The great RFL cock up!! timesonline.typepad.com/rugby_league/

The great RFL cock up!! timesonline.typepad.com/rugby_league/

Lockers has been Wigan's best player by a country mile this year, it would have been a bad decsion for him not to be there. Even some Wigan fans who have often been very critical of Locky in the past have been unable to critisize his performances this year.

Which kind of explains your terrible performances and the fact that you are languishing outside the playoffs having played more games than your rivals.

The England squad is a step in the right direction, but arguably there has been too much work done to accomodate players from the lesser sides. The English players in Saints and Leeds' starting sides are generally still far better players than the others they have chosen from other clubs, although I can understand it if they are 'ones for the future' like Myler.

The glaring ommission seems to be Leon Pryce. Is Smith suggesting both McGuire and Tompkins are better choices? If so, what does he base this on? I'm sure the answer would be previous failure at international level, but then Peacock wouldn't be able to be picked after his showing in the World Cup or his previous record. Anyway...

O'Loughlin has been very good everytime he's pulled on a GB shirt and his game is idealy suited to international level.

He's earned his place both on form this season and his form for his country in the past.

As for Pryce he has form this year but his recent past for the national side was very poor although he's still our best option at 6 imo.

To be fair to McGuire also he's never let the national side down and has overall produced more in an England/GB shirt then Pryce has done.

When?

He was as poor as Pryce in the last debacle, wasn't as effective against NZ the previous year, and was far worse the year before.

I thought he was our best halfback by far in the world cup(which granted isn't saying much) and had a good debut season for GB in 2004 but over then that he hasn't had that many chances.

Pryce has only really had the NZ(2nd team really) series at home and then the world cup and was pretty good in one and awful in the other.

Neither has exactly covered themselves in glory at 6 for GB/England but i would say McGuire has produced slightly more.

Lets be honest though both must do much much better.

looking foreward to this i always enjoy watching big muscly internationals grappling eachother

Quote ="Canyoubelieveit"The great RFL cock up!! timesonline.typepad.com/rugby_league/'" Did they not phone Chris then?

Quote ="Canyoubelieveit"The great RFL cock up!! timesonline.typepad.com/rugby_league/'" Did they not phone Chris then?

You cannot have seen much of Crabtree this season then. he is much improved and the one thing he is doing very well is making yards and excellent offloads nearly all of which go to his team mates as opposed to other well known forward offloaders whose passes can go anywhere.

I see Shaun Briscoe has got in ahead of Paul Wellens, just wondering what this selection is based on. I know Wellens had a terrible World cup but his stats are a massive 50% better than Briscoe.

So on this basis has Briscoe been selected purely as a new face and can run a bit faster......because its certainly not based on what the players have achieved so far this season.

Scott Moore? Have I missed something there?

Just how are his stats a massive 50% better than briscoe? Briscoe makes more meters per carry, more clean breaks, more runs from dummy half, has fewer missed tackles and conceded fewer penalties. Who needs statistics though, anyone who watchs RL with half a brain can see Briscoe is far better than Wellens.
Smiths bizzare selection policy is to pick the team he thinks is best.

Quote ="rhinofox"Just how are his stats a massive 50% better than briscoe? Briscoe makes more meters per carry, more clean breaks, more runs from dummy half, has fewer missed tackles and conceded fewer penalties. Who needs statistics though, anyone who watchs RL with half a brain can see Briscoe is far better than Wellens. Smiths bizzare selection policy is to pick the team he thinks is best.'" Wellens' official stats are better than Briscoe's...... www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2009

Quote ="rhinofox"Just how are his stats a massive 50% better than briscoe? Briscoe makes more meters per carry, more clean breaks, more runs from dummy half, has fewer missed tackles and conceded fewer penalties. Who needs statistics though, anyone who watchs RL with half a brain can see Briscoe is far better than Wellens. Smiths bizzare selection policy is to pick the team he thinks is best.'" Wellens' official stats are better than Briscoe's...... www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2009

Depends how you interpret them I disagree

Stats are only half the story, put someone one on one with Wellens and they'll probably go around him with ease, it's a different story with Briscoe.

Depends who the person is. I've seen people go around Briscoe with ease, I've seen people go past Wellens with ease.

Trying new players is a good thing. Not picking Wellens is a very good thing. The sooner everyone realises that a bit of speed is an absolute must at full back the better.

Aye, takes slightly more effort to go round Briscoe...

No Chris Thorman


Most Hull fans wanted to see him in an England Shirt that weekend

Massivley improved his game and been one of the form hookers in sl.

I for one am happy he's not been called up! Hopefully he'll make the 17 against Wakey!

It's just got even easier.
[urlhttp://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rleague/09/06/03/RUGBYL_France.html[/url

Greenshields and Mogg eligible to play for France in the four nations, theyl add a lot to the team. How embarressing would it be for England to host the tournament and not win a game.

A lot less that the Aussies and the world cup