I’m not sure you know. They’ll always be favourites but if we had a three match series over here with them at the moment, I don’t think we’re that far behind. I cannot remember a time where we’ve been able to pick 6 quality halfbacks in a squad and not know which two will start. I also don’t remember a time that our squad looks as strong as it does even though top class players like Sam Burgess, Sean O’Loughlin, Tommy Makinson etc have had to pull out.

We’ve an Ashes series scheduled for next season. I’d love to think they’ll be played on cold November nights and even though the Aussies always have class coming through, they may just feel the retirements of the likes of Slater, Thurston, Cronk and Smith more than we’d imagine. Clearly Tedesco, Keary, Cherry-Evans and Cook are no mugs but are they up to that level or do they hold that same fear factor? I’m not sure they do. We’ve said it all before mind.

Yep - Darren Lockyer retiring was once meant to be the start of our glory years . . . . .

We have. And we’ve also said exactly what I’m about to say too; we are getting closer to Australia, I’d even argue in the forwards we’re streets ahead and have been for quite some time.

Yes, and there were those on here bemoaning our purchasing of players, which has been far from perfect, and saying we should be more like Leeds.

I think the Australians will get weaker over time due to the amount of Polynesians playing in the juniors and reserve grades who will pick New Zealand or one of the Island nations over Australia.

South Sea Islanders have been playing in the NRL and their children born in Australia will elect to play for the Kangaroos.
Some now do and others play for their island of Origin. The numbers playing Rugby League in Aus is so massive that I can't see them becoming weaker anytime in the near future.

How on earth is Jackson Hastings British? answers on a postcard

Grandmother........ And someone in his father's line is obviously from Hastings..