Should beat PNG given that the ARL has shafted them by [url=http://www.sportsnewsfirst.com.au/articles/2010/09/08/costigan-s-png-bid-rejected/blocking the selection of Neville Costigan[/url because he made himself available this season for State of Origin. PNG's impressive full back David Mead is also out injured.

PNG train-on squad for the 4N: Macali Aizue (Halifax RLFC); Francis Ray, Mark Mexico, Johnson Kuike, Nixon Kolo (Masta Mak Rangers); Paul Aiton (Cronulla Sharks); Rod Griffin (Northern Pride); Menzie Yere (Sheffield Eagles); Rodney Pora, Dion Aiye, George Moni, Sigfred Gande, Ln Marabe, Pidi Tongap (Agmark Rabaul Gurias); Richard Kambo (Newtown Jets); Ryan Tongia (Gold Coast Titans); Michael Mark, Charlie Wabo (Hunslet Hawks); Jessie Joe Parker, Elizah Riyong (Port Moresby Vipers); Benjamin John (Parkes Spacemen); Glen Nami, Tony Dai, Thompson Teteh (Goroka Bintangor Lahanis); Joseph Pombo (Canterbury Bulls); Desmond Mok (Ipswich Jets); Andrew Sam (SBSL Mendi Muruks); David Loko (Mioks); Joe Bond (Norths Devils); Jack Cooper (North Queensland Cowboys NYC); Alex Haija (QRL).

( Loved Til Tuesday....Marigold one of best ever soundtracks....a very intelligent woman. )

So many giants of our game to be exposed as toys for the antipodeans to play with.

( Oops .... I meant Magnolia of course. Doh ! )

The gods of rugby have smiled in the erroneously gifted Danny McGuire's direction by sparing him from another embarrassing humiliation down under.

McGuire is a classic case of a player who simply hasn't got rid of the basic faults in his game as he's got older, which IMO would have been ironed out if he'd gone to the NRL. There have been signs of improvement in his play ball in hand, but he's a poor kicker in general play (excused to a degree due to playing alongside Sinfield), and his defence can be weak. His lack of playing in a structured attack has also been exposed when he's been asked to be the main playmaker, and to be frank every time I've seen him play the Aussies in the last few years he's looked plain scared.

He's had his moments, but isn't consistent enough for 80 minutes let alone stringing a run of games together. To be fair if we had a dominant scrum half like Gregory or Goulding his faults would be far less of an issue, but he encapsulates the difference in quality between the top end in the NRL and SL.

My fear with Tomkins is that fast forward a few years we'll be saying exactly the same about him.

There's an article on the [url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/rugby-league/We39ll-not-be-caught-on.6567590.jpYorkshire Post[/url website about preparations for the tour and linking up with Brian Smith in New Zealand.

He was looked upon to be the main playmaker for the most of the season and was outstanding. He was in the form of his life before his injury.



Are you on drugs? McGuire had about 5 or 6 outstanding, world class games in a row before his injury. He had a little blip in the CC final but didn't everybody. He single handedly won us the game against Hull away, then played a major role in winning us the playoff against pies.

He means internationally I think, rather than for Leeds. Something which is difficult to argue with for a lot of players to be honest

I should have emphasised " giants " AND giants. It's time for the fartowners in particular this time to suffer the ignominious crushing of body and spirit.

It is indeed. There is only a handful of players I can think of that brought there club form into the national squad.

You could actually gain a modicum of credibility if you could better acquire knowledge of the English Language. Until then you're better off just reading and learning.

Might it not be the quality of the opposition rather than the carrying across of ( N B .."their "icon_wink.gif club form that is the issue ??

P s you've a free reign to counter-attack...... I will be offline for a considerable time ... : )

It must be a long,long time (if ever) that Hunslet have had more inclusions in a national side than we have at a major international tournament.









(not the case if Greg Eastwood is still classed as a Leeds player,obviously)

The last time I checked this was a rugby forum not an English grammar one. Whilst we are on the grammar subject can you care to explain what the two question marks are all about, which have a perculiar space before them? What a foooking dipstick, decides to pull somebody up on their spelling and completely fooks his own up in the process.

This also comes from the guy who constantly talks the most delusional rubbish man could come up with.

I knew exactly what you meant with your giants reference. However, you know as well as I do that posting rational opinion on here involves swimming against a huge tide of tery, and I wasn't going to pass on the opportunity to make another rational point.

Well said Sir Nantwich in Exile... you've nailed it. Our players do carry their SL form into the international arena. Problem being, said SL form isn't even close to what might be considered good enough to compete successfully at international level, nor is said SL form even remotely world class. If truth be told, said SL form is often discovered to be out of it's depth in the international arena against bona fide world class opposition players.

Don't expect sundry ts to agree with the blatantly obvious though. They are already lining up Steve McNamara and this England squad as the worst ever assembled, simply because Tony Smith is no longer the coach and sundry "world class" Leeds players aren't included to usher in a new and successful 4-52 or 16-46 dawn.

So how does it change Keith?

How do you raise the standards of SL to the point where the players within it become capable of challenging the antipodeans on their own soil?

Chuck us some answers rather than statements of the blindingly obvious.

Christ alive, constructive commentary and critique? No round these parts very often and certainly, not from the usual wannabe ocker fishing club members that's for sure.

We need to improve the overall standard of coaching at junior level and to ensure that all juniors of a reasonable standard are exposed to at least some professional coaching on a regaular basis. No disrespect to the very many amateur coaches but, the vast majority can't begin to provide the kind of tutoring that is required.

The divide between the amateur game and the professional clubs should be the starting point in overcoming the problem. The relationship between local junior leagues and professional clubs in Australia is very different.

Can I add to that moving all junior rugby to the summer months?

Yes I know the grounds are harder and the little uns might end up with a few more scraped knees, but surely it would increase participation if kids could come out and play the game in the warm summer nights of July and August rather than in a sea of mud in February?

Increased participation gives you a bigger share of the pool of talented young athletes, it's then down to those who provide the kids with the skills they need to flourish and enjoy the game to do the rest.

Totally agree about the summer rugby for juniors. Besides all of the benifits you've pointed out, it is far easier to learn how to catch, pass and kick when your hands aren't numb. Being able to see clearly over a distance of more than ten yards tends to help as well.

This is happening.

.................as is this.

Coming along to watch Ireland V Scotland on 24th?

The biggest issue is coaches that are all about winning at under 10s which is to the detrement of LTAD and the skills and game sense the kids are taught.

Answers are not in his modus operandi chief.

Excuse me, but there is some damn good coaches at amatuer level mate. I won't begin to say that all of them are the same level, but there is certainly some very good coaches at Amateur level.

Might I suggest we also need to look at the coaching at super league clubs for juniors? after all a proven coach in the amateur game who has been developing players for years, is a far better standard than just putting ex players in positions as they reach end of their careers, just to give them a job.