I think it will enhance our start to the season if anything. What better way to get some match practice in than playing the Australian champions and a friendly before that. We will have a minimum of 2 weeks warm weather so they will have the opportunity to get some good field sessions in rather than the 3G at Ruskin in the pouring rain. The trip will allow the players to bond even more and then get the experience of playing pre-season games at a great intensity.
No disprespect to the likes of Whitehaven or Barrow but games against that standard of opposition wouldn't prepare us in anything near the same way a WCC would.