[urlhttps://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12072058[/url
...then they may as well pack it in......that is a paper thin Kiwis Squad....

You can back England -2 at even money if you're a gambling man. I would consider the travel, lack of preparation and altitude as something of a leveller but it is a weak NZ squad. I think England would get a lot of joy playing an expansive game against them but I can't see it happening.

When you are on about the travel have they not gone their all ready so bye Saturday they should be over jet lag

George Williams has withdrawn from the England squad, there is no replacement taking his place.

This 30+ points talk is nonsense, England are missing a fair few too. Kallum Watkins and Luke Gale are missing in positions we lack any depth.

I agree Sir Kevin, some Leigh players missing also....

I don’t see what 6th placed Championship club Leigh have to do with this thread.

Any more than a London fan that started it, and followed up by SL fans of a team that have forgotten how to win! The repose was I'm sure meant in jest, and there are clearly no Leigh, Fax (or other Championship players) that are worthy of wearing an England shirt at the moment.

It was a JOKE...you really are something else.....Your obsession with Leigh Centurions is pathetic. (We were 3rd in the table on Saturday)


Bet you're great fun at parties....[size=150.NOT ![/size






Don't take life so seriously luv, you only have one.

I am guessing he knew you were messing about, due to your laughing emoticon. he just wanted to mention that leigh are currently 6th in the table. really hope Catalans beat them on Wednesday, bottom 4 again for weeds whinos.

A london fan living in Petone Lower Hutt, Wellington Region, New Zealand....so I'd guess I am pretty well placed to comment on my adopted nations squad....if you doubt its strength or lack thereof, remember that our current hooker was scrambling looking for a game with Ireland last year at the RLWC...., now his inclusion is seen as a strength?????

It's very dangerous to underestimate the Kiwis, they still have a solid forward pack and I don't think it's a strong England team which Bennett has picked at all.

Good point, but I wasn't questioning you starting the post (albeit maybe it reads like that), but just that us lowly Championship fans have as much right to comment as super dooper league fans.

This is my guess at how they will line up. When you actually look at that it doesn't look so weak, my initial thoughts were just about who wasn't playing and not the actual squad. I think their forward pack and bench will be marginally better than England's and there's some genuine quality in the 3/4. I think their halves might struggle if they do go with Martin and Nikorima, both should be big spots for England when NZ are defending. Yes they are missing some certain starters but it's still a strong team on paper and with Maguire at the helm it could be a very tight game.

1. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
2. Jamayne Isaac
3. Peta Hiku/Jordan Kahu
4. Esan Marsters
5. Ken Maumalo
6. Te Maire Martin
7. Kodi Nikorima
8. Martin Taupau
9. Isaac Luke
10. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
11. Joseph Tapine
12. James Fisher-Harris
13. Isaac Liu

14. Slade Griffin
15. Nelson Asofa-Solomona
16. Leeson Ah Mau
17. Herman Ese’ese

Its pointless game anyway, a gimmick played in a mid west city, played right in the middle of the Football world cup. it will be lucky to get more than 1/4 a page in just about every national news paper. it not even a true national side, just Bennett England NRL select with a few super league players thrown in to keep the piece.

Some Leigh players have been missing from Leigh's side at certain points this season


Seriously though, which Leigh players should be anywhere near either England or the NZ side



On the subject of 30 point victory, I think the op is on the wind up, again

Errm, you brought up Leigh in this thread.

This post is off topic, Catalans may well beat us on Wednesday, we have an injury crisis at the moment and Catalans are a good side. Either way confident Leeds will be top 8.

Budge said it was a joke .…...and to be honest, so are you.

Budgie beat him to mentioning Leigh, he just narked by it

Replying to yourself again Cokey

Back on topic, from the England squad I expect our line up to be

1 Ratchford
2 McGilvary
3 Connor
4 Percival
5 Hall
6 Widdop
7 Lomax
8 Graham
9 Roby
10 Burgess
11 Burgess
12 Whitehead
13 O’loughlin
14 Hill
15 Thompson
16 Taylor
17 Bateman

18 Makinson

Really?
I reckon that given access to all available and qualified players, maybe only 5 or 6 of that Squad might have been named....that's a poor Kiwis squad and I can see them getting hammered!

Probably, and you have just got Luke Briscoe on loan from Featherstone. He is their top try scorer by a 'country mile' and a record breaker also. But as the middle 8's are coming up Fev decided they don't need him !



Nice 'backhander/cash in a brown envelope' from Mr Hetherington....

I'd go with this too, with the only swap being Hill having a starting role over Burgess at prop.