Barba has been excellent this year. But I'd have expected Zak to have held him up on the second try. As usual he couldn't link in on attack (though the whole panthers team was off in that department today). Can't see him getting picked over Moylan, Watene Zelezniak or Mansour, which means he might well be back in a Leeds shirt next year.

One thing I did noticed had cleaned up from his debut was his PTB, was clean and legal every time. Shows how easy it would be to clean it up as some of the ones in the Hull/Leeds game were atrocious, or maybe I'm just noticing because I watch more NRL these days?

Well it wasn't great, was it? He didn't have the worst game in the world, but I doubt he'll remember it fondly. He'll have to sharpen up fast.

Just watched the Panthers game. How people seem to be blaming Zak and the massive chasm between NRL and the SL for the loss is either just blinkered aussie bias or anti Rhinos/Zak hate.

It was a uneventful solid game from him. It was his Aussie superstar teammates that made the mistakes leading to most of the trys.

Hardly. I wouldn't blame him for the defeat, but, put it this way; he was one of Penrith's poorer performers on the day. But two games in, he can be forgiven for that. As I said, he'll need to sharpen up fast if he hopes to gain a regular place. As BGE rightly says, would you honestly pick Zak over Moylan, Watene-Zelezniak or Mansour?

The comparison to the 'massive chasm' is a non sequitur. If Zak is evidence of a massive chasm, what are Hodgson, Graham, and co?

It's also worth pointing out that several of Zak's 'superstar Aussie team-mates' are rookies with much less first-grade experience than he has.

I didn't think he had a bad game. He just looked like a guy playing with new players and didn't always fit in the line properly.
He just needs confidence to hit the line more.

Think you'd be reading too much into it to see it as anti-English bias, most commentators usually really speak up the English players, I'm convinced Rabs has a picture of 'Jimmy' Graham on his bedside table.

Ray "Rabs"/"Rabbie" Warren loves James Graham and Samuel Burgess. He also admires the man he calls "Widd-OPP." Mr Warren comes from the Australian generation that still feels affection for Britain as the Mother Country.

Raymond.

Mate im as bigger rhino fan as anyone, Zak was miles away from solid. Zak was very poor, looked unfit and out of his depth.

Simply not good enough so far to get a contract.

He needs a proper NRL pre season to stand a chance.

If he is serious about an NRL career and lucky enough to get an opportunity he should make himself unavailable for England to knuckle down in pre season.

He'd be lucky to be in the England squad on this season's form anyway

Be interesting to see who Bennett selects for fullback because as an aussie he'll value percentages and tomkins is poor in defence and seems to have become abit of a biscuit legs.

But, he can provide that attacking edge something we always lack at that level.

Tomkins has been unbelievable in defence since returning. It's probably been even better than his attack which still hasn't fully clicked.

With Hardaker out of sorts, it has to be Sam T surely? Bennett doesn't seem the type to go with a left-field choice like Shaul.

Anyway, as Wigg'n rightly says, Sam has been excellent in defence since his return.

The thing that stood out for me was how weak in the collision Hardaker was. Some of his other mistakes like being a bit slow to react can easily be picked up, but Hardaker is one of the more physical SL backs and yet looked way too lightweight. Eden and Joe Burgess similarly lack any kind of physical presence. Eden perhaps not surprising, but although Burgess is a reasonable size he gets rag-dolled too much.

They said in pre match Hardaker had put on 4 kg in a week - I expect if he did a pre season he'd add close to another 10 without losing sweat. I wouldn't be surprised if the Panthers do keep him on that basis TBH, as whilst he doesn't look strong enough ATM he's not afraid of the rough stuff and I think he can improve enough to be a very solid NRL player.

I was looking forward to Tomkins fading into obscurity but he is probably already a better all round payer than when he left.

Jordan Turner has signed for the Canberra Raiders.

Jordan Turner is going to Canberra as a reserve centre to Croker and Leilua. Is that smart? www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... 8TfwHQLb6g

Jordan Turner is going to Canberra as a reserve centre to Croker and Leilua. Is that smart? www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... 8TfwHQLb6g

Quote ="JEAN CAPDOUZE"Jordan Turner is going to Canberra as a reserve centre to Croker and Leilua. Is that smart? www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... 8TfwHQLb6g'" What has he got to lose. He will find a super league club after a year or two. He really has nothing to lose.

Quote ="JEAN CAPDOUZE"Jordan Turner is going to Canberra as a reserve centre to Croker and Leilua. Is that smart? www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... 8TfwHQLb6g'" What has he got to lose. He will find a super league club after a year or two. He really has nothing to lose.

Aye, anybody slating his defence hasnt watched him since he's been back. He's been sensational in that regard especially on his own line and has pulled off some fantastic try savers. He's also been solid as a rock under the high ball.

He's a different player to the one who left. Some things aren't quite as good but other areas of his game are light years ahead.

No doubt sam has lost a yard of pace with his injuries. He is still a very good olayerand like you say defensively he has come back a better player.

True, I think with Hardaker having a difficult year it is an easy selection here for Bennett.

Tomkins has to play full-back now, he is in a different class to everyone else who could play there.
He has returned from Australia an even better player. The only concern is his fragility, but when he is fit there is nobody better.

If Lomax carries on playing as he has been doing, he'll be up there with Tomkins. However, I wouldn't want him in the England set up, I'd rather him have a full off season with the Saints to see how his body is.

I see Widdop was outstanding again at the weekend...... For the Titans that is.....

If Dragons had any 2nd tier salary cap left to spend, I think he'd be dropped - as it is, they literally have no option but to keep playing him - but he's getting a hammering by everyone from fans, pundits and ex players. Creates nothing (for his own team anyway - he did throw a lovely intercept), kicking has been awful, and even his running game seems to have disappeared.

[u2017 England players in the NRL[/u:

Zachary Hardaker

......., Jack Reed, Jordan Turner, ......

Gareth Widdop
......,

.....,
Samuel Burgess, Eliot Whitehead
James Graham, Joshua Hodgson George Burgess,

[uInterchange[/u: Thomas Burgess,

I have excluded Lucas Burgess because he is not up to England national standard.

So there will be 10 England standard players in the NRL, with at least 7 (all the forwards plus Jack Reed) and possibly 8 (Widdop) as likely England selections.

That will require probably 9 Super League players to be added to the NRL stars to make up the England team.