HERBIE Farnworth could take the biscuit by helping England avenge World Cup heartbreak – but he would rather claim the Cake.

For while arguably the best centre in the world has lived in Australia seven years, he has not forgotten where he comes from.

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Without hesitation, it is Jaffa Cakes over Tim Tams – every time.

And the finest in his position in the NRL for the last two years revealed how he keeps his supply – by doing the business for club side Dolphins.

Farnworth may resemble a stereotypical Aussie – his moustache was around a long time before thoughts of Movember – but when it comes to his taste buds, there is no competition.

When asked which he preferred, he immediately shot back: “Jaffa Cakes. All day.

“I can’t find them in Australia but some fans at the Dolphins games hold up a sign saying, ‘Herbie, a photo for some Jaffa Cakes.’

“So I always go over and they give me a box of them. That’s pretty cool, now I’ve got heaps of them!

“Life there is very different to here. In Australia, rugby league is probably their main sport but it’s nice being back here, seeing family and not being asked for pictures.

“It’s pretty cool to be back in the normal world. As I’ve gone on in my career, it’s definitely got a lot more demanding on my social life than I thought it would. You’ve just got to be careful.

“But accent-wise, I’m probably stuck at the minute. I’ve got the English accent but the Aussie slang, so when I’m in England I get teased, when I’m in Australia I get teased.

“I can’t win either way!”

Farnworth may hail from Blacko in Lancashire and live 10,000 miles away but playing in Wigan today is special.

Uncle Brian Foley was a development coach and scout for them and Herbie played amateur at the town’s famed St Patrick’s club before moving to Brisbane Broncos after impressing in summer trials.

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He also used to cheer on the Warriors, notably a certain former Test team-mate, now team manager, Sam Tomkins.

And he revealed a special memento still has pride of place at his parents’ home.

He added: “Sam was a massive inspiration of mine as a kid and I used to wear his boots.

“He signed a pair and luckily I was the same size as him, even though I’d have been about 14 – I’ve still got them!

“They’re bright yellow and they’re still at my mum and dad’s house. When I played alongside him at the World Cup, I was still a bit like, ‘Woah.’

“Now I know him. He’s a very humble guy and done a lot for the English game. When I was younger, I was just a fan and players almost aren’t real to you.

“But it’s pretty cool to be around him now. I also played for St Pat’s and when I was a kid, I’d go down all the time to watch Wigan play.”

Last time Farnworth – who has been back and forth between Blacko and seen older brother Will’s new bar in nearby Clitheroe – pulled on an England shirt, he tasted agony as Samoa stunned the hosts in golden point extra time of the 2022 World Cup’s semi-final.

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This time, though, things are different. He is better and boss Shaun Wane’s talent pool is far better – and they are ready to show it.

The 24-year-old told SunSport: “Memories are still vivid, for sure. It’s the second-hardest loss I’ve ever taken – it was the hardest but now it’s last years’ NRL Grand Final.

“Samoa played very well but we didn’t play how we could. We can’t wait to right that wrong.

“And I feel a better player, 100 per cent. I’d like to think I’m completely different – I was only 22, coming off a biceps injury and finding my form in the NRL. I’d like to think I’m coming into the prime of my career

“Our talent pool is a lot bigger and boys have done well in the NRL – Morgan Smithies and Kai Pearce-Paul have been standouts.

“And winning 2-0 after beating Tonga 3-0 last year would send a real message ahead of next year’s Ashes. I’m excited about what this team can do.”

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With injuries to key players and Liverpool in strong form, former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha believes Arsenal go into this game as underdogs, but believes it is a position that could suit them.

“Should Mikel Arteta be worried? I do not think so,” he said on the Planet Premier League podcast.

“I think he understands the importance of the start of the season, but understands the importance more so of how they finish it.

“The disappointment after losing to Bournemouth will be big, but the really good sides, players and managers – I always fancy them after a defeat.

“The fact they will face a test against Liverpool, and weirdly at home they will feel possibly a bit like an underdog – I think that suits who they want to be at this moment.

“The crowd will be up for it, the players will as well and if they do manage to win it will be the boost they perhaps didn’t think they’d need at this time, but the boost that will come and the belief would be there 100%.”

Liverpool have lost just once this season – the 1-0 home defeat by Nottingham Forest – winning every other game.

Former Chelsea and Brighton manager Graham Potter believes the stability Arne Slot has provided is key to their excellent run of form.

“What he has done is make it very stable at Liverpool,” Potter said.

“The playing style has changed bit by bit – they build up and press a bit more patiently now. It will be interesting to see how they maintain that.”

As for Sunday’s game, Potter added: “I think it will be a draw.”

Kevin Durant became the eighth player in NBA history to pass 29,000 points as he led the Phoenix Suns to a 114-102 home win over the Dallas Mavericks.

The 14-time All Star, who is in his 17th season, scored 31 points to take his career tally to 29,010.

James, the all-time leading scorer with 40,543 points, is the only other current player to have reached 29,000.

Reigning NBA champions the Boston Celtics mounted a late charge to triumph 124-118 at the winless Detroit Pistons.

The Celtics came from 112-106 down with just over five minutes left, with Jayson Tatum scoring 37 points and Jaylen Brown 24.

Brodie Kostecki took a second Supercars win in a fortnight with a dominant performance on the streets of Gold Coast.

Kostecki led away from pole position in his Erebus Chevrolet Camaro, holding out Triple Eight’s Will Brown and Chaz Mostert (Walkinshaw Andretti United Ford Mustang).

The man who looked out of position was Broc Feeney, who started from fifth on the grid in his Triple Eight Chevrolet and who started the first pitstop cycle when his crew short-filled him so he could get track position.

Most of the leaders followed that strategy and pitted on consecutive laps but the man who did not was Cam Waters, the winner of Saturday’s race. While the leading six cars followed a similar strategy – pitting between laps 24 and 29 and taking on similar amounts of fuel – the Tickford Ford driver alone ran longer and was stationary for almost twice as long.

As a result he came out in ninth place, right behind Team18 Chevrolet of David Reynolds and it was vital he got past promptly.

He did and in the following 20 laps Waters passed four cars. By the time that the second pit cycle played out he resumed in fourth, right behind the T8s and looking threatening.

But any hope he had of getting past the Camaros was compromised by a damaged front splitter and he had to settle for fourth, even though Brown had a steering problem for half the race.

“These guys pushed me once again,” grinned Kostecki after taking Erebus’s first Gold Coast win by 3.47s.

“It really come to life at the end there. A really fast pace, it was great execution by the team and the strategy was great.”

Brown was a satisfied man after extending his points lead.

“It was cool to see them [after leaving the pitlane], I had a steering drama there, left-hand down,” he explained.

“It came on about lap 40, the steering was changing and it was a little bit nerve-wracking through the chicanes, too keep it off the walls.

“I am glad to get through this weekend, heading to Adelaide and we’ll see what happens there.”

Feeney rued his qualifying position: “It was hard work, the story of our last few races is that we haven’t qualified high enough up,” he said.

“We are focused on a couple of wins [in Adelaide]. [I had] a win there a couple of years ago and second last year.”

Fifth place went to the second Tickford Mustang of Thomas Randle, ahead of Erebus’s Jack Le Brocq, who was stung with a five-second time penalty for an unsafe release from his second stop. As a result he dropped to eighth place.

Sixth went to Andre Heimgartner, who not only started from a lowly 17th on the grid but managed to tip-toe through a 10-car pileup at Turn 8 on the opening lap, which put Anton De Pasquale’s Dick Johnson Racing Ford out on the spot, and delayed several other drivers.

Grove Racing Ford’s Richie Stanaway was seventh ahead of Le Brocq, team-mate Matt Payne and Reynolds.

Mostert’s hopes of a top-six result were ruined after his Walkinshaw Andretti United crew under-filled his Ford at his second stop and he had to pit for a third time. By the end of the race he was back in 11th and as a result, fell out of mathematical title contention.

As a result, Brown’s championship lead, which was 171 points after Saturday, is now 180 over Feeney, 2772-2592. Mostert remains in third place on 2463 ahead of Waters (2344), Payne (1863) and James Golding (1841).

The title will go to one of the Triple Eight pilots and will be decided on the streets of Adelaide, over two 250km races, on 16-18 November.

But what were the best – and worst matches – from the popular gaffer’s eight-year reign before that devastating Sunday night in Berlin? Here we take a look.

THE HIGHS:

Colombia 1-1 England (3-4 on pens,) 2018 World Cup

This was the night that long-suffering supporters finally started to believe that it was coming home.

Despite conceding a late equaliser, England held their nerve to advance to the quarter final of the World Cup 2018 on penalties.

It was our first shootout victory for 22 years.

Spain 2-3 England, 2018 Nations League

Following on from the World Cup, England won in Spain for the first time in 31 years with a brilliant Uefa Nations League victory.

Southgate’s boys stunned the Seville crowd into silence with a thrilling performance that saw them lead 3-0 at the break thanks to a Raheem Sterling brace and Marcus Rashford.

Although the hosts scored two after the break, the way the Three Lions tore La Roja apart excited every fan.

England 2-1 Denmark, Euro 2020 semi-final

Southgate led England to their first major final in 55 years as they beat Denmark after extra-time in the Euro 2020 semi-final.

Having fallen behind after half an hour, the Three Lions battled back to send it to extra-time courtesy of an own goal.

Then it was captain Kane who converted a rebound after Kasper Schmeichel originally saved his penalty in extra-time to win it.

England 3-0 Sengal, 2022 World Cup last 16

England had already blown Iran and Wales, 6-2 and 3-0 respectively, away in the World Cup 2022 group stages before they breezed past Senegal.

The free-scoring Three Lions recorded another big win to set-up a mouthwatering quarter-final against France – what could go wrong?

Italy 1-2 England, Euro qualifiers, 2023

On a night when Harry Kane became England’s all-time top scorer, the Three Lions recorded a first away win over Italy since 1961.

It was the first game since their 2022 World Cup exit, and it ensured a perfect start to their Euro 2022 qualifying campaign.

England 2-1 Holland, Euro 2024 sem-final

The nation doubted Southgate’s men in the semis of Euro 2024, but they responded with a barnstorming display.

Xavi Simons opened the scoring for the Dutch but Harry Kane’s penalty drew us level.

And Ollie Watkins slotted in a brilliant winner in injury time to see the Three Lions into their second successive Euros final.

AND THE LOWS….

Croatia 2-1 England, World Cup semi-final, 2018

Having led England to a first World Cup semi-final since 1990, Southgate men made a dream start as Kieran Trippier put them ahead in the early exchanges.

But Ivan Perisic equalised as the Croats began to take control.

Some of Southgate’s substitutions were then questioned after his team were beaten in extra-time, although many gave him the benefit of the doubt as he returned a hero.

Italy 1-1 England (3-2 pens) Euro 2020 final

Will probably never get a better chance to have secured a trophy for the Three Lions than this final of the last European Championship.

Luke Shaw gave us the lead after just seconds, but just like against Croatia three years earlier, we sat back and let our rivals back into it.

Leonardo Bonucci duly equalised in the second half and the game eventually went to penalties.

The unfortunate Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka were all brought on to take a spot-kick, but the brave trio all missed as the Azzurri broke our hearts to take the prize.

England 0-4 Hungary, Nations League 2023

A year on from the Euros and it was utter embarrassment for Southgate in this Nations League game at Molineux.

It was our biggest home defeat since 1928 and the result led to England being relegated from the top group of the Nations League and back to one that contained the Republic of Ireland, Finland and Greece.

England 1-2 France, World Cup 2022 quarter-finals

Another case of what could have been.

Having been free-scoring throughout Qatar 2022, many fancied us to go all the way at the World Cup despite taking on the holders in the quarters.

We fought back from going behind to level through Kane and many believe that France were then there for the taking had Southgate deployed a more attacking approach.

Instead, they seemed content with what they had until Olivier Giroud pounced 12 minutes from time to win it.

But there was still one more twist of the knife for England as the usually-reliable Kane skied a late penalty over the bar uncharacteristically as we crashed out.