League: Longshot label fair' to England forward

England second-rower Gareth Ellis. Photo / Getty Images

England are longshots for the upcoming Four Nations and, rather than take affront, Gareth Ellis feels that's fair.

It seems he thinks most things are fair. Ellis is a genial individual who clearly thinks about the game and what he says and, when he learns England ($12) are rated third favourites behind Australia ($1.32) and New Zealand ($3.40) he agrees.

"I don't think England gets that much respect from the other nations but we bring it on ourselves," he says. "We haven't had much success over the last 20 years so we can't argue with that.

"Australia have been the dominant force and New Zealand have overcome them a couple of times. But we have a great opportunity to come out here and do something special. It's going to be difficult, there's a lot of travel, but it's exciting.

"We have a good group of players here who can do something, really do something, and be remembered in history."

If they are to achieve that, Ellis will surely have played a leading role.

The 29-year-old is arguably the world's best second-rower - he was in both the 2008 and 2009 world team of the year and has won the Wests Tigers Player of the Year title over the past two seasons - and has proved himself in both the UK Super League and NRL.

His Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens, who is also coach of Australia, said of Ellis: "In my time here, dollar-for-dollar, he's been the best buy this club has had."

Ellis combines equal measures of power and creativity. He can knock a runner down like he's playing against children and then offload in the tackle using his long arms. England might not get much respect, but as a player Ellis demands it.

He might not have won such universal accolades if he had remained in England instead of joining the Tigers in 2009.

"It's made me more confident both on and off the field," he says of his move to Australia. "It's made me step out of my comfort zone. I nearly started from scratch. I was surrounded by Australians and a few New Zealanders and I had to make my own way.

"I definitely think I have improved as a player. I think it's brought the best out of me. The challenge of the NRL is playing well week in, week out. You can't afford to have that off-game or you get caught out and that's brought the best out of me, that physical and mental side of things.

"I could have stayed at Leeds where I was happy and played out my career there, thank you very much. I just thought at the age I was at, 27, if I didn't do it then I would never do it.

"It's nice to know I have put myself out there and done well. Even in the back of my mind, as much as I tried to keep it out, I always thought, 'well, if I don't like it or don't do well, I can just go home'. That was always my out-clause.

"To come over here and fit in and do pretty well, I know I made the right decision."

Ellis will round out a gritty English pack led by Adrian Morley and Sam Burgess, both well experienced in the NRL.

Some have questioned the quality of their backline, especially in the key areas of halfback, five-eighth and fullback, as well as genuine belief they can actually topple both the Kiwis and Kangaroos.

In the past Ellis admits to feeling in awe of particularly his Australian opponents, which meant they had little chance of winning.

"It's certainly done me a world of good playing out here [in the NRL] and playing against the guys we will meet in this competition," he says. "There is a bit of a psychological barrier in terms of looking up to certain players and probably having a bit too much respect for them at times.

"That's what has helped me, coming out here. It's do or die, basically. You have to do your job or fail. They are the challenges we have to face week in, week out so, hopefully, we can give the rest of the guys a little insight into what's happening."

Saturday's first Four Nations match against New Zealand is pivotal to England's campaign. Not only is it expected to decide the second finalist alongside Australia but it will also set the tone for the rest of the campaign.

At the 2008 World Cup, England were nearly upset by Papua New Guinea and their campaign faltered from there.