Kangaroos team-mates and fierce NRL rival fullbacks Jarryd Hayne and Billy Slater may not see eye to eye on a lot of things but they joined forces today to urge Australians to pack out Hayne's home base at Parramatta Stadium next weekend for the only Sydney Four Nations match.
Eels star Hayne said the Kangaroos' Four Nations opener against Papua New Guinea at Parramatta on Sunday week (Oct 24) would have the added bonus of following a spectacular curtain-raiser between Samoa and Tonga and urged fans to take the opportunity to watch two entertaining, bruising games.
"It's the only chance rugby league fans will have to watch the Kangaroos in Sydney in the Four Nations ... and there's nothing better than playing in front of a packed stadium at Parramatta," said Hayne, who joined Slater on the first day of the Kangaroos camp at Coogee today.
"But not only is it great for the Kangaroos to get a big home crowd it is important for the international game ... and fans won't be disappointed if the 2008 World Cup clashes are any indication.
"Playing for Fiji in the World Cup was very special for me and it was a real eye-opener to see how much it meant to my Fijiian-based team-mates and the local players from the other Pacific Nations to play in front of the Australian crowds."
The Kangaroos' second match will be against England at Slater's new Melbourne Storm home at Aami Park on October 31 and he too is urging sports fans not to miss the international action.
"It's a great venue to watch rugby league in and it's a fantastic time to be in Melbourne between racing's Derby Day and the Melbourne Cup," said Slater.
"Given there is only one Four Nations match in Sydney, one in Melbourne and one in Brisbane (Final), rugby league fans in those cities would be mad not to take the chance to come and experience what should be some very physical and entertaining rugby league matches."
The Australian team's draw for the Four Nations tournament is:
Australia v PNG – Sunday, October 24 – 4pm Parramatta Stadium
Australia v England – Sunday, October 31 – 6.30pm AAMI Park, Melbourne
Australia v New Zealand – Saturday, November 6 – 8.15pm Eden Park, Auckland
The Final will be played on Saturday, November 13, at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, at 7pm.
For more information on the 2010 Four Nations go to www.rlfournations.com and join us on Facebook.
Eels star Hayne said the Kangaroos' Four Nations opener against Papua New Guinea at Parramatta on Sunday week (Oct 24) would have the added bonus of following a spectacular curtain-raiser between Samoa and Tonga and urged fans to take the opportunity to watch two entertaining, bruising games.
"It's the only chance rugby league fans will have to watch the Kangaroos in Sydney in the Four Nations ... and there's nothing better than playing in front of a packed stadium at Parramatta," said Hayne, who joined Slater on the first day of the Kangaroos camp at Coogee today.
"But not only is it great for the Kangaroos to get a big home crowd it is important for the international game ... and fans won't be disappointed if the 2008 World Cup clashes are any indication.
"Playing for Fiji in the World Cup was very special for me and it was a real eye-opener to see how much it meant to my Fijiian-based team-mates and the local players from the other Pacific Nations to play in front of the Australian crowds."
The Kangaroos' second match will be against England at Slater's new Melbourne Storm home at Aami Park on October 31 and he too is urging sports fans not to miss the international action.
"It's a great venue to watch rugby league in and it's a fantastic time to be in Melbourne between racing's Derby Day and the Melbourne Cup," said Slater.
"Given there is only one Four Nations match in Sydney, one in Melbourne and one in Brisbane (Final), rugby league fans in those cities would be mad not to take the chance to come and experience what should be some very physical and entertaining rugby league matches."
The Australian team's draw for the Four Nations tournament is:
Australia v PNG – Sunday, October 24 – 4pm Parramatta Stadium
Australia v England – Sunday, October 31 – 6.30pm AAMI Park, Melbourne
Australia v New Zealand – Saturday, November 6 – 8.15pm Eden Park, Auckland
The Final will be played on Saturday, November 13, at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, at 7pm.
For more information on the 2010 Four Nations go to www.rlfournations.com and join us on Facebook.
