Gale & Widdop are better than both, barring injuries/loss of form that should be the England half back pairing.

[iGale

... Brown and Mellor at the moment are untouchable. However Danny Brough should come into contention now McBanana's done one.[/i

Gale is quality. So put them eyes away pal. That been said so is brown. Need to see more of Mellor before we start escalating him to test match rugby.

Gale and Brown would be excellent. Both can run, kick and pass.

I don't see why we shouldn't be giving any of those mentioned a go if they are playing well, as none of the halves in the last series covered themselves in glory. And i include Widdop in that, just because he plays NRL doesn't mean he should be an automatic selection, he hasn't done it in an England shirt yet and the jury is still out as much as anyone else imo.

Not sure what you've seen in Widdop to think he's worth an England shirt. Completely anonymous in the last test series.

Still early days, if they continue to produce into the second half of the season they should be seriously considered, but most of the top sides have started very slowly and are yet to get going, i want to see top performances from them away from the plastic pitch at the likes of Wigan, Saints , Leeds etc... then we can talk.

No chance, they don't play for an NRL club or a RFL/SKY TV favourite.....hence Gale didn't get a chance last year but Smith/Widdop/Williams all did, in my opinion Gale was the better performing of all of them at the time !

i like brown but his kicking was always very poot at huddersfield and still holds him back, luckily we had brough to do the duties when they were together. brown had his chance with luke robinson for england but it didnt work out.

i like mellor as a runner he is elusive and got some pace.

gale deserves a chance now i think

Surprised JEAN hasn't been on yet proclaiming the excellence of Richard Myler since his link up with the great Todd Carney at the French show ponies

Wish Brown's kicking was poor last night.



I actually think that brown is a better player at Widnes than at Hudds, as he is now the main man rather than Brough's sidekick.

I always think half backs get written off too early at times. I look at the likes of Brown now, McGuire(who has become a far better all round half since losing his acceleration) both early 30s, Briers always had the skills from a young age but didn't really hone it and become consistently good player until later in his career.Even in the NRL greats like Lockyer, Thurston although always pretty top level were late 20's early 30's till we saw the very best of them. Gale is another example, in his mid twenties until he starts to find his feet and control a team.

[iGood point. Thats why if Brown is selected Mellors must too, as any other Half would jeopardise Browns form, whereas Mellor complements Brown's game and vice versa.
[/i

I agree. At 55 there's time for me yet.

It's good that we've got a slight bit of competition in the half-backs at last. George Williams hasn't been mentioned yet either.

Whether any of these options are good enough is different question.

That's true, none of the current British halfbacks are anywhere near as elusive as you when it's your round

I had doubt about Williams last year when everyone was saying he HAD to play for England, based on the fact he plays for Wigan and had a few good games, and i'm still not convinced he has any more quality than every other half in the competition.
Always rated Kev Brown, he never had a settled position with us though and i don't think we ever got the best out of him.but as a senior partner he has made Widnes tick, not just this season, but since he signed for them.
Gale was good last year, but then so again was Sneyd the year before and he was been touted as the next best thing etc.
Widdop... not sure, i don't watch much NRL i will admit but when i've seen him for England he hasn't really done anything any middle of the road SL half back would do.

Jury is still out for me though, where England's 6&7 are concerned, we've wasted too many years and possibly missed out on a very good partnership by trying to shoehorn big name players in from big name clubs over the years.

Gale was the best half back in Super League last season in my opinion.

im not just going on browns kicking lastnight.

brown was the main man for long enough before brough arrived and was quality thats when he played for england . he left for family reasons to go to widnes.

So Gale is too old but Brown isn't?

[i

Quote Leon Ashton Wrote: So Gale is too old but Brown isn't?'"

No Gale's game wouldn't complement Brown's, they'd be to much wrangling which isn't fair because you wouldn't be getting the best out of either of them hence picking a proven combination instead like Brown & Mellor. There's nobody better than Brown when he's bossing the show which the combination with Mellor allows and that's testimony to Denis Betts for cementing a great partnership. I agree with Wayne Bennett's view that he'll be looking at striking and nurturing combinations for the English squad. Lets look at combinations throughout the international game what's been used and .available.

=#004000Australia... The Spine. 1. B. Slater 6. J. Thurston 7. C. Cronk 9. C. Smith 13. C. Parker All Melbourne or Queensland and grew up together throughout their Schoolboys years. Other Combinations. =#000080(2.Josh Morris 3. Brett Morris Bulldogs & NSW & They're twins.) =#FF0040(4. M. Jennings 5. D. Tupou Both Roosters and NSW). (=#400000 11.S. Thaiday 12 M. Gillette 13. C. Parker All Brisbane & Queensland.) (3. G. Inglis 2. D. Boyd Both Queensland) =#400040( 11. B. Cordner 12. A. Guerra Both Roosters )=#0000FF ( 8. M. Scott & J. Tamou Both NQ Cowboys )
[/i

[iNew Zealand obviously utilize combinations with 3/4 of their squad having coming through routes of the New Zealand Warriors.

England's recent last 3 test teams. No Combinations
Spine. 1. Z Hardaker. 6. G. Williams 7. G. Widdop. 9. J Roby. 13. S O'Laughlin
2. J Burgess. 3. K. Watkins. 4. J. Bateman. 5. R. Hall. 8. J. Graham, 10. C. Hill. 11. B. Ferres. 12. E. Whitehead.

England team with possible combinations.
Spine: 1.Z. Hardaker/S. Tomkins (6. K. Brown 7. J. Mellor Widnes) OR ( 6. G. Williams 7. M. Smith Wigan). 9. J. Roby. 13.S. O'laughlin. (2. R.Hall 3. K.Watkins. Both Leeds ) ( 4. D. Sarginson. 5. J. Burgess. ) OR (4. L. Cudjoe/J Wardle 5. J. McGilvray. Huddersfield) OR ( 4. J. Turner 5. T. Makinson ) (8. S. Burgess 10. G. Burgess/T. Burgess Souths ) ( 11. L. Farrell. 12. J. Bateman 13. S. O'laughlin All 3 Back-rowers Wigan ) OR ( 11. B. Ferres & 12. C. Ablett. Both Leeds ) ( 8. C. Hill 10. M. Cooper Ex Wire.) ( 11. B. Currie 12. J. Westerman )

Possible England outlook Teams. With highlighted combinations.
=#BF0000 1.S. Tomkins /=#400080 Z. Hardaker
=#FF00002. J. Burgess. 3. D. Sarginson.=#4000BF 4. K. Watkins. 5. R. Hall.
6. K. Brown / =#FF0000S. Tomkins
7. J. Mellor / =#800000M. Smith
=#8040008. S. Burgess. 9. J. Roby. =#804000 10. G. Burgess.
=#FF0000 11. L. Farrell. 12. J. Bateman.
13.. S. O'loughlin.
=#BF400015. T. Burgess.
=#4000BF14. D. Clarke
=#4000BF16. C.Hill
17. J. Graham
As you can see Australia cement combinations, Obviously our game isn't as fruitful for talent as theirs however we are able to put a decent team together when combinations are picked. Obviously we must allow for real talent to come through even if they're not part of a combination but we must have combination factors i feel especially within the attacking setup mode.
[/i

Good god, the thought of Joe Mellor putting on an England shirt. The game must be in bigger trouble than I thought if he's considered international quality. Saying that, Matty Smith and George Williams aren't that great either. Personally, Widdop/Gale is the way forward.

[i Come on man give credit when its due, i suppose its all about opinions Gale ain't good enough in my opinion and Widdop's constantly slipping on his , you may slag off Mellor but name a English scrum half playing better at the minute. Their isn't one. And i ain't a Widnes fan..[/i