Agreed. I'd like to remember Robbie as the player he was for us. Not for his presenting skills, which, to be honest, are fecking awful.

Okay, his talking isn't that good, but when you actually listen to what he says he makes alot of sense. But I suppose I have a soft spot for him and RL fans in general cba paying enough attention.

But I'm sure you'd rather listen to Iestyn than Eddie Hemmings ?

Remember Robbie's radio show on the Pulse? More wooden than the Trojan Horse.

Yup.

Robbie is an incredibly smart guy and off camera articulates himself exceptionally. Sadly, on the live shows it doesn't quite click.

Eddie Hemmings = shambolic mess

He's just a general idiot. He gets alot of things wrong anyway, but the worst was during a minutes silence last season (not sure who for) he didn't finish his sentence in time and kept going about 10 seconds into it.

Hopefully he'll call it a day soon

Rivalled only by his balls up in the Grand Final suggesting Terry Newton played for both Wigan and St Helens and his "sudden unexpected tragic death" quote. As opposed to those planned takings of life we all know about?

That for me sealed it.

The t!t.

But great when you don't have Sky so are thus used to watching nothing at all....

I think Jon Wells has taken to summarising very well given he is new to the post.

Team for Saturday announced:

Gareth Widdop
Darrell Goulding
Michael Shenton
Ryan Atkins
Tom Briscoe
Kevin Brown
Sam Tomkins
Stuart Fielden
James Roby
James Graham (c)
Gareth Ellis
Sam Burgess
Sean O'Loughlin
SUBS
Darrell Griffin
Joel Tomkins
Ben Westwood
Luke Robinson


Seriously, what did Crabtree do wrong last weekend to be dropped ahead of Griffin?

Is Griffin McNamara's new "pet project"?

I presume Griffin is covering for the inept Brown at SO.

More whiney than squeaky, tbf.

Griffin shouldn't be anywhere near the NZ game other than as a travelling spectator. He smacks of average. Harrison and Crabtree far superior options.

Kevin Brown, pffffft. I wouldn't want him near our club side let alone an international one.

Well done Steve, no really.

One bright side that does spring to mind here.

With McNamara's apparent love for Darrell Griffin, you have to think he'd have tried to sign him for us once his contract was up. Thankfully we may now have dodged that bullet.

Incidentally, BBC have now done a U-Turn and decided to show the game in HD after all. Is on the BBC HD channel live.

It isn't highlighted as 'recorded in HD' though on my Sky planner, so I'm not sure if it'll actually be broadcast in HD?

It is.. it was a late change so your Sky planner probably hasn't updated.

Have to say Widdop didn't impress today. Way too many errors putting us under extra pressure!

On a plus note, Graham and Shenton played very well.

It was just like watching Bradford.

Same old McNamara.

Typical, watched 50 mins of crap so decided to make my bacon butty... and I then miss the only decent bit!!

I thought NZ kept plenty in the tank for the rest of the competition and they will improve on that performance. We could be in serious trouble next week if the Aussies turn it on.

I think it was Phil Gould who said Aussies turn up to squad with all the basic skills & need little preparation for tests. England look like individuals with some individual skills but no idea how to play like a team. They had no self-belief until Shenton exploded down the middle for England's second try. Still after that it was pretty much one-off stuff. Trouble is if we keep Tomkins at FB we lack penetration & attack at half. Other problem is centre, Atkins maintained his woeful defence from last week, so I am not sure who to replace him with. Shenton finally showed he is the heir to Senior, just needs a bit more muscle & belief.

Especially when Goulding came off his wing to make a tackle and then nobody covered his position for the first NZ try. Serious deja vu.

Griffin shouldn't be anywhere near the squad for the remaining games in the Four Nations.

AND less hair?



I've not thought that much of Shenton over the last season and a half (admittedly only given what I've seen on SKY, given my location) but in the second half today I saw glimpses of what he promised to be, when I saw him when we lived up country.

As someone who was fortunate to regulary watch the living god "Sir Keith" in action, I could'nt help thinking that if Marshall had tried the manouvre that lead to the Kiwis 4th try with Mumby at Full Back he would have ended up sat 3 rows back! Widdop cannot tackle; Tompkins must be no. 1 against the Aussies.

I'm just glad none of our lads are there, I really don't want McNamara having any more influence with any of our players again.