Aussie league team a mystery to Englishman

It’s hard to wrong foot England centre Kallum Watkins – until you ask him about the new-look Kangaroos squad.

Former Cronulla target Watkins admits he is unfamiliar with many of the names in the squad ahead of Sunday’s Four Nations clash in Melbourne.

And Watkins was just as stumped when asked what to expect from an Australian side reeling from last weekend’s shock 30-12 loss to New Zealand.

“It’s hard to say because they don’t lose a lot do they?” Watkins said at England’s Gold Coast camp, still buzzing from their 32-26 win over Samoa.

The last time a Kangaroos team lost consecutive Tests was against France in 1978 – 13 years before 23-year-old Watkins was born.

Watkins may also not know that England have not beaten Australia since 1995.

And despite being an avid NRL watcher he’s just as rusty on the 11 new faces in the Kangaroos squad, except for one – Aaron Woods.

The Wests Tigers prop lined up against Watkins’ England Academy side as an Australian Schoolboy, the only other time the 23-year-old toured here in 2008.

“The rest (of the new faces) probably not so much but they are in the Australian team so they have a lot of talent and are really strong in their position,” he said.

“They have a lot of players missing and new guys getting used to that set-up so that one game (against New Zealand) could help them push on to be better as a team.”

Watkins is just grateful he won’t be reunited with another Australian Schoolboy opponent – Penrith centre Jamal Idris.

Watkins almost shivered when he recalled lining up against the towering Idris who obviously had not changed much since his junior days.

“Jamal hasn’t gotten any smaller since we played them,” he laughed.

“He was massive, a big fella, a tough challenge.”

He was also well versed on the man he was set to combat this weekend – Sydney Roosters centre Michael Jennings.

“I watched him a few times in the NRL – I watch it quite a bit,” he said.

“He’s very quick, good on his feet and should be a big challenge but that’s what you want as a player, to test yourself at the highest level.”

Linked with the Sharks last year, Watkins has hosed down NRL interest by signing with Leeds until the end of the 2017 season.

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