i have a feeling that this is going to be a bit embarrassing.

I know some will mention his inexperience there but i'd have Eastmond in the centres,Shenton looked like a rabbit in headlights last week.And Eastmond was arguably the best centre on display in our last 2 games.Seeing as Wilkin has turned into a more defencive player this year i'd have him in before Westwood,much more in attack and less likely to give needless pens away.

Whoever plays centre had better have some heart - the Aussie centres are not exactly small, or slow, or unskillful they will need to be tackled every time they have the call - look what happened against the Kiwis when they got loose

Speaking as a Hull fan who sees him every week he has been (other than reaching Wembley) probably the only success story of our last two seasons. He came from nowhere to make his debut at 17 against Warrington and has been a revelation since. He's imo, stronger and as quick if not quicker than Fox and generally looks alot more assured in attack and defence. If you havn't seen alot of him then I don't blame you for not rating him particularly highly but take it from me he is a very good player already, and when you consider he only turned 19 in March he has to potential to be great. He's just a natural try scorer and only needs half a chance and he's away, whether it's a full lengther against Rovers or picking it up off the back of his legs and squeezing in at the corner against Bradford.

What gives you that idea, is it the fecking shyt England team that has been announced ? Just focus on teh cider mate and think about that haloween party on the evening, it will be a great day.

That reminds me, I must get my cottoms hotpots ordered ready to pick up saturday morning.

that team is quite depressing, i smell a record defeat, and i have to work saturday afternoon

Thats fair enough, like i say, i haven't seen a lot of him. I do rate Fox highly though and would like to have seen him come to Saints before he signed a new deal with Hull KR. If hes as fast (or faster) than Fox then he must be lightening quick, as Fox is very fast, hes up there with the fastest in the league, if he isn't the fastest.

Crabtree?

















I bet the Aussies are packing it...

It's easy to criticise but I think we need to at least give them a chance before we laugh. The Aussie team selection and their paranoia in the press this week about our team selection against NZ does hint at them being a little worried.

They'll no doubt comfortably beat us, but then again they always did with the previous teams, which were all full of the established stars.

fox finished behind tom's 17 year old younger brother jack in the fastest man is super league race at headingley earlier this year.

Did he finish 2nd?

Hes still one of the fastest in Super League, and i doubt anyone could turn and catch him from behind, once he is clear.

I could do him from behind

9th out of 10, and was quite a way off the front runners. Video [url=http://www.sporthull.co.uk/multimedia/video.htmlhere[/url

fwiw I reckon him and Briscoe are very similar for speed, but Briscoe seems more evasive. I don't know if you seen [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UlYWCB-Flgthis[/url try before but it shows how hard he is to tackle.

I haven't seen much of young Briscoe to assess him but what I did like about him last weekend was the way in which he timed himself for Eastmond's grubber kick. That shows an awareness of the game as a whole as well as his own positioning and for a player who has not yet reached 20, that's a very good sign. Personally, I'm happy to give him a go. There is no way we are going to win the match on Saturday so IMO if we have young talent raring to get on the pitch then all power to them. If they aren't on the winning side this year then the experience will surely prepare them better for next year and, ultimately, the world cup.

Don't think it is going to matter what side Smith puts out... its going to be murder of the highest scale! Wouldn't be surprised if its 70+ to the Ozzies!!

Do you think they'll do worse than these did?

Paul Wellens
Ade Gardner
Mark Calderwood
Keith Senior
Martin Gleeson
Leon Pryce
Rob Burrow
Kevin Sinfield
Gareth Ellis
James Roby
Jamie Peacock
Adrian Morley
James Graham

Substitues
Danny McGuire
Jon Wilkin
Gareth Hock
Maurie Fa'asavalu

Thing is, though, we don't want to be talking about who was worst; we want to be talking about who was best. We've all become very negative about English RL and with good reason. It really doesn't matter who does the business, does it? What we desperately need is [isomebody[/i to do the business!

Let's hope the team this year can do the business. I don't for one minute think they will but they may surprise us. There is one distinct advantage to having young players in the side: they are so often more enthusiastic than their battle weary older counterparts. If we see good teamwork and real enthusiasm from our guys I'll be encouraged. If we see a win, I will need to down lots of alcohol due to profound shock. But boy would that be terrific!

I feel sorry for whoever is unlucky enough to get the right position.

On paper, that's the better side by some distance, IMO. They just didn't gel, simple as that.

Are sky showing the game?

Just checked skytext and can't see it.

Its on the BBC.

Sly TV are doing a highlights viewing later in the evening I think. BBC have the main gig.

Ta mate.

Programe Starts @ 14-10 BBC 1