What did everyone think of Hardaker's performance in tonight's match?

I wasn't impressed.

I know the whole team were lethargic at times and he probably wasn't even the worse player on the field but he never looked like a threat in attack and he repeatedly failed to link in with the attacking line. Defensively he wasnt awful but his positioning at time maybe could have been better.

I fear with Hardaker that he's only at his best when in his comfort zone with his family and mates around him and into a routine, as he is regularly when playing for his club Leeds.

It might be early to judge and i'm sure he'll improve as the series goes on but from tonight you can see why Steve McNamara has a natural preference for Sam Tomkins. Sam has gone out of his comfort zone and performed consistently and held down a place at a NRL club for two years whereas Zak has only ever stayed in his comfort zone and is yet to perform against a top International team. How on earth would Hardaker perform in the NRL?

I hope some of you dont take this defensively because these are my honest views, I just feel as if Hardaker is too reliant upon a routine and his comfort zone in Pontefract and until he shows he can perform outside of his comfort zone I can't see him displacing Sam Tomkins in time for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.

Lol.

Everyone was poor for the first half-hour, and then everyone was much better when Roby came on.

Accept they are your honest views......doesn't stop them from being rubbish though.

He was steady away tonight. Obviously he isn't as strong an attacker as Tomkins but Tomkins for me never was able to replicate his Wigan form for England or the NRL. So the comfort zone accusation is probably more suited to Sam Tomkins.

Jesus.

That's the biggest load of tosh I've heard on here in a very long time.

Someone's going fishing

Bell end a are you what

Nice try but rearrange that if you can

Not great in any way, but still one of England's top performers.

Worst piece of trolling since about 2005 on here

Fishing

England succeed, "fan" fails. Dumb f******g thread.

Perhaps you are right and this is a debate which will go on for some time. I do believe Hardaker is the one who is yet to prove himself when out of his comfort zone though. Tomkins has experience of playing outside his comfort zone and irregardless of whether he's been successful or not (he has) at least he has the experience which Hardaker hasn't.

Anyway, appreciate the response. You're the only one who hasn't responded defensively so far. God help the rest of us who dare to criticise 'Sir' Zak Hardaker, the World's best fullback.

Wouldn't go that far. Tom Burgess, Graham, Hill, Roby, Williams, Hall, Watkins, Ferres, Farrell, Widdop were all better.

TBH apart from one high kick the New Zealanders didn't really test him.

Obviously Hall was used as a extra forward bringing the ball back like he does at Leeds. Maybe McGillivery would be a better option over Joe Burgess on the other wing to replicate what Hall does.

I agree about this.

McGillvary would have offered more than Joe Burgess

Im not sure what else Hardaker could do. Defended well, was safe under the kick, returned strongly. very nearly stopped a Kiwi try with a tackle that would have been as good as any.

It wasnt a game for him to stand out in, England run nothing as complicated as a set move to involve him. To be honest none of Englands back stood out offensively because we played a hugely forward orientated game.

Very debatable that Tomkins has succeeded in the NRL, only Wigan fans think he has because they see him with cherry and white glasses.

As for Hardaker, reality that was hs first proper international (the France one was so one sided you can't really count that). I remember when the Burgess twins came into the England team. George looked good right from the off but Tom didn't at all. Tonight he was great. Think you need to rate Hardaker at the end of the 3 games.

Fair point and I have said that I think he will improve and impress during this series.

I just think we missed his attacking flair tonight. Fair comment?

Lets pick Sam Tomkins next week then as " he has the experience when out of his comfort zone"
BUT isn't he injured and out of the series?
I like you as you're very, very special

Based on his mostly underwhelming England showings so far then not really.

I did say one of, not the top. And personally thought Watkins and Farrell were quite poor to be honest.

No, because as others have alluded to England played a very tight forward based game.Nothing special. but solid enough and did pretty much all that could be expected of him.

Just as an aside, come on here with a thread titled 'Hardaker Flops for England ' when it clearly wasn't the case, expect to be shot down.

At the minute Sam Tomkins is clearly a luxury that we simply no longer need at test level

Question is will he ever get a shot in test match footy with Zak at 1, and Williams and Widdop in the halves?

Farrell I think was solid. Managed to cut out the Wigan tactics a lot more than O'Loughlin and was top tackler by a margin. Considering Whitehead on the other side then Farrell was a good improvement.

Watkins looked very lively first half when others struggled, produced some good steps and gain extra yards through them. Quieter as the game went on but due to lack of service.