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World Cup breakfast briefing
ENGLAND coach Tony Smith has met representatives of the World Cup match officials group to iron out the problematic area of how referees will police the play the ball during the tournament.
Click here to read about England's squad selection for the opening game.
Click here to see Papua New Guinea's squad selection.
Click here to read John Ledger's hilarious World Cup blog.
Smith, who is not allowed to speak directly to tomorrow's referee Shayne Hayne without Papua New Guinea coach Adrian Lam being present, was accompanied by Stuart Cummings, the RFL's director of match officials.
Cummings will be the match commissioner in Townsville tomorrow and although no official comment was made, the two men are said to be happy with the outcome of their talks.
The play-the-ball is much faster and tidier in Super League than it is in the NRL, which former Leeds, Sydney Roosters and North Queensland Cowboys coach Graham Murray this week described as being like "wrestle mania."
Australia's coach Ricky Stuart is acutely aware that the tournament favourites stand to lose a big advantage if Cummings and Smith get their way told the Australian newspaper he was keen to keep some element of wrestling.
"I just hope the game doesn't turn into a physical game of touch," said Stuart.
"I just want to make sure we actually get into a wrestle ... we need confrontation at the ruck and that is what a Test match is all about.
"There will be a difference (between referee interpretations). That is the nature of the beast. The referees from England will be a little bit different to the referees from Australia.
"That is the style of game they're used to and it's very hard to change your game immediately. I'm sure Mick Stone has done a lot of work there to get them as close as they can to all work similar."
Henderson slams Castleford
SCOTLAND hooker Ian Henderson is unlikely to be welcomed back to Castleford after an outspoken attack on the West Yorkshire town and its inhabitants.
Henderson, who joined New Zealand Warriors last season after two successful years with Bradford Bulls, lived in Castleford briefly with his brother Andrew, who captained the Tigers.
The 25-year-old clearly does not look back on his time in Castleford with happy memories from his comments in an Australian newspaper.
Asked where was the worst place he ever lived Henderson said: "A place in England called Castleford, in Yorkshire, up north in the middle of the country. You've got no idea.
'I think that and a town next to it called Pontefract. They rate in the worst towns to live in England, I've heard it rumoured. It's dull, always grey."
Of the good folk of Castleford Henderson said: "They've got rotten teeth, need a bath, run around drinking, have big beer bellies and just watch the footie. For someone coming from the coast and moving there it just kills you."
Delay for Tonga
TONGA face a weekend of disruption as they prepare for their opening World Cup match against Ireland after the New South Wales Supreme Court delayed a decision on the eligibility of Fuifui Moimoi and Taniela Tuiaki.
The players have instigated legal action after World Cup organisers banned them from representing Tonga because they represented New Zealand in 2007.
Players are only able to transfer teams once ever two years.
Lowe blasts golden oldies
FORMER Wigan and New Zealand coach Graeme Lowe has ruffled Australia's feathers by stating that props Petero Civoniceva and Steve Price are a pair of "has beens."
Price is 34 and Civoniceva 32 and Lowe has accused the Australian Rugby League of lacking imagination in their selection policy for the World Cup.
"Young players over there in Australia must be saying 'What do I have to do?'" said Lowe. The two have been fantastic performers and I'm not being disrespectful but they are showing signs that the miles are starting to clock up."
Both props are in the Australia team which takes on New Zealand immediately after the opening ceremony in Sydney on Sunday night.
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Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 8 C to 21 C
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