Interview: Aussie audience eager to view 'Pom v Pom' at SCG

Over the years there have been plenty of Poms who have tried their luck Down Under.

Many have failed, crumbling under the pressure of the hardened Sydney game, while a few have gone on to earn legendary status.

Castleford's Mal Reilly became a hero at Manly during the 1970s, Ellery Hanley's spells with Balmain and Western Suburbs were much shorter but equally spectacular before, more recently, Adrian Morley won the respect and admiration of both his notoriously tough Australian opponents and their public during six years muscling up at Sydney Roosters

But rarely, if ever, have a couple of Englishmen commanded so much positive attention from their ruthless press corps as this weekend.

Like Reilly, Gareth Ellis is another son of Castleford, who during 18 months with Wests Tigers has carved out a reputation as one of the finest forwards in the world.

Given the manner in which he has eased into their style of play – the hard-running second-row won Wests' player of the year last season, his first since joining from Leeds Rhinos – it came as no surprise they announced this week an extension of his deal by another two years until the end of 2013.

On Sunday morning, he will go up against England team-mate Sam Burgess, who in comparison has played just eight NRL games for South Sydney following his high-profile switch from Bradford Bulls.

However, in the short time since his March debut against Roosters, the strapping forward, who hails from Liversedge, near Dewsbury, has quickly found his feet and lived up to the hype.

So often so critical of our players, the Aussies are loving what this pair are producing, so much so that they are anticipating the clash more than the players themselves billing it 'Pom v Pom'.

"We've done a lot of press this week and they are really building it up," Ellis told the Yorkshire Post. "It's such a novelty for them. For me and Sam, we've played against each other plenty before and this is just another match. But for all the Aussies outside looking in, it's two Poms going up against each other.

"I can understand that. It's not like that in Super League because every English side has five or six Aussies, but here it is different.

"If we weren't playing well nobody would be bothered so it is testament to how we're both performing that they're trying to market the game on the back of that.

"Sam has started really well and he's a big part of the Souths team. They have a pretty formidable forward pack.

"I've spoken to him a few times and he's enjoying the lifestyle off the field here as well.

"It's good to see English players doing well and I'm sure we'll both enjoy it."

The fixture will take place at the famous Sydney Cricket Ground as part of the NRL's Heritage Round, which pits traditional arch-rivals against each other and the clubs certainly have plenty of history.

Ellis, a veteran of many Leeds v Bradford derbies, says he's "picking up" the same vibe about this weekend's affair.

The 29-year-old said: "There's a bitter rivalry there.

"I've done my research and it goes back to 1909 when Balmain (Tigers) and Souths both agreed to boycott the Premiership final only for Souths to turn up, score a try and claim victory.

"We got beat by Souths last year as well. It was memorable for the experience of playing at the SCG – Sam will love that – but we lost to a golden point drop-goal and it proved the difference between us making the play-offs and not."

Burgess, meanwhile, is making massive strides fast. He may not have needed the praise heaped on him by Souths assistant Gordon Tallis – one of Australia's greatest forwards over the last two decades – who reckoned the 21-year-old could be Australia's finest ever import, but he is thriving.

"It was nice for him to say that but I've a long way to go," he said, encouragingly having lost none of his West Yorkshire accent in the five months since he departed these shores.

"I have only played eight games over here. I'm doing some things better but there's plenty to work on.

"The pre-season was a long one and getting that under my belt has helped but my body's feeling pretty strong and I'm happy. It's everything I expected it to be."

One of the English game's leading talents, Burgess was courted by Souths co-owner and Hollywood star Russell Crowe before the NRL club forked out 200,000 to prise the player away from his final year's contract at Odsal.

He concedes the profile he has attained Down Under, where "footy" is the English version of Premier League football, did take him aback.

"When I first got here, learning about the sort of stuff which you had to be wary of doing and not doing was important," he said.

"My mum came to visit for five weeks – she stayed seven due to the volcanic ash – and she was really shocked by the level of media attention everywhere.

"Before the season started they didn't have much to talk about and a lot of the focus was on me but now we're into it there's plenty of other stuff going on.

"I'm enjoying life. I'm living in a nice little area, not too far away from the beach, and it's just what you expected really. It helps we're doing okay. We're in fifth spot. We could be doing better but I'm enjoying the footy.

"Then it's nice to finish training, go down to the beach and have a swim. It's a bit different to what I did after training at Apperley Bridge; I'd never bag England but the lifestyle here does suit me."

Burgess scored twice as Souths hammered Canterbury 38-16 last month and his performances are growing.

"The perception from England about the NRL is it's big, hard and tougher than Super League," he said. "But Super League is a tough game. It is hard over here but if you train hard and work hard you will get rewards."

FLANNAGAN TAKES DIFFERENT ROUTE TO HEAD IN WEST'S DIRECTION

THERE will be a third Englishman involved in Sunday's game between South Sydney and Wests Tigers, one who has taken an entirely alternative journey to the NRL to Sam Burgess and Gareth Ellis.

Mark Flanagan played alongside Burgess in Bradford Bulls' academy side but, while his colleague shot to Super League and international fame, Flanagan never made a first-team appearance. He joined Wigan in 2007 but toiled in the lower grades again until finally making his Super League debut last June.

Impressing in nine further games, the hard-working back-row turned down a new deal at Wigan, deciding instead to move to Sydney with his Australian girlfriend.

Flanagan, 22, secured a minimal 12-month contract with Wests hoping to possibly impress in their Toyota Cup reserve grade and earn an extension.

Remarkably, though, off the bench he has played every NRL game this season, stunning Australians with his progress.

Burgess said: "I'm real happy for Mark. He's backed himself and is doing great.

"Hopefully more English players will do the same."