Over all the years (for me since the early 80s) watching us (mostly) lose to Australia, I've rarely seen us field a pair of centres that look genuinely competitive with theirs. To me, its been our worst position by comparison. We've had good defenders from time-to-time ( e.g. Connelly ) who perhaps didn't have a world-class attacking game, and others who brought various things to the party, but never for me, the complete package.

For all the confidence we have in our forwards, and in a few of the backs, give me some hope as to why we won't get done in the centres this time. Who do you think are going to do the business for us?

Australia have better Centres and more importantly far better Halves.

Australian centres:

[iGreg Inglis, Josh Morris, Justin Hodges, Michael Jennings[/i


No English centre in their class.

watching Jennings play yesterday, he should not be on that list.
Yeah he's quick and elusive but looked absolutely clueless once he made the break.

josh morris is ordinary
justin hodges has never done anything at international level,puches people at origin level and runs around the NRL like a show pony...
michael jenning has'nt done anything at any level either

greg inglis is ok though

I never can work out if Josh Morris is actually amazing, or is just made to look amazing in that Canterbury team?

Watkins, Evans, Percival, Thornley, and Cudjoe all look as if they could well match their Aussies counter parts in the future. All have great speed and feet, and they seem to have all the skills a centre needs. Hopefully they can develop physically, and stay injury free. Although unfortunatly as long as Inglis is around our centres will always have their hands full no matter how good they are.

I don't think we've had great pair of centres since Connolly and Newlove.

For the first time in a while we've some decent talent coming through though.

I'd be more concerned the quality of our half backs compared to the Aussies.

Gleeson and Senior were better than those two were for England/GB.

Agree 100%

This is not a facetious comment, but what is the quality of the Aussie reserve half backs and three quarters, we know how strong they are at full back, but if Inglis and one of Cronk and Thurston get injured or lose form what calibre of player replaces them? Carney, Pearce at Half Back? Dane Nielsen? Campese?

Anyone worried by these?

By the way i'm a huge fan of Pearce.

Adam Reynolds gave Pearce a Masterclass on how to play last night. if he is not top shelf I do not know what is.

Until we actually pick the best player in form at halfback we will never bloody know will we

God knows what Brough has done to McBananas in the past but it must be bad.

As for centres, take Inglis out and we can match them no problem.

How does Jack Reed go in the NRL? He had a very good four nations in 2011 but its tough to judge if he should be in ahead of guys like Atkins or Cudjoe without seeing him on a regular basis.

At the moment Watkins would be my first choice and then after that the three mentioned above would be fighting for the other spot.

We're in a better position then we've been in for a while in regards to centres.

Couldn't agree more.

I heard a rumour that Brough had switched back to Scotland

Senior was selected in the world 13 2 or 3 times, and IIRC won a man of the series against NZ in the early 00s. Gleeson was also very solid and was always a threat when playing for GB. Connolly was no more than average when he played against Aus/NZ, I think he scored his only try against them in his last test (?). Newlove was good when he could be d.

I don't think Brough should be in the reckoning. I don't agree with players jumping nationality after playing for a country and Brough has already played for Scotland. Maybe McBanana is of a similar opinion.

I do not think that is right.
All of the English backs have looked like Rabbits in the Spotlight when they have been run at.
They may have pace and skill but they lack the ability in defence when facing a player with similar or better pace and skill coming at them.
How many times has England not handled quality decoy runners over the years?
The fact is the Forwards will hold their own for most of the game, the backs will be what they have been for longer than I can remember and when a few are scored against them it all folds like a pack of Cards.
More Backs need to have a go in the NRL and be forged in a game that sees very few easy games or 30 minute games where the top teams can go back several gears.

He had a poor opener really, dropped ball over the line, drop ball in his own 20 conceding a try, didnt really play his best.

Reed had a shocker tonight.

I disagree to an extent and think our inability to match them in the forwards has been more of the problem than the backs. If you look at Englands defeats recently they've matched the forwards statistically, however the Aussies forwards have been so much better in 'the wrestle' and have controlled the PTB which has meant their backs hav had more to work with and crucially more time and space. England on the other hand have been working off the back of slow ball which gives the Aussie defenders more time to close down our halfs. Look at the last tri nations. Against NZ at the KC our forwards dominated and our half backs were able to execute a good kicking game compared to the NZ, whom despite having the better pairing on paper looked very ordinary. Then in the final it was the exact opposite.

I agree with our point on dummy runners. Also our forwards lack of quality movement off the ball has also been an area we get severly outclassed in. There's so much more to forward play in RL than how many meteres and tackles you make. Until we improve are all round forward play and technique it doesn't matter who are halfs or centres are.

Was hoping last year (especially the tail end) was a bit of 2nd season syndrome. He's clearly shown himself to have the quality (especially in defence) but it's starting to look like he's going to have to put more effort in to get it going again.

Still a class or two above Ryan Atkins and most English centres, though not as talented as Greg Inglis, Josh Morris, Justin Hodges and Michael Jennings.

Kallum Watkins is a talent in attack but not as good as Inglis, Morris, or Hodges, nor Michael Jennings, who has lightening fast acceleration, a great swerve, and dazzling speed over 100 yards/metres.

Michael Jennings and Josh Morris will outpace any English centre including Watkins. Hodges can step inside and fend off most opposing centres. Inglis won't have to outpace any opposing centres because he will either fend them off or run over the top of them.

Reed has got worse at centre as he's grown physically, and as a result is losing his pace. If he continues to slow down I can't see him remaining in the centres much longer.