rhinos clash
For Australia hooker Cameron Smith, tonight's Gillette Four Nations final isn't just a massive game in its own right.
It is also a rehearsal for another huge set-to in three months' time – when he will return to Elland Road with his club side Melbourne Storm.
Smith's final game of 2009 and his first competitive match of 2010 will both be played at the same venue.
After taking on England today, Smith, rated as the world's best hooker, will turn his attentions to February's Carnegie World Club Challenge showdown against Leeds Rhinos.
Smith was missing when Storm lost to Leeds at Elland Road in 2008 – due to the birth of his first child – and he admitted to being "excited" at gaining a first taste of the atmosphere this evening.
"I have always looked forward to coming to England, to play in some big matches," Smith said.
"Playing in front of 40,000 people is going to be a great experience and hopefully we can play a really good game and get a good result.
"We are quite lucky there's going to be four or five Melbourne Storm players playing here a couple of times in a few months.
"When we get back for the World Club Challenge, hopefully this experience will work for us."
Smith got up in the middle of the night to watch TV coverage of the World Club game two years ago and he said, even from 12,000 miles away, the Elland Road buzz was obviously something special.
"Though it wasn't the best of nights – it was raining and blowing a gale – it looked like a great atmosphere," he said.
"The boys said it was really loud and the crowd got right into it. Hopefully it's the same (tonight) and that'll be good (practice) for a few months' time."
Smith is also relishing a close look at England's Leeds Rhinos contingent.
"It is great for both clubs to have good representation for their countries," he said.
"It is well deserved for what they've achieved in both competitions.
"We don't get to see too much of the Super League in Australia now, but it'll be nice to see how the Leeds boys play.
"We have seen a couple of Leeds' games during the year and I think they are a similar side to us – they have had a lot of success over the last few years, they are a side that really grinds out wins and they have got a lot of exciting players as well.
"They can really turn it on on their day. The last time we played them there wasn't much in it, so it's an exciting prospect."
Smith was this week named at hooker in the international team of the year. He will go head to head tonight with Rhinos skipper Kevin Sinfield, selected in the same line-up at loose-forward.
Sinfield has made an eye-catching switch into the dummy-half role for England and Smith said: "He has been great. He has led from the front in all the games.
"He has been a great player for many years now for England. It was a bit of a surprising move to move him to hooker, but he played very well against New Zealand last week.
“His work out of dummy-half was exceptional and he’s one of many blokes we need to look out for.”
Australia go into tonight’s game defending the tournament’s only unbeaten record.
They opened their campaign with a 20-20 draw with New Zealand, before beating England 26-16 and France 42-4.
Smith described the Aussies’ form so far as “a bit up and down” and he admitted there is cause for concern going into today’s game.
“We have played some really good football,” he said. “But there has been times when we haven’t played so great, particularly against England last time.
“We had a very good first half and didn’t score a point in the second half – and allowed the English to score 16.
“That’s a little bit of a concern for us, but hopefully we have left our best performance for last.”
Of England, Smith said: “They are a very good side. They have brought in some exciting young players and they have made the best of their opportunity.”
England: S Briscoe, Fox, Bridge, Shenton, Hall, Tomkins, Eastmond, Morley, Sinfield, Graham, Peacock, Ellis, Burgess.Subs Roby, Crabtree, Westwood Wikin.
Australia: Slater, Hayne, Inglis, Hodges, B Morris, Lockyer, Thurston, Civoniceva, Smith, Hannant, Lewis, Gallen, Hindmarsh. Subs from Shillington, Thaiday, Watmough, Gidley, Jennings, White.
Referee: Leon Williamson (New Zealand).
Kick-off: Tonight, 7.30pm.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Leeds
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -1 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 1 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North west
