Aussie geniality, Offiah moment and England duo out of place

Beer Rugby League Ashes Launch

- By JAMES SMAILES

THE corridor leading to the suite that looks over the royal box at Wembley is lined with striking images of rugby league giants.

Martin Offiah, Andy Farrell, Jason Robinson and Jonathan Davies are among those captured in all their glory in Great Britain and England colours.

You walk past the large photos on their wooden easels with the year and scoreline of some of the more memorable and history-defining Ashes moments.

Just half an hour after savouring those striking images, two more giants enter the room at the end of that corridor.

Maybe it’s an early psychological move by England coach Shaun Wane to send his two biggest players out into the gathered media.

Kai Pearce-Paul and Dom Young almost look out of place even though they are both kitted out in blue and red official training gear. This could be a basketball press conference.

They tower above anyone who stops to talk to them and I’m later told by one broadcaster that players this big cause logistical issues when cameras are trying to frame interviewer and subject.