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| GB star Adrian Morley ![]() Great Britain rugby league star Adrian Morley answers your questions ahead of the Test series against New Zealand. Great Britain forward Morley has enjoyed unprecedented success since moving to Australia's Sydney Roosters, culminating in his side's NRL Grand Final triumph over the New Zealand Warriors. The 25-year-old is back in Britain preparing for the three-Test series against New Zealand, which kicks off on 9 November at Ewood Park. The Lions' preparations have come in for criticism, and coach David Waite has injury worries over several key players. Daniel Hornby, Wales Well done Adrian - it's really nice to see you doing well down under for the Roosters. Do you think it would benefit the British squad if more of the team went out to play in the NRL? I think it would. New Zealand have shone over the past few years, and it seems that the more players they have in the NRL the better they do internationally. So I think it would benefit Great Britain, but players get more money in Super League, and if they went over there they'd probably have to take a pay cut. But as I've said, it would benefit the GB team, so hopefully we'll get a few more players down there. Ben Day, Leeds What are the major differences between the conditioning of players and the resources available in the NRL and Super League? The conditioning methods are exactly the same, but the main difference is that the pre-season in Australia is during the summer - meaning we get all the great grounds to train on. The British pre-season is in the middle of winter, which can make it hard to find good pitches to train on. But the techniques are the same in terms of weights and running, so the only difference is the weather. Adam Turner, UK Are Great Britain at a disadvantage because New Zealand will have played five games in the build-up to the first Test and GB have played none? New Zealand are probably better prepared, because they've been together for a month or so and they have played that many games. It was an option to play a warm-up game, but David Waite (GB coach) looked at how many games the boys had played (some of them have played over 40) and thought it would be unfair to make them play again. So they probably do have a slight advantage, but we've just had a week away in Marbella, which served its purpose, so hopefully we won't be too far behind. Graham Parks, UK How important is it psychologically that you bounce back immediately after the defeat in Sydney? I think it's vital. Talking to all the players, they can't wait to pull on the Great Britain jersey and try and put right what went wrong in Sydney. That was a freakish result really. We were terrible and Australia were on fire, so I don't people should read too much into that. The boys are hurting from that and they can't wait to put it right, so I think you'll see some good performances from them in the first Test. Mike, Oldham, Lancs After the humiliation in Sydney and the continued dominance of foreign players in Super League, do you think Britain can seriously challenge Australia and New Zealand for the right to be called best in the world? I think so, but it will take a lot of hard work as we've probably slipped behind New Zealand to third in the rankings. But we've got the squad and the coaching skills, so it will probably just take a lot of hard work. On our day, I seriously believe that our squad of players can match both New Zealand and Australia - it's just a case of getting the best ones out there and preparing right. As I've said, the NRL is a better competition, so they've got an advantage there, but on our day I think we can match them. Craig McDermott, Manchester, UK From watching your games in the NRL you seem to have gained yards of pace. What would you say you have gained most from playing down under? I was injured for much of the time, and it was only later on in the season that I came good. I'd like to think I've gained some pace, but I'm not sure that's the case. I think I've picked up a greater tactical awareness playing in Australia, but I think my speed is the same. Richard Scott, Australia Many New Zealand players play in the NRL. Are New Zealand's players that much fitter than their UK counterparts because the NRL is a tougher league? Or is it simply a mental advantage? I think so. As far as fitness goes, I was as fit playing for Leeds as I am in Australia, but I do think the Aussies have a mental edge over us. They're a bit like robots really - they just play for the full 80 minutes, they don't panic and they do everything right. In the British game I think they tend to make rash decisions sometimes. Stuart Bennett, UK How many of the current GB Test squad would make the Australian equivalent? That's not for me to say really, as I don't pick the team. I think you'd get half a dozen in there at least. Kieron Cunningham was the only GB player named in the squad last year - do you think there is a case for a few others such as Paul Sculthorpe? I think Paul Sculthorpe, Andy Farrell, Stuart Fielden, Barrie McDermott and Keith Senior could all get a run. Kate, England, UK If you get selected to play in the second-row, who would you like to see as your second-row partner? Do you think Andrew Farrell should move to second-row from loose-forward? Will it benefit the team and in what way? Again, that's up to the coach. I don't mind who I partner, but there are some great players in the squad at the moment. I wouldn't mind seeing Barrie McDermott and Terry O'Connor in the front row with Stuart Fielden as my second-row partner. We're four big lads who can play front row or back-row, so I think that could be a good combination - with Farrell at loose-forward and Paul Sculthorpe at stand-off. It's up to the coach, but I rate Stuart Fielding as a player and think he could play front-row or back-row. Jonathan, England Well done on winning the NRL. Do the think the Aussie and English authorities should get together to decide on some set rules? I think it's a question of refereeing, which seems to be slightly different. It is different, and there are different interpretations. When you play international rugby league there's a difference of opinion, so something needs to be done. I think everything about the game should be the same in both competitions to avoid all these problems in Test matches. Alistair Burrows, Atherton, England If you were to come back to Great Britain would you play for Leeds again, or would you prefer to try another team? After you've finished playing will you go into coaching? If and when I do come back I'd probably look at Leeds first, because I've got a lot of fond memories there. But I never say never, and I'm not saying that will be the be all and end all. I'll probably have look round first, but Leeds would be my preferred club. Coaching isn't something I'm looking at just now, and I don't think I want to do it at the moment. But again, I never rule anything out. I'm still only 25, so over the next few years I might get the urge to coach, but not at this stage. |
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