Centre Will Greenwood says it's time for England to turn the tide of Australian sporting dominance.

Greenwood said nearly a quarter-century of cricket, rugby league and Commonwealth Games triumphs by Australia was not lost on the English.

"It's something you grow up marvelling," he said of Australia's sporting prowess.

"The Ashes, the Kangaroos in rugby league they're all in there and we always seem to be on the wrong end of it.

"The ledger has been against us for the past 20, 25 years."

Greenwood said he had to go back to his boyhood when England won the 1981 Ashes series and decathlete Daley Thompson was regarded as the best all-round in the world.

"Maybe we can come out and etch Sydney 2003 into the history books," Greenwood said.

But he admitted the air of expectation was taking its toll.

"It's huge - you can't underestimate what a huge occasion it is.

"As players we're trying to cocoon ourselves.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP