Would prefer Hardaker at FB, as I don't rate Coote. I think Gildart is too small at international level, so would have gone with Connor & Percival.

Hardaker has played centre for both club and at international level. He's also played in and won a Grand final, playing as a centre.

I dont see the problem? Hardaker is one of our country's best players, so just get him on the pitch.

How many centres/wingers have we had over the past 30 years that would get in a combined Aus/GB team of that era?

Off the top of my head I'll say Offiah, Robinson, Newlove & Hall. Struggling to think of many others. Forwards on the other hand we've had plenty.

Edit: I'll throw Jiffy into the mix as well.

But that's based on past performances. Having seen him 4 times this season in the flesh he hasn't looked the same player since before his ban.

You could make a case for Schofield mid to late 80's before he moved to 6 but yes, it's always been the biggest reason for me we have been that bit behind the Aussies, they have so much depth there mainly centres.

Slightly early for me I think that one I'm a mere spring chick at 41.



When I think of some of the bang average players we've fielded in the backs in my lifetime it's amazing we've even competed with the Aussies, never mind beaten them on occasions!

Whomever decided to play a series in NZ at this particular time in this particular year needs their heads examined. If the other lot defeat England at the weekend, then the triple header could be the most embarrassing event in the international games recent history. I am off to the tron to watch the tonga game and even that is only expected to get a 12k gate. The NZ SKY adverts feel the need to constantly refer to the team as the GB RUGBY LEAGUE LIONS......the ads seem more like infomercials and the tickets are now available at just $10 a pop....that's a fiver.
GB should walk over this Tongan select side, who are no longer a surprise package and who are pretty predictable.

At least he'll be worth sticking in the pot by the time they get to PNG.

Senior
Gleeson
Carney
Hall
McGilvery
Makinson
Schofield
Leon Pryce

Out of that list probably only Hall and Schofield would make the Aussie team. I've got nothing against the other players, each cracking players in their own right but not better than their Aus counterparts.

Leon Pryce?





Fittler, Lockyer & Daley might argue with that.

Senior, Hall and Carney were selected in the world team of the year. Makinson won the GB, Pryce was a world class outside back.

Sorry but no. He got in the GB/ England team because we had nobody else but imo he was nowhere near world class.

Ellery Hanley?

Always a 13 for me Hanley although one of the greatest British players of my lifetime and better in the centres than Bateman.

Seconded. Especially when compared against the Aussies previously mentioned.

Senior was not world class IMO. If we'd had any decent centres he wouldn't have played anywhere near the amount of international games he did.

Makinson's GB was a farce IMO. Very good player but nowhere near the best in the world.

Senior was named the best centre in the world 2 years on the trot in the early 00s. He's the best centre we've produced in the professional era.

Surprised no-one's included Gary Connolly. Better than most of the players previously mentioned IMO.

He always struck me a solid, rather than prolific.
An excellent defensive FB but, when you compare him to the "modern" FB, I would think he would be short of pace and some athleticism.

Newlove is worth a shout from that era too

Gleeson was real class and I recall press articles in his prime describing him as ' the one player the Aussies fear'. Great partnership while it lasted with Carney.

Without any shadow of a doubt.

The best international FB we never had.

Better than Newlove in his pomp?

Newlove was more talented but was a pussy who never reached the heights he could have due to lack of commitment. I was at a dinner with Peter Fox in the mid 80s. He said he had a kid at featherstone who was going to be better than Neil Fox. That's the potential Newlove wasted.