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25th June 2018, 7:11 am == JAKE ‘The Snake’ is back on America’s sporting landscape – the job now is keeping him there. His first impact certainly answered a few snakes at the NRL, as well as a couple of flamin’ golars! RUGBY FOOTBALL LEAGUE Jake Connor (right) and Tommy Makinson both scored tries on their England debut Jake Connor can declare himself a member of the Mile High club after a dazzling debut as England eventually dominated at the home of NFL giants Denver Broncos. The Hull man, known as The Snake, and Elliott Whitehead stole the show, the former making two tries and scoring one, the latter the opposite way around. But the start of rugby league’s American dream was about more than what happened on the pitch and the governing body Down Under will fight future clashes. Showing the sport to a new audience was the aim and 19,320 – 9,000 MORE than England’s World Cup games in Sydney and Melbourne last year – attended. It is also more than MLS side Colorado Rapids’ average and ...

23rd June 2018, 11:27 pm == ELLIOTT Whitehead and Jake Connor were England’s American dreams as they were devastating in Denver. Wayne Bennett’s men started their road to the next World Cup after agonisingly losing last year’s final 6-0 to Australia in the unlikely surroundings of Mile High Stadium, home of NFL giants Denver Broncos. Rex Features England winger Ryan Hall reaches to score a try during England's 36-18 win against New Zealand in the US But back-rower Whitehead and debutant Connor made sure they were not blown off course, with the former grabbing a double and the latter scoring one try and making two. Boss Bennett again caused a stir by naming Wigan back-rower John Bateman at centre, while debutants Connor and Tommy Makinson made the bench. However, the Kiwis under new coach Michael Maguire were hell bent on getting over last year’s disaster, which saw them exit in the quarter-finals. It did not start well as after what can be best described as a ‘dodgy’ rendition of...

23rd June 2018, 8:58 am == JERMAINE McGillvary can go another step towards being recognised as one of the world’s best wingers in Denver – just being recognised at all would be progress. For the England man is growing tired of being mistaken for Huddersfield team-mate Michael Lawrence. Getty Images - Getty Jermaine McGillvary admits he is starting to tire of being mistaken for Huddersfield team-mate Michael Lawrence McGillvary was the star of the World Cup but that did not stop one man approaching him thinking he was the Giants’ back-rower. He has also revealed that earlier in his career, he was told Jermaine McGillvary would not make it in Super League! Now he wants to be recognised as an international winger, as the man who carved out a career in rugby league after working in a DIY store, as the man who made it after once getting lifts to training as he could not afford to travel! “I’ve been mistaken for Michael since I was at Batley,” admitted McGillvary. “Once I went into Hudders...

22nd June 2018, 3:12 pm == RUGBY league breaks new ground tomorrow when England takes on New Zealand in the unlikely surroundings of Denver, Colorado. Wayne Bennett’s men and the Kiwis fought hard to get the game on in the face of fierce opposition from the NRL and some of its clubs. AFP Sam Burgess is part of the England side taking on New Zealand in Denver Altitude, travel and insurance were just some of the things thrown at the Rugby Football League and New Zealand Rugby League. But it is game on as rugby league’s bid to crack America starts in the build-up to the 2025 World Cup, which will be played across North America. However, what time is it on? Where can you watch it? Who will you be watching? Here’s SunSport’s guide to the game.   WHY DENVER? Getty Images Denver Broncos' Mile High Stadium hosts England v New Zealand THE RUGBY Football League and New Zealand Rugby League signed a three-year deal worth in the region of £280,000-a-year to play Test matches in North Americ...

22nd June 2018, 7:13 am == SEAN O’LOUGHLIN is ready to show the man from his past England’s future – but Michael Maguire still has an impact in the present. The England skipper knows exactly what New Zealand’s new boss can do after he turned Wigan into winners in 2010 and 2011. NRLPHOTOS Sean O'Loughlin admits Michael Maguire had a huge impact on his career His ideas continue through current boss Shaun Wane and O’Loughlin feels they will no matter who takes over at the end of the season. But even though he feels Maguire, known as Madge, can lift the Kiwis out of the doldrums, he is eager to make him suffer as England look to build on last year’s World Cup near miss. “He brought a different attitude to training,” recalled loose forward O’Loughlin. “We thought we were working hard, he made us work harder. “Whatever we did with the ball was underpinned by that work ethic. GETTY IMAGES Michael Maguire is the man hired to lead New Zealand back to their best “Over his two years, he pu...

21st June 2018, 6:33 am == WAYNE Bennett believes England can help take rugby league to a new level, no matter what whingeing Aussies say. The NRL and clubs Down Under were against Saturday’s game against New Zealand in Denver. GETTY Wayne Bennett feels England's game in Denver could push rugby league to a new level But national boss Bennett feels it is time to try somewhere new, after little progress in more than 100 years. The fact his squad is in Colorado, with several NRL-based players ignoring the moans, shows the Test’s importance. Veteran Australian Bennett, who kept everyone guessing by naming his team in alphabetical order when players can occupy different roles, said: “A long-term vision is important. “We’ve been around for more than 100 years but we still play in the same places, so it’s important we showcase the game. “There’s a World Cup in North America in 2025, so it’s important we start to play a lot more so the American people understand what rugby league is. AFP...

20th June 2018, 5:27 am == JAMES Graham believes enduring the altitude in and travelling to Denver is a price worth paying as the Aussies continue to whinge. He feels it is worth sacrificing some of himself for the good of rugby league. Getty Images - Getty James Graham believes there is sometimes a price to pay for the good of international rugby league The England prop endured months of moaning from the NRL and its clubs about that fact Wayne Bennett’s men are travelling to Colorado to face the Kiwis on Saturday, one pundit described the Test as ‘two-bit’, ‘mickey mouse’ and ‘dinky’. First it was the travel to and from Australia, then it was the near 6,000 feet altitude in Colorado, then it was insurance in case of injury, then it was something else. However, sources on both sides say their biggest problem really is that the Rugby Football League and New Zealand Rugby League beat them to it by signing a three-year deal worth in the region of £280,000 a year with promoters Moore Spo...