Dream XIII: Adrian Morley

Rugby League legend Adrian Morley has picked his dream England team from players who he has played with for Super League TV.

Morley started his career with Leeds Rhinos in 1995 and went on to make 149 appearances for the club, scoring 35 tries.

The front-rower then went to Sydney Roosters and played 114 games for the NRL giants, scoring eight tries.

He then spent six years at Warrington Wolves, playing over 170 games, before spending the last two years of his playing career for hometown club Salford Red Devils.

Morley earned 53 international caps, 30 for Great Britain and 23 for England.

And he has now named his all-time England Rugby League team from players who he has played alongside.

This all comes ahead of the upcoming World Cup, where the Australian rugby league betting tips have the holders as clear favourites.

Line-Up:

1 Paul Wellens

AM: “He was very safe and that’s what you need from a full-back. It was a toss-up between him and Kris Radlinski but I’ve gone with Wello because I’ve played more Tests with him. He was a good attacking threat as well.”

2 Jason Robinson

AM: “He was just a bit of a freak really when it comes to how agile he was and speed off the mark. It was no surprise that he was a big success when he went to the other code.”

3 Paul Newlove

AM: “I think when he was on his game, Newy was virtually unstoppable really. He was a big man but very quick. He had a fantastic sidestep and was a great attacking threat.”

4 Keith Senior

AM: “He was strong, quick, knew how to score a try and the fact that I played the majority of my international career with Keith – he gets in the centres.”

5 Ryan Hall

AM: “I played one Test with Martin Offiah but I just think Ryan Hall suits the modern game a lot better. He’s quick but he’s also big as well. I like a big winger and he helps the forwards out. His try-scoring is incredible at the minute so there is a bit of pressure on Hally to keep the tries going.”

6 Andy Farrell

AM: “Even though he made his name as a second-rower and then went to loose forward, I have played a few international matches with him when he has played six but he’s that talented that he can adapt and play anywhere. He is a big, strong forward and like Paul Sculthorpe, he has got a great pair of hands, a great kicking game and a great Rugby League brain as well so I’ll put Faz at six.”

7 Sean Long

AM: “He’s a similar age to me so I’ve played the majority of my international career with Longy. A very talented player, I think the highlight of his international career was the victory in ’06 against the Aussies in Sydney, I thought he had a fantastic game the day.”

8 Jamie Peacock

AM: “He was a fantastic player and fantastic captain. He wouldn’t ask you to do anything that he wasn’t prepared to do. He did all the hard stuff, he was a very tough player and a very tough competitior. I used to love playing with JP.

9 Terry Newton

AM: “I used to love playing with Terry. We all enjoyed the physical side but he used to take it to another level and used to go over the line as well. You knew what you were getting with Terry – like a little bulldog on the field.”

10 Sam Burgess

AM: “I remember Sam’s debut in ’08 against the Kiwis and he came off the bench and put Fuifui Moimoi on his backside a couple of times and I thought ‘he’s got something this kid!’. I think he was only 17 or 18-years-old at the time and he has gone on to prove me right. He’s had a fantastic career so far and is now a leader as well.”

11 Denis Betts

AM: “He was probably coming to the end of his career when I played with him but he came from my hometown, he played the same position as me growing up so he was a big inspiration for me as a player and when I got to play with him, he didn’t let me down. He was a really great professional and did all the little things right.”

12 Paul Sculthorpe

AM: “We were a similar age when we made our debuts together. He was one of them players who could do virtually anything. He was big, strong and tough but he could also pass and kick and do all the things a half-back could do.”

13 Ellery Hanley (C)

AM: “I didn’t play with Ellery for country but I did play with him at club level. He’s the greatest English player who has ever played the game. He was untouchable and regarded as the best player in the world and quite rightly so.

“The team is littered with captains like Jamie Peacock, Andy Farrell and Paul Sculthorpe but for me, I’ve said he’s the best English player who has played the game and that’s Ellery Hanley so I’ve got to go with Ellery as my captain.”

You can watch the full video on Super League TV here: