BBC SPORT | Rugby League | Morley: Series win would cap great year



By Adrian Morley Sydney Roosters forward and BBC Sport Online columnist

It is always a proud moment whenever you represent your country.

Thanks to a string of injuries, I haven't had much chance to do that in recent years.

Now I am fit and raring to go, ready to give it my all against New Zealand at Ewood Park on Saturday.

It would be a huge buzz to be part of a successful Great Britain team

Adrian Morley

To cap what has already been a great year for me with a series victory over the Kiwis would be fantastic.

I don't know what would be the greater achievement, winning the NRL Grand Final with the Sydney Roosters or victory over New Zealand? To be honest, it is hard to compare the two.

Beating the New Zealand Warriors to become NRL champions was something special, something I will never forget.

But to win the forthcoming Test series would be hugely important for rugby league in this country and a massive boost for the international game as a whole.

Forum: You quizzed Adrian Morley

And it would be a huge buzz to be part of a successful Great Britain team.

Everyone is aware just how important this series is.

It gives us a chance to make amends for our record-breaking reverse in Australia earlier this year, the embarrassing 64-10 defeat in Sydney.

Ali Lauiti'iti
Lauiti'iti has great footwork and is deceptively quick
It also gives us the opportunity to lay claim to the title of second-best team in the world.

It will be a hard task defeating the Kiwis. They play an attacking style of rugby and are a threat from all over the park.

And they have a number of outstanding individuals.

Ali Lauiti'iti has already shown that he will be a very real threat to Great Britain.

He is very big, has great footwork and is deceptively quick.

But the Kiwis are not a one-man band by any stretch of the imagination.

Stacey Jones is just as good as Andrew Johns on his day while Stephen Kearney is someone I rate highly.

As back rowers go, I would say he is even better than Australia's Gorden Tallis.

But if you want to be the best, then you have to beat the best - and I am relishing what should be a cracking series of games against the boys in black.


	Links to more Rugby League stories