Phil Clarke highlighted a period of play from the Aussie game in the build up to Saturdays game. In it he highlighted the fact that England made the wrong decision in attack. Shenton was wide open and had the ball gone to him he would have either gone in himself or been able to put his winger in.

Highlights a common thread in Englands play - they don't like giving the ball to Shenny!

How many of our tries have been scored by the backs?

vs France:
Smith, Myler 2, Sinfield, Hall, Briscoe

vs Australia:
Burgess, Ellis, Smith

vs NZ:
Eastmond, Fox 2

Out of 12 tries we've scored, 6 have come from the backs, 4 of them down the right wing, pretty much showing that the play hardly even comes down Englands left side. Two or three times the ball should have moved out left on Saturday and instead it went back to the middle. No conspiracy, I just think too many players are either backing themselves (hence 3 tries from the halves) or bringing it in towards the forwards and half-backs because that's the given gameplan - keep it tight (whereas Cas are more likely to shift the ball wider sooner).

Shenny will be playing RL next year dont know who for but will be playing RL Smith wont, so why have him picked, play who you feel needs the experiance now... and lets face it after the display he had with Mcguire he had to not be picked and after the Saturday performance by the other guys, he shouldnt get in for the final.

Stuff playing for experience, play the players who give you the best chance of winning.

For me, that means the same 17 as did for New Zealand, injury permitting.

i thought that was what i was sort of trying to imply in my post but yes i agree the 17 who won New Zealand deserve and earned their final appearance.

Really? you didnt know he's a cas player for next year?

Huddersfield fans have a cheek making commenting about centres arent they?

And as for leeds, they have signed an aussie hardly anybody has heard of to replace smith, their academy must be abit thin on three quarters.

Shenton & hall look to be forming a useful partnership down the left side, stick with it!

That was a strange post you replied to.

tb


(sorry Cas mods for stepping in)

Ha ha! I'm going to watch that game tonight now...

Exactley what i was thinking too mate.

sorry this season he will be a cas player, but when is his contract up?

Its all lined up for a match winning try on Saturday by Shenny. Just to finally shut up the idiots knocking him

Not sure why the Huddersfield fans are knocking Shenton cos I for one thinks it's great to see him playing for England, rather have him than Smith anyday of the week.

Good young kid, also think Owen is gonna be a good un for you guys.

Who knows where any player will be when there contract runs out?

As this is a thread about shenny, I would like to wish him all the best on Saturday. Keep up the good work, and do Cas proud as you have all tournament.

England name an unchanged side.

As you say Stu, England have named an unchanged matchday squad for Saturday’s Gillette Four Nations final against Australia at Elland Road. S Briscoe (Hull KR); P Fox (Hull KR), C Bridge (Warrington), M Shenton (Castleford), R Hall (Leeds); S Tomkins (Wigan), K Eastmond (St Helens); A Morley (Warrington), K Sinfield (Leeds), J Graham (St Helens), J Peacock (Leeds, capt), G Ellis (Wests Tigers), S Burgess (Bradford). Subs: J Roby (St Helens), E Crabtree (Huddersfield), B Westwood (Warrington), J Wilkin (St Helens). www.gillette4nations.co.uk/article.php?id=15942

As you say Stu, England have named an unchanged matchday squad for Saturday’s Gillette Four Nations final against Australia at Elland Road. S Briscoe (Hull KR); P Fox (Hull KR), C Bridge (Warrington), M Shenton (Castleford), R Hall (Leeds); S Tomkins (Wigan), K Eastmond (St Helens); A Morley (Warrington), K Sinfield (Leeds), J Graham (St Helens), J Peacock (Leeds, capt), G Ellis (Wests Tigers), S Burgess (Bradford). Subs: J Roby (St Helens), E Crabtree (Huddersfield), B Westwood (Warrington), J Wilkin (St Helens). www.gillette4nations.co.uk/article.php?id=15942

Congrats to Shenny for an amazing series. Man of the series for England for mine - mr consistent. Good to see him up again at the end of the game - was very worried for a time.

Oh, and his hit on Lockyer will be one to show the grandkids!

I was very proud of Michael Shenton. You did yourself, your family and your club proud!

So glad he is alright - heart in my mouth for a while. Bad to see convicts celebrating though when he was down and out - shows a lack of respect!!

Missed that. If I recall it was the Australian players who were calling for attention before anyone else.

Me too, I thought the fact that five or six Aussie players raced to the scene before any England players knew what had happened says a lot about the professionalism.

pleased he`s ok he`s had a good series and done himself proud,never thought id see the day when a cas centre could gun down greg inglis.

So glad he's ok. But god that was worrying. Brought back memories of the westerman injury.