While they aren’t claiming a superior halves combination over Australia, England coach Wayne Bennett is upbeat about his in-form pairing of Gareth Widdop and Luke Gale.
The duo have been named to lead the English attack in Friday night’s Rugby League World Cup opener against the Kangaroos in Melbourne.
The playmakers are in career-best form with St George Illawarra captain Widdop finishing third in the Dally M Medal as well as taking the gong as the five-eighth of the year, while Gale won Super League’s Man of Steel award as the competition’s best player.
With veteran Johnathan Thurston out injured, Australia have a new halves combination in Michael Morgan and Cooper Cronk.
“I suppose you don’t get too many advantages with Australia and I’m not counting on that but Luke’s really good and Gareth’s really confident,” Bennett said.
“They get the team around the park, so I’m more than happy with who we’ve got.”
Castleford’s Gale, 29, has had a slow-burning career, making his Test debut just last year.
Bennett said he’d seen growth in the confidence in both his halves after their stand-out seasons.
“It gives them confidence and that rubs off on other people,” Bennett said.
“Luke won the Man of Steel over there and I can see how much more confident he is with the team.”
Meanwhile New Zealand have settled on Kodi Nikorima – and not Te Maire Martin – partnering Shaun Johnson in the halves for Saturday night’s match against Samoa.
Joseph Paulo is named to play in the halves for Samoa, beating out Fa’amanu Brown in the battle to partner former Canterbury and Melbourne playmaker Ben Roberts.
Elsewhere Jarryd Hayne will play five-eighth for Fiji in their tournament opener against the USA on Saturday, with Kevin Naiqama at fullback and Suliasi Vunivalu on the wing.
Regular hooker Robbie Farah will also move to the halves for Lebanon in Sunday’s crunch match against France.
He’ll partner Mitchell Moses, while Canterbury rake Michael Lichaa will wear the No.9 for Brad Fittler’s team.
Cronulla hooker James Segeyaro is a shock omission from Papua New Guinea’s starting side for Saturday’s home clash with Wales.
He’ll come off the bench, with Hunters hooker Wartovo Puara a preferred option to start.
Jack Johns, the son of Newcastle great Matthew, has won the battle for Italy’s No.7 jersey and will play in a spine that includes fullback James Tedesco and five-eighth Terry Campese against Ireland in Cairns on Sunday.
Finally, Tonga will then run out their all-star forward pack in the second game of the Cairns’ double-header against Scotland – including the likes of Andrew Fifita, Jason Taumalolo and Manu Ma’u.
