Samoa head coach Ben Gardiner has dismissed ideas that the England rugby league team will be looking for “revenge” in their upcoming test series.
England take on Samoa in a two-game series this Autumn, with games in Wigan and Leeds on the horizon this week and the next.
The last time these sides met was in the most recent World Cup, where they would actually face off twice. England opened up the tournament with a huge 60-6 win over Samoa but just a few short weeks later, Samoa beat England in their home tournament at the semi-final stage, thanks to a drop goal in golden point extra-time, setting up a date with eventual winners Australia in the final.
There has been a lot of talk going into these fixtures that England will be heading into the game hoping for revenge after that chastening defeat, specifically due to the fact it came so close in time to that 60-6 win.
Samoa head coach talks “revenge” suggestions ahead of England rugby league series
Credit: Andrew Fosker/Shutterstock
Speaking to League Express, he explained that he saw England as a tough test, saying: “England have got a really strong team.
“You look across it and they’ve got a number of guys from the Super League Grand Final and they’ve got a number of guys there from the NRL final series. They’ve got guys that are fit and they’ve just come off good seasons.
“They haven’t had a long layoff. So those are guys that are going to be ready to go.”
Gardiner also dismissed the idea that England will see it as a chance for revenge, saying: “Our boys are hoping to see a lot of people at the games, but the revenge thing I’m not real sure about that.
“Everything we’re doing is looking forward to World Cup 2026, so we’re not looking backwards. If other people want to look backwards, that’s their choice.”
On the theme of looking forward to 2026, a young England side picked against France showcased some of the players that could be in contention for a spot at that World Cup. These tougher tests against Samoa will be a stronger proving ground for those players and it could be the case that some veterans are trying to use these games as a platform to fend off the rising youngsters.
One such youngster is Junior Nsemba who has earned his first England call-up and will undoubtedly be breathing down the neck of veterans such as John Bateman and Ben Currie, with all three named to the 24-man squad.
