Tryline Watchalong 8

-
This week's watchalong blog comes with a warning...it may bring back painful memories. This game is, without question, the best game of rugby league I have ever seen. It had stunning individual performances, incredible skill and a heart-breaking ending. As I mentioned on Twitter, this was the first time I have watched this game back, even highlights, since it happened.

If you're over it yet, here is our look back at New Zealand vs England, the 2013 Rugby League World Cup Semi Final.

Haka
No rugby league occasion featuring the Kiwis is completed without it!

A great start for England
England struck first, as the two front-rowers combined to send Sean O' Loughlin over for the first try.

Sam Burgess was starting to wreak havoc and England soon an earned a kickable penalty.

A Kiwi Resurgence
New Zealand soon hit back, with a piece of skill from Dean Whare that must be seen to be believed!

And right on the stroke of half time, New Zealand drew level.

The Surge Continues 
New Zealand were in their groove by now and as the second half started, they had England on the ropes.

A penalty then extended the lead to a converted try.

England Won't Quit
This would be the point that other England sides would have faltered, but not this one. Kevin Sinfield especially important with two try assists, to put England ahead once more.


What If?
England then had two big chances to finish the game and secure their place in their first World Cup Final since 1995, but couldn't take them!


The Sucker Punch 
England had one more  set to hold out, but Shaun Johnson's magical footwork struck the fatal, most cruel of blows.

We hope you enjoyed, as far as possible, our reflection on one of the finest matches our sport has seen. If you did, then why not check out our ever-growing watchalong archives?

There will be another watchalong next Saturday at 7:45 on our Twitter page, with a wrap-up blog the next day!

Comments

Post a Comment

Most Read:

The Toxicity of the Match Officials Department

-
This morning, it was confirmed by the RFL that Head of Match Officials since 2016, Steve Ganson, has been suspended pending investigation. Under Ganson's tenure, James Child, Ian Smith, Matt Thomason, George Stokes, Sam Ansell, Phil Bentham, Richard Silverwood, Joe Cobb, Chris Campbell, Steve Presley and Mike Burnett have all left the RFL. Meanwhile, Robert Hicks has stepped down as a full-time referee, moving to a compliance role, Jack Smith stepped down as a full-time referee before returning and Ben Thaler was suspended and later reinstated in mysterious circumstances. Such a high turnover of staff in a department with relatively few staff should raise cause for concern. Especially when many departing staff have commented on their departures in such damning terms. Here are what some have said: James Child The most recently departed match official, James Child, has spoken to Forty-20 Magazine. " What I've always found difficult about refereeing are not the external press...
View full blog

Have London Broncos Broken IMG?

-
I am sorry but I am about to drop the C bomb. Christmas. I know, I know, it's only October but it's coming! The time of year that products are rushed out for consumers. Some of you may find a game under your Christmas tree this year. Let's take a moment to think how it got there. Before any game hits the shelves and is played by a consumer, it is extensively 'play-tested'. This means that developers play these games repeatedly, trying all sorts of different techniques, with the intention of 'breaking' the game; finding an error that renders it flawed. When they do, it is back to the drawing board, the flaw is ironed out and you play test again. A lot of work goes in to games to ensure, to the best extent possible, they are unbreakable. This is a Rugby League blog. So what does this have to do with anything? Well, the sport is set to introduce a new licensing system from 2025 and I wondered whether IMG and the RFL have done the equivalent of play-testing the ...
View full blog

Silence is the loudest noise of all

-
In August 2019, Batley Bulldogs hooker Archie Bruce made his debut for the club in an away defeat against Toulouse. He never returned home. Archie died from asphyxiation (suffocation) after a team night out.  A post-mortem report revealed Archie had consumed alcohol, cocaine and had 'toxic' levels of Tramadol (a strong painkiller) in his system at the time of his death. The levels of Tramadol (a medication only available on prescription), according to an expert at Archie's inquest, was in fact double the level considered toxic and potentially fatal. Archie's inquest was told that Batley Bulldogs players used Tramadol regularly, and illegal drugs including cocaine. One member of the Batley squad told the inquest " Everyone knows [about cocaine use in the squad], you just have to keep it under wraps" . After the inquest, Archie's family called for the RFL and its member clubs to implement a robust code of conduct to ensure a similar tragedy did not occur. Th...
View full blog