Hanley says a Great Britain would be a big boost to the game
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Rugby league legend Alex Murphy is urging Great Britain to end 34 years of hurt by beating Australia in the Gillette Tri-Nations final on Saturday.
The Lions have not won a series against the world champions since 1970, and Murphy, who played 27 times for the Lions, said: "We've got to go past the Aussies and get rid of the shadow.
"We've competed with them, we've got to take it onto another level now.
"It's a must-win for the old country. The players have given their all. We just need one more big effort to get past the winning post."
Former Great Britain captain Ellery Hanley believes a win for the home team would be a big boost for the game in this country.
"It would be a good fillip," he said. "The rugby union are doing well at the moment and it would be fantastic if the rugby league could do well as well and snatch this one away from Australia.
"You've got to be realistic and realise the game is going to be tight. It's going to be down to everybody hitting their straps on the day."
Britain will go into the game full of confidence after beating Australia 24-12 at Wigan a fortnight ago.
In fact, the Lions go into the match at Elland Road in Leeds on the back of a three successive victories, having recorded wins over New Zealand either side of their defeat of the Kangaroos.
Murphy says the current Australian side is not the best he has seen but believes they are still a big threat.
"I'm just a little bit concerned that they have under-achieved and, if they suddenly produce it on Saturday, it would undo all our dreams," said Murphy. "It's a real fear.
"Their big-name players, the forwards, have not produced so this is a very important game for them as well as a very important game for us.
"It is in the lap of gods. If you had a big mortgage, you wouldn't risk it.
"I'd love Great Britain to win. The time is right to hand the baton over."
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2004 TRI-NATIONS
LATEST NEWS
Saturday, 13 November 2010
| Australia |
12 - 16
(6 - 6) |
New Zealand |
R |
Tries:
Tate, Slater |
|
Tries:
Kenny-Dowall, Nightingale, Fien |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Goals:
Smith
2 |
|
Goals:
Marshall
2 |
|
Suncorp Stadium |
Saturday, 06 November 2010
| England |
36 - 10
(24 - 0) |
Papua New Guinea |
R |
Tries:
Robinson
2, Clubb
4, Harrison |
|
Tries:
Aizue, Yere |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Goals:
Westwood
3, Widdop |
|
Goals:
Aiye |
|
Eden Park |
| New Zealand |
20 - 34
(10 - 18) |
Australia |
R |
Tries:
Pritchard, Nightingale, Kenny-Dowall |
|
Tries:
Cronk, Morris
2, Tate, Boyd, Lawrence |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Goals:
Marshall
5 |
|
Goals:
Smith
3, Carney
2 |
|
Eden Park |
Sunday, 31 October 2010
| Australia |
34 - 14
(26 - 8) |
England |
R |
Tries:
Lewis
2, Slater, Tate, Tonga, Tuqiri |
|
Tries:
Burgess, Robinson |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Goals:
Smith
5 |
|
Goals:
Westwood
2, Cudjoe |
|
AAMI Park |
Saturday, 30 October 2010
| New Zealand |
76 - 12
(46 - 0) |
Papua New Guinea |
R |
Tries:
Perrett
3, Smith
3, Sa'u
3, Hohaia, Eastwood, Luke, Nightingale, Manu |
|
Tries:
Yere, Nami |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Goals:
Marshall
8, Luke
2 |
|
Goals:
Tongia
2 |
|
International Stadium |
Sunday, 24 October 2010
| Australia |
42 - 0
(26 - 0) |
Papua New Guinea |
R |
Tries:
Slater, Tate, Cronk, Tonga
2, Morris, Smith, Lockyer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Goals:
Smith
5 |
|
|
|
Parramatta Stadium |
Saturday, 23 October 2010
| New Zealand |
24 - 10
(12 - 0) |
England |
R |
Tries:
Sa'u, Hohaia, Kenny-Dowall, Marshall |
|
Tries:
Roby, Widdop |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Goals:
Marshall
4 |
|
Goals:
Widdop |
|
Westpac Stadium |
Saturday, 16 October 2010
| New Zealand Maori |
18 - 18
(0 - 18) |
England |
R |
Tries:
Thompson, Heremaia, Taumata |
|
Tries:
Atkins, S Tomkins, O'Loughlin |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Goals:
Locke
3 |
|
Goals:
Widdop
3 |
|
|
Wednesday, 06 October 2010
| Wales |
6 - 13
(6 - 6) |
Italy |
R |
Tries:
Thomas |
|
Tries:
Caligari, Falcone |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Drop-goals:
Stewart |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Goals:
Reece |
|
Goals:
Mantellato
2 |
|
Racecourse Ground |
Saturday, 12 June 2010
| England |
60 - 6
(34 - 6) |
France |
R |
Tries:
Widdop, Briscoe, S Tomkins
4, Shenton
2, Ellis
2, Bridge |
|
Tries:
Bentley |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Goals:
Sinfield
6, Widdop
2 |
|
Goals:
Mounis |
|
Leigh Sports Village |
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I'm just a little bit concerned that they have under-achieved and, if they suddenly produce it on Saturday, it would undo all our dreams