Ellis ready to rock

Gareth Ellis is in contention to return to the England side for Saturday’s Gillette Four Nations final clash against Australia at Elland Road (England 7/2, draw 25/1, Australia 2/9 – bet365 Match Result).

The second rower missed last weekend’s win over New Zealand with a back problem but he has now recovered to take his place in a 21-man squad which will be cut by four in due course.

McNamara has also named Garreth Carvell is his squad after the Warrington prop replaced Ellis last week in the only change during the tournament to date.

Huddersfield centre Leroy Cudjoe, Rhinos winger Ben Jones-Bishop and hooker Michael McIlorum of Wigan are the three players omitted from the 24-man squad.

The Kangaroos are the 1/5 favourites to win the Four Nations, with England available at 10/3 to pull off a shock win in West Yorkshire.

England: S Tomkins (Wigan), R Hall (Leeds), J Reed (Brisbane), K Yeaman (Hull), T Briscoe (Hull), K Sinfield (Leeds), R Chase (Castleford), D McGuire (Leeds), G Widdop (Melbourne), J Graham (St Helens), G Carvell (Warrington), J Roby (St Helens), J Peacock (Leeds, capt), A Morley (Warrington), R Bailey (Leeds), J Wilkin (St Helens), B Westwood (Warrington), G Ellis (Wests Tigers), C Heighington (Wests Tigers), J Jones-Buchanan (Leeds), C Ablett (Leeds).

England expect Ellis return

Wests Tigers forward Gareth Ellis is expected to feature for England in their Four Nations showdown with Australia on Saturday (England 7/2, draw 25/1, Australia 2/9 – 80 minutes bet365).

The powerful second-rower missed his side’s impressive 28-6 victory over New Zealand at the KC Stadium last weekend with a back injury.

Ellis sustained the problem during England’s 36-20 defeat at the hands of the Kangaroos at Wembley but is expected to be back in the thick of the action for their next encounter at Elland Road on Saturday.

England(10/3 Four Nations outright with bet365) head coach Steve McNamara is confident the 30-year-old will make a return to the side ahead of the crucial game against the Australians.

He said: “Gareth was very close to being fit and I would be surprised if he wasn’t available this week.”

As for Australia they will be without star full-back Billy Slater, who also suffered an injury at Wembley, but Darren Lockyer is set for his return after being rested for the comprehensive victory over Wales.

The Australian legend is set to make his final appearance at Elland Road before retiring from rugby league after a long and successful career.

Leuluai – Tomkins can hurt Kangaroos

New Zealand’s Thomas Leuluai has backed his Wigan team-mate Sam Tomkins to help England see off Australia in the Four Nations final on Saturday (England 7/2, Tie 25/1, Australia 2/9 – Match Betting with bet365).

Leuluai was impressed with the way England performed in eliminating his side from the competition with their 28-6 victory in Hull over the weekend.

However, Steve McNamara’s side have already been defeated by Australia so far in this year’s competition when they went down 36-20 at Wembley.

The Kangaroos remain unbeaten, having easily dispatched Wales with 10 tries in the final group game at the Racecourse Ground on Sunday.

Despite Australia’s dominance on this year’s competition, Leuluai believes England (11/8 to score the first try in the Four Nations final with bet365) are capable of beating Tim Sheen’s side if they repeat their display against the Kiwis.

“If they play like that and complete the sets like they did, they definitely have a chance of winning,” he said. “They’ve got a great forward pack who dominated and, if they do that again, they’ve got a big chance.”

Leuluai felt Tomkins was outstanding against New Zealand and believes he is the player capable of hurting Australia the most.

“He’s a special player,” he added. “I found out. I’m glad he’s on my side.

“If England’s pack dominate like that [against Australia], Sam’s going to have the time and space. I’m definitely going for England.”

The Four Nations final will take place from Elland Road on Saturday with Australia firm favourites to pick up the trophy.

Leuluai backing Tomkins and England

New Zealand international Thomas Leuluai believes England (4/1 Four Nations outright with bet365) have what it takes to defeat Australia in next Saturday’s Four Nations final at Elland Road.

The Wigan hooker was part of the Kiwi side that lost 28-6 to Steve McNamara’s team at the KC Stadium in Hull on Saturday and feels a repeat performance from the home side could see them defeat the Australians.

“I’m definitely going for England,” he said. “If they play like that and complete the sets like they did, they definitely have a chance of winning.

“They’ve got a great forward pack who dominated and, if they do that again, they’ve got a big chance.”

Tim Sheen’s side have cruised through the tournament so-far and comfortably beat England at Wembley last week. However, many believed the Australians benefitted from a number of debatable calls from the referee.

And with a number of key individuals performing in the showdown against the Kiwis, Leuluai feels England are now ready to take on the Kangaroos and win.

Leuluai’s Wigan team-mate Sam Tomkins was one of these star players to perform on the night and the hooker feels the full-back could hold the key to any possible success for England, not just next Saturday, but in future tournaments (England 15/2 World Cup outright with bet365).

“He’s a special player. I suppose I found out that I’m glad he’s on my side and I’m not playing against him. He was pretty hard to handle.”

Kangaroos wary of Wales

Australia head-coach Tim Sheens has insisted his side have prepared properly for their Four Nations clash with Wales in Wrexham on Sunday, despite already qualifying for the final (Wales 40/1, draw 66/1, Australia 1/500 with bet365).

The Kangaroos booked their place in the final of the competition following victories over New Zealand and England (9/1 Four Nations outright with bet365).

Now the tournament favourites take on Wales, who are yet to win a game in the Four Nations after heavy defeats to the hosts and the Kiwis, as they struggle to compete with the big three rugby league countries.

Despite being heavy favourites, Sheens insists his side have done their homework ahead of their clash with the Welsh and has highlighted Warrington Wolves star Lee Briers as their potential danger man.

He said: “I’ve watched their games. I watched the England game live.

“They’ve got a good kicking game with Briers and their forwards are willing. They’ve a little bit of speed in the backs.”

Heighington highlights NZ danger

Chris Heighington has warned his team-mates that Benji Marshall is the man the most likely to end England’s chances of reaching the Four Nations final when they take on New Zealand on Saturday (England 5/4, Tie 20/1, New Zealand 8/11 Match Betting with bet365).

It is all to play for at Wembley with both sides on two points after beating Wales and losing to Australia, while the points difference is identical at 22.

Which ever side wins on Saturday will go on to play the Kangaroos in the final on November 19th at Elland Road and Heighington is fully aware of the biggest threat to England – his Wests Tiger team-mate Marshall (13/8 Anytime Tryscorer with bet365).

“He’s a star obviously and we’ll be trying to minimise his impact in the game,” Heighington said.

“He’s pretty off-the-cuff and hard to read – even at training, where he’s got a lot of trick plays.

“I don’t think you can cut him fully out but, if you can slow their forwards up, it takes a bit out of his game. If we can do that, we’ve a chance of winning.”

England, who lost 36-20 to Australia last weekend, are still awaiting news on Jamie Peacock, James Graham and Gareth Ellis, who are doubtful after picking up injuries against the Kangaroos.

Ellis aiming to close gap

England (13/2 Four Nations Outright with bet365) second rower Gareth Ellis believes his side can close the gap on the major forces in rugby league, with Australia and New Zealand the two sides to beat on the international stage.

The Wests Tigers forward has been a mainstay in the national side for a number of years and has seen progress since making his debut.

In a much anticipated game between the two giants, the Kangaroos and the Kiwis will get the Four Nations tournament off and running this year with their clash on Friday night.

The game will act as a benchmark for England who get their campaign underway when they take on Wales on Saturday at Leigh Sports Village (England 1/50, draw 50/1, Wales 20/1 with bet365).

Ellis is confident the quality in the England squad means the team will be able to test the big two in the Four Nations this year.

He said: “We are ranked third in the league but I’m not sure the teams above us will be doing as much as we are.

“I think if England stick at it for long enough that gap will get smaller and in the long run we will catch them up.”

Peacock guards against complacency

Jamie Peacock has warned his England team-mates they must get themselves mentally right for Friday’s opening Gillette Four Nations game against 150/1 tournament outsiders Wales at Leigh.

Iestyn Harris’ side warmed up for their debut with a 30-6 win over Ireland in Neath on Saturday but take on England without Crusaders’ Wigan-bound centre Gareth Thomas because of personal reasons in a huge blow to their preparations for the event proper.

Wales are taking part in the Gillette Four Nations thanks to winning the 2010 European Cup and can count on the likes of seasoned Warrington Wolves campaigner Lee Briers to pull the strings.

The chance to upset Steve McNamara’s troops will be a huge incentive for the Welsh and captain Peacock is not expecting a cakewalk.

“I’m sure Iestyn will have them playing well,” Peacock said at the tournament launch at Elland Road, the venue for the November 19 final.

“They’ve got some crafty players with the likes of Lee Briers and they will be pretty fired up.

“They will present a different challenge to that of the Aussies and Kiwis, but a difficult one nevertheless. I’m sure they will want to raise their game.”

Holders New Zealand get the tournament under way on Friday night when they meet Australia at Warrington’s Halliwell Jones Stadium (Australia 1/7, draw 33/1, New Zealand 9/2 – 80 Minutes with bet365).

Kiwis tipping England for impact

New Zealand (3/1 Four Nations outright with bet365) coach Stephen Kearney believes England could be the surprise package in the upcoming Four Nations due to their new found strength in depth.

Steve McNamara’s squad has improved tenfold in the last year. This is mainly due to a number of Australian-based players such as Jack Reed and Chris Heighington making themselves available for the side, as well as last season’s Man of Steel Rangi Chase qualifying for the team on residency grounds.

Kearney, who formally played for Hull FC in the Super League, feels England (6/1 Four Nations outright with bet365) could pose a major threat to his side as they look to defend the title they won on home soil last year.

“The last two times over here weren’t too successful for us,” he said. “The side England has put together is probably the strongest I have seen for quite some time.”

The coach’s sentiments were echoed by his captain Benji Marshall who also predicted an impact from the home nation. Marshall is seen as one of the game’s best players and believes the introduction of the likes of Chase to the England ranks could cause him and his teammates some major headaches.

“England will be very dangerous. They’re really growing as a side and have a lot of strike power in their backs,” he said.

McLennan makes his cut

Brian McLennan has finalised his 18-man Exiles squad to face England in the inaugural Super League Origin match at Headingley on Friday (Exiles 8/13 – 80 minutes betting).

The Kiwi coach had previously selected a 22 man party made-up of players from both Australia and New Zealand ahead of the match and after a series of fan votes and coach selections, the squad has now been whittled down to 18.

The unlucky four to miss out are Leeds full-back Brent Webb, Catalan forward Steve Menzies, Warrington half-back Michael Monaghan and St Helens forward Josh Perry.

Perry and Monaghan fall foul to the rule that only three players from each club can be included in the squad,while Menzies is still on the way back from injury and Brett Hodgson has been chosen ahead of Webb at full-back.

England coach Steve McNamara is expected to play what he believes to be his strongest available line-up an is thought to be approaching the match as if it were a test match ahead of the Four Nations in the Autumn (England 7/1 – series winner).

McClennan says he is also taking the match extremely seriously and his side will be going out for the win.

“There is a real buzz about the camp and the players are looking forward to training hard this week, understanding our combinations and the way we want them to play. By Friday we will be ready for the match and giving it our all to win.”