Exiles are ideal test for World Cup, says Sinfield

The Leeds Rhinos stand-off will lead the national side once more when they tackle the cream of Super League’s overseas players at Warrington tomorrow night.

The International Origin concept, now in its third year, has certainly improved the standard of opposition England encounter after replacing the much maligned mid-season French fixture.

The Exiles won the inaugural game in 2011, beating England in the last minute at Headingley, and it finished one apiece last summer when the series was extended to two matches.

England have been in camp since Sunday evening preparing for this next encounter and Sinfield – Golden Boot winner as the world’s finest player – said: “Friday is big for a number of reasons.

“These camps have been fantastic but you get so much out of the games when you play together.

“It gives us more footage to look through for the World Cup squad further down the track.

“It gives everyone who is playing a chance to stake a claim.

“These Exiles games can be Test- match standard. They’re a huge challenge for us and, when you look, they are a team of giants.

“The biggest compliment I could give the game is that it is like playing Australia or New Zealand. It’s that tough and challenging.

“I think the ball will be in play for big minutes compared to normal Super League games and you’ll see the penalty count won’t be anywhere near as high. It is a good test for us.”

The format has reverted to a one-off fixture in 2013 after the intensity subsided in the second game last year with a series of pull-outs and England coach Steve McNamara fielding a more experimental squad that was easily beaten at Huddersfield.

The initial hope was the Exiles concept could evolve into a three-match event similar to the revered State of Origin which pits New South Wales against Queensland and generates the sort of testing environment that routinely turns Australia into world champions.

“In an ideal world, you would have a three-game series but because of fixture pile-ups etcetera it is difficult to fit in.

“Unless we did what they do in Australia and have a stand-alone series. I would like to see it progress to something like that.”

Sinfield, 32, admits he was grateful his club side finally ended their long losing streak when the champions defeated Castleford Tigers last Friday, giving their five-man England contingent a welcome boost heading into the International Origin.

“It would have been extremely difficult coming here had we lost five,” he conceded. “But we had a joke the other day that every time we come into an England camp or an Exile fixture, for some reason Leeds’ form takes a dip. I don’t like it but we have got to get on with it. Thankfully, we are coming in on the back of a win.

“Leeds is really important to us and to get our form right there helps us gets in these squads. But once you come here you have got to forget about the club and fully concentrate on what we are trying to do. Otherwise we are letting ourselves down and each other and we will get burned on Friday.

“We can start worrying about Leeds at 11pm on Friday night.”

He has high praise for McNamara, the former Bradford Bulls coach who has put in place so many key tools for the national since being appointed three years ago, including attaining their plush Loughborough University training facilities.

“Steve’s done a fantastic job and he has been able to cherry-pick some of the best staff that you will find in any sport from around the world,” added Sinfield, who was made captain last autumn ahead of their victorious triangular tournament with Wales and France.

“The backroom staff, the medical staff are right at the top of their fields. When you get all those things in place, the players do improve and everything improves as part of it.

“Steve also showed a lot of faith in the group and where we are going. He has been willing to stick his neck on the block to try and force through some of these camps.

“He makes sure when we are here we are here for a reason rather than just being together. He has been very smart in how he has put it together.”

That smartness has to be replicated on the pitch as England lface an impressive Exiles squad.