I understand last nights team selection was largely limited due to a number of issues, however, that team was probably the least inspiring I’ve ever seen when it comes to Eng/Gb.
Tomkins has been past it for years and now is suddenly our full-back? Luke Gale well past his best and Westerman the same. Surely we can do better than this?
I went last night, and saw nowt to send shivers down the spines of our Antipodean cousins.
Lomax in the squad but didn't feature. Was anything said on the box about his non-participation please?
Spelly.
I went last night, and saw nowt to send shivers down the spines of our Antipodean cousins. Lomax in the squad but didn’t feature. Was anything said on the box about his non-participation please? Spelly.
Also, three of the guys in the England seventeen, have played for Swinton. Can any of you name 'em?
Spelly.
I went last night, and saw nowt to send shivers down the spines of our Antipodean cousins. Lomax in the squad but didn’t feature. Was anything said on the box about his non-participation please? Spelly.
I understand the circumstances around selection meant it wasn’t a true representation of what to expect when it comes to the World Cup but is this worst international team or era for British Rugby League in history? Outside of Batemen, there wasn’t one world class player on the pitch for England.
I went last night, and saw nowt to send shivers down the spines of our Antipodean cousins. Lomax in the squad but didn’t feature. Was anything said on the box about his non-participation please? Spelly.
He dropped out on Thursday through injury, think Wane said it was a quad. Welsby was called up to replace him and was 18th man.
I presume the Swinton three must have Wigan or Warrington connections! At a guess, Davies, Currie and Philbin?
Widnes had two former players in the England team - McShane and Farrell.
Surprised at the criticism of Tomkins in this thread, I think he's almost playing back to his peak level at Catalans and is a shoo-in for full-back.
Clearly the majority of our better players are in the NRL, though with Graham, Burgess etc retiring in recent years, those numbers are diminishing again - especially with Bateman and Williams coming back.
Wane may have to swallow his pride and ask Hastings to play - I think he alongside Williams is probably our best half-back option.
Don’t see Davies, Lyne, Handley, Philbin, Oledzki as international quality. I’m not overly convinced by McShane there either; it’s a bit late to be chucking him in now after so many years. Is he just one of those players who is good at club level?
I went last night, and saw nowt to send shivers down the spines of our Antipodean cousins. Lomax in the squad but didn’t feature. Was anything said on the box about his non-participation please? Spelly.
He dropped out on Thursday through injury, think Wane said it was a quad. Welsby was called up to replace him and was 18th man. I presume the Swinton three must have Wigan or Warrington connections! At a guess, Davies, Currie and Philbin? Widnes had two former players in the England team – McShane and Farrell. Surprised at the criticism of Tomkins in this thread, I think he’s almost playing back to his peak level at Catalans and is a shoo-in for full-back. Clearly the majority of our better players are in the NRL, though with Graham, Burgess etc retiring in recent years, those numbers are diminishing again – especially with Bateman and Williams coming back. Wane may have to swallow his pride and ask Hastings to play – I think he alongside Williams is probably our best half-back option. Don’t see Davies, Lyne, Handley, Philbin, Oledzki as international quality. I’m not overly convinced by McShane there either; it’s a bit late to be chucking him in now after so many years. Is he just one of those players who is good at club level?
Bang on mate! Well done!
Spelly.
It was a poor England team but there's not that many options really are there? I don't mind Tomkins at FB but where are the centres in our game? Why was Widdop not playing? Is Gale still the best SH available? Obvs, all the NRL contingent will come straight in, and rightly so, the domestic-based forwards aren't that great. More than anything though, I just found it flat and boring. I'd be looking for a club job if I was Wane.
Isn't Wane being lined up to replace Lam at Wigan?
The International game is in a mess and we still don't know whether or not the World Cup will go ahead this year.
Isn’t Wane being lined up to replace Lam at Wigan? The International game is in a mess and we still don’t know whether or not the World Cup will go ahead this year.
England / GB are a mess, Australia, New Zealand, Samoa, PNG and Fiji are doing alright for themselves. I’d suggest the international game is just waiting for us to show up and I’m afraid that’s not going to happen any time soon.
PNG and Tonga beat GB last time any meaningful games were played.
The common denominator is the standard of players elsewhere rather than the GB/Eng coaches IMO: Bennett, Smith, McNamara, Wane have all won major honours domestically but couldn't do much against the higher standard of players.
RL World cup set to be cancelled due to Australia and New Zealand refusing to travel due to restrictions
It was a poor England team but there’s not that many options really are there? I don’t mind Tomkins at FB but where are the centres in our game? Why was Widdop not playing? Is Gale still the best SH available? Obvs, all the NRL contingent will come straight in, and rightly so, the domestic-based forwards aren’t that great. More than anything though, I just found it flat and boring. I’d be looking for a club job if I was Wane.
A few of the centre options were injured - Percival, Griffin, Wardle, Newman. Not sure where Hardaker is up to but he's an option also.