It’s one month to go until England face Australia in the ABK Beer Ashes Series, and former England legend Gareth Widdop knows a thing or two when it comes to playing the Kangaroos.
Widdop and his family emigrated to Melbourne when he was sixteen years old, and he would go on to play for Melbourne Storm and St George Illawarra in the NRL – surrounded by Australian superstars on the daily.
“My journey is a little bit different a lot of the England players," Widdop said.
"I moved over to Australia and had lived in Australia since I was 16. But by doing so, I’ve been able to play alongside some of the greatest Australians and I'm very fortunate that I’ve been able to do that.
“You can imagine I got a bit of flack being the kid from England though!”
During this time, Widdop was a first-choice halfback for England, even while playing on the opposite side of the world.
In total, he scored 171 points in 28 appearances since making his debut as a 21-year-old against France in 2010. This included from seven tries, 71 goals and a drop goal, making him second only to Kevin Sinfield CBE on the all-time England point-scoring rankings.
Widdop was also a key member of the England squad in the 2017 World Cup – where England came agonisingly close to a victory against the Aussies in a truly memerising final.
Widdop has played Australia seven times in his career, and while his generation might have missed out on a chance to play in an Ashes series (the last one was played in 2003), he welcomes its long awaited return next month:
“To see the Ashes back is great – it’s been a long time and it’s something that I'm really looking forward to watching as a spectator.
“Playing Australia in any game was the ultimate challenge. They were renowned for being the best team in rugby league for a very long time.
“For me, as a young kid, actually moving to Australia and getting to represent my country playing against Australians was the pinnacle. There have been some great memories playing them.”
What does Widdop think of when he first hears the words ‘Rugby League Ashes’?
“My first memories as a little kid was watching it on the big screen at the pub with my mum and dad. You’d get pulled down and all the locals would be there watching Great Britain playing the Aussies.
“I’ve managed to go on and play the Aussies a couple of times in my career, but to finally have the Ashes again is going to be incredible for England."
And the former England playmaker hopes that Shaun Wane’s current crop of players recognise the importance of the upcoming series:
“It’s going to be a big challenge, and I hope the players understand that it doesn't come around too often. When you retire, you sort of look back and reflect and think about those chances.
“The players to just need to embrace it, enjoy it and go out there and make sure that they are performing for our country. It’s a huge opportunity. You don’t get too many chances to play against Australia, so it’s going to be a huge challenge for the current squad.
“Hopefully the lads go out there and put in a great performance on home soil and do our country proud. There’s no better feeling that representing your country on home soil. It’s always a challenge to come up against the best as a player, but you want to go out there and you want to prove yourself.
"And there’s no better way to do that than in an Ashes tour on home soil.”
Halfback Widdop was never able to personally beat the Aussies in his career, but lined up with a long list of England greats - Sam Burgess, James Graham, Ryan Hall, Sean O'Loughlin, James Roby and Kevin Sinfield are just to a few he went on to name.
They came up against the stars of Cooper Cronk, Greg Inglis, Billy Slater and Cameron Smith – again these wre the first players that came into Widdop's mind.
“Unfortunately, I never got to beat the Australians and that’s probably something that still hurts now, even when I'm retired,” Widdop admitted.
“It was tough to cop it off the Aussies all the time I’d played them. The World Cup Final in 2017 sticks out. Playing in that was obviously an unbelievable feeling. To get there – wow – it was such a tough tournament. It was probably the greatest feeling ever, but at the same time, after 80 minutes, probably the worst feeling I've ever had.
“We came so close to winning that game and unfortunately didn't quite get there in the end. It was a game of so many highs and so many lows, and it's certainly a game I'll remember for a long time.”
There were endless chances for England in the 2017 World Cup Final, but they were unable to break down a ridiculously resilient Kangaroos defence.
No moment summed this up more than a desperate but brilliant ankle tap by Josh Dugan on Kallum Watkins in the second half of them match, after the England centre broke through the defensive line and could have go on to level up the game.
England eventually fell to a heartbreaking 6-0 defeat after giving everything they possibily they could. The reoccuring theme of 'the one that got away' played out once more on Widdop's generation.
First the 1990s Ashes series, the one in 2003, and now the 2017 World Cup.
“We had a brilliant squad where you could rely on everyone and count on anyone," said Widdop. "Everyone I played alongside has done our country proud.
“We had a very close bond and a good team environment in the 2010s.
“I look back on my moments with England, especially the World Cup Final, and I think we did everything possible, prepared well, we had an unbelievable tour and sometimes you don’t always win them.
“But we did our country proud and everybody who played in that squad should be super proud of their efforts.”
Looking ahead to the opening Ashes test at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 25 October, Widdop is excited for the occasion:
“It’s going to be exciting and hopefully we get a big turnout for all the games over here. I'll certainly be supporting from the sidelines.
“The rivalry is huge. Not many teams have beaten the Aussies, and unfortunately, I never got that opportunity either. But some Great Britain and England teams have gone on and done it.
“There’s a big opportunity on home soil, especially to go out, play and perform and hopefully get a big crowd. At Wembley, it’s going to be huge."
Will you be there to witness history as England search for their first Ashes Series victory since 1970?
Rivalries will be reignited when England take on Australia in the ABK Beer Rugby League Ashes next month. The two nations will meet in a three-match test series over 20 years in the making and with the second and third test completely SOLD OUT; Wembley Stadium on Saturday 25 October is your only place to watch this fierce rivalry live!
Book your Wembley tickets here with prices starting from just £20 for adults and £10 for U16’s.
