The same with Wild then? Average player playing in a gash team?

I may be contentious here. But looking at the league table....

im sure he wouldve been at the world cup but for all his injuries last season. id play him from the start in the second row

I, a St Helens fan, have been impressed whenever I've seen O'Loughlin this season and we know he can take his game into the international arena better than most of his peers.
For me, he is one of the starting back row for GB along with Ellis and AN other, with an impact 2nd row like Hock on the bench.

Other un glamourous players like Wild, Purdam and Westwood will have to battle it out and hope they get noticed the most, but (and call me biased) Paul Clough's been outstanding for Saints and by the end of the season (if he carries on that way) should get the nod, imo.

I've not mentioned westerman because I've not seen alot, and there is the chance Smith will push S Burgess into the back row.

People should know by now that stats only tell half the story.

Get Purdham in there, a good goal kicker

he plays for huddersfield.


end of.

Good post!

I like Wild and think he has at least earned the chance to show us whether he can step up or not.

I've never understood the fans (especialy Wigan fans) who constantly deride O'Loughlin. He plays his nuts off every time he takes the field and, as has been said before, he has shown his capability to be outstanding at international level. (man of the series against the kiwis 2 yrs ago).

Ellis is an almost certain starter.

S Burgess dropping into the back row is a must as far as I'm concerned. He's still a young kid and having just come back from shoulder surgery he does'nt need to be locking horns with the best props in the world.
I saw him destroy Trinity almost single handedly a couple of years ago from the loose forward position so he certainly has the skills to play back row.

Paul Clough is perhaps the most unglamourous of the unglamourous set!
He also deserves to show us whether he can move up a notch.

Morley, Graham, Peacock, Carvell are the stand out front rowers for England.

Hock would be great off the bench.
Westerman is a little quiet this season but I have no doubt he will be in the England side.

LMS is another who might get a go as is Tony Clubb.

I'd agree with you, I said it on Sunday evening too.

Good post. Pretty sums up my thoughts, i'd go 11. Ellis 12.O'Loughlin/Westwood 13.Burgess and Hock as a bench player.

I like Wild a lot, in the international game though I think you need to have 3 battering rams as your back row rather than ball players.
Just my opinion though

Very well put. I've said for years he's massively underated. Perhaps (with respect), now that the rest of the Giants team has improved, is gelling and performing to a higher standard, he has players around him he can 'click' with.

When Wild plays well, Huddersfield invariably play well.


I also watched him at Wigan, and was gutted when he left. It was clear then he was going to be a hard hitter with good hands and speed, and a good RL brain. He's physically tough and dominating and will give his all for 80 minutes.

I'd have him back at Wigan over Bailey any day - and I like Bailey as the workhorse he is. Wild, Hock & Lockers - not sound good?

Comparing him to Lockers is pointless. He's a different player.

At the top top level, O'Loughlins the type of player you need, very very solid

he deserves it

At the world cup, the posters that are obsessed with looking at stats (metres & carries) were quick to point out how our props had better stats than their Aussie counterparts. I, however, thought it was quite clear that the Kangaroo back rows helped with their workload a lot better than the english lads.

Maybe Wild would be a good punt on the bench, he would also give us a little emergency cover for backs. Although I reckon Hock is the player most fancied for the [iimpact[/i role.

exactly, bob on

Or maybe a RL fan who would like to see England do well for the benefit of International RL and the game over here to get some better press coverage and is expecting Smith to F@@k it up again picking the old tried and tested international failures, taking the easy option rather than trying something different or picking players whose only international experience is how to get stuffed By Australia.

Old, tired and tested international failures? Like who?

i bet he isnt in the squad.

[size=59[/sizeTo be fair, i reckon there's a few Quins fans that would say the same sprt of thing about Rob Purdham and for Saints, Wilkin is absolute mustard - doesn't mean they'll get picked for England, though. Same goes for JJB at Leeds.

Rob Purdham is a fantastic player for us, he makes a massive contribution to our side, he's got a very good, well rounded, versatile game and he's a useful kicker. I was glad that he got the nod for the WC and he certainly didn't let anybody down when he played. However, being honest Purdham isn't a world class player, he's not the biggest, the fastest, the flashiest or the biggest hitter, he just does the core things very well. In this respect he's more like a good, first choice NRL back-row, the sort of player who might be on the fringes of Aussie rep squads, not the star players, but the grafters who the Aussies blend with their stars.

Like Wilkin is for saints. Tops the tackle count most weeks, hits great angles, skilful ball player, can kick out of hand and even cover the halves when we're desperate. Unfortunatley, he appears just a little lightweight to transfer his game to international level.

Can't be bothered reading all the thread, but his defence against France at Headingley was pants. Great attacking skills though.

Good for Huddersfield then

Wild is a very good player dont think he's quite up to international standard though.

Westerman has played well this season but not quite as well as last. Like wild although he's played well not quite good enough for england this year. Although i deffo think he will in future.

Morley, peacock, Graham look certanties for front row. I would like to add Lynch and LMS to them

In the back row Ellis and Hock are certs.

Loose one of sinfield, purdham and o'loughlin. All 3 offer something different but none of them stand out at international level.

Beg to differ on that one.

His best games have been in a GB shirt.

His game is suited fantastically well to test match rugbyleague.