Another absorbing game, a lesser standard than the first two, but tough and thrilling never the same.
I had written Australia's obituary in my mind by about the 73rd minute, something along the likes of "You just can't keep conceding leads and hoping to run your opponents down, sooner or later you'll come unstuck."
The patience and professionalism shone through again, with a dash of brilliance from our three main attacking weapons, Lockyer, Wing and Kimmorley at the end.
GB were unlucky, they showed enormous courage in defending their line between the 60th and 70th minutes and they deserve enormous credit for that. Unfortunately for them, they again suffered for not playing for the full eighty.
For the winners, I thought Civoniceva was strong. Wing threatened each time he got the ball, Lockyer always looked the man most likely and Darren Smith played like he'd never been away. Ricketson and Fitzgibbon worked like Trojans, we're in danger of taking their contributions for granted, even if Ricko is boring as batshit with the ball in hand. Kimmorley struggled, mixing some good play with some poor options and execution. Buderus was quiet again, he's been so all series. I wonder if that's a reflection of Australia's lack of forward dominance, a testament to England's resurgence in the forwards.
For the Brits, Fielden was strong again, Sculthorpe finally showed something of what he's rated so highly for, Gilmour and Gleeson added penetration, Radlinski had his best game of the series, Long went better than in game 1. Morley had a go but was heavily targetted and his imnpact was minimised.
GB have plenty to build on for the future and should take great encouragement from their performance in this series, despite it being against a much weakened Australian side. they need to unearth some dominant halves, switch Sculthorpe back to lock, a better hooker and one or two more good props. Several of their players would make it int he NRL imo, something I've never thought before.
I had written Australia's obituary in my mind by about the 73rd minute, something along the likes of "You just can't keep conceding leads and hoping to run your opponents down, sooner or later you'll come unstuck."
The patience and professionalism shone through again, with a dash of brilliance from our three main attacking weapons, Lockyer, Wing and Kimmorley at the end.
GB were unlucky, they showed enormous courage in defending their line between the 60th and 70th minutes and they deserve enormous credit for that. Unfortunately for them, they again suffered for not playing for the full eighty.
For the winners, I thought Civoniceva was strong. Wing threatened each time he got the ball, Lockyer always looked the man most likely and Darren Smith played like he'd never been away. Ricketson and Fitzgibbon worked like Trojans, we're in danger of taking their contributions for granted, even if Ricko is boring as batshit with the ball in hand. Kimmorley struggled, mixing some good play with some poor options and execution. Buderus was quiet again, he's been so all series. I wonder if that's a reflection of Australia's lack of forward dominance, a testament to England's resurgence in the forwards.
For the Brits, Fielden was strong again, Sculthorpe finally showed something of what he's rated so highly for, Gilmour and Gleeson added penetration, Radlinski had his best game of the series, Long went better than in game 1. Morley had a go but was heavily targetted and his imnpact was minimised.
GB have plenty to build on for the future and should take great encouragement from their performance in this series, despite it being against a much weakened Australian side. they need to unearth some dominant halves, switch Sculthorpe back to lock, a better hooker and one or two more good props. Several of their players would make it int he NRL imo, something I've never thought before.
