But Sinfields never kicked well in an England shirt. Saying that he's probably never been playing in the right position either.

O'Loughlin is rubbish.


O'Loughlin is overrated.



You read it on The Virtual Terrace.

I think if Brough doesnt play then Sinfield has to.

Ive only seen the first half from the Wire/Leeds game but Peacock if continuing in that form has to start with Graham, to offer us some form of presence. Roby picks himself. Back 3 of Ellis, Westwood and Sinfield if no Brough or Ellis, Westwood & Heighington if there is.

I think we need to have more faith in our HB's than reverting to having a LF who's not quite a second rower, and not quite a Stand Off.

I'd go with Heighington, Ellis + Westwood as 11,12 + 13.

HB's likely to be Chase + Widdop, with Tomkins at FB. If we had a hooker like Cam Smith, or Michael Monaghan I'd feel there was enough creativity, but Roby isn't that style of hooker. Try those combinations in a warm up game, if we feel we need a player with a bit more of a kicking game, I'd rather we put Brough in the halves rather than Sinfield at LF.

Why? I've been watching RL for more than 30 years and have seen many great loose forwards. Mr Niggle is not among them.

Why? I didn't see the likes of Mal Reilly, Steve Norton, Ellery Hanley, Paul Sculthorpe or George Nicholls every week either, but it was clear that they were outstanding No 13s. Mr Niggle is not.

It's funny how lots of people think Lockers is overrated. Apart from the England coaches that is.

What would they know compared to all the experts on here.

When I used this ' GB coach selection' argument to support Jon Clarke there were not many takers...................

Not sure where the 'niggle' description come from. I think you need to move on from the O'Loughlin of 5 years ago to the O'Loughlin of today, a very hard-working, devastating tackler with a great pair of hands and a good kicking game when required.

O'Loughlin isn't a Hanley or Reilly. But he's still a fantastic player and he's probably been the first name on Maguire's teamsheet every week.

Anyone who doesn't think he's a big loss to England either doesn't watch much RL, or doesn't understand it.

He might not be an all time great but he is miles better than anything else weve got.

So because people didn't like your argument then, you've decided to do an about turn and use the argument people used against you?

He is very average and a head hunter
Hardly a great combo.
If he is missed then England are in bigger trouble than I thought.

Bit convoluted, your thinking. Try running it the other way - Jon Clarke will be a big miss for England this Autumn.

Your first point answers itself. Your second point is nonsense - I've seen as much RL as virtually anyone on these boards (although admittedly only ever played it at a very lowly second-team grade amateur level ) and understand it as well as most.

Whilst you are entitled to your opinion, the fact that he is the only British player currently playing who has won a man of the series at International level rather disproves your theory.

O'Loughlin is the best we have for a 13 at International level.
Trouble is our player pool is too small hence we bring in foreign born players.
Lockers out and on here it's Heighington.
Widdop may play or may not, if not then Chase will come in.
At least Reed and Widdop were born here.

One out of the back door for selection in the pack, Gareth Hock.
If brought into the squad will have to sit out one game due to the ban.
He's big, powerful, pacey, skillful and physical enough to take on the Aussies.
If he was selected he'd be the most skillful player in the pack.
Anyone with any thoughts on the possible selection of Gaz Hock?

OR they just dont rate him as highly as you..... and probably see sinfield as a better 13 anyway.

I thought when he returned from his lengthy ban, Hock could be a bolter for the England team in the 4N’s – for exactly the reasons you state, he is big, strong, a good runner and skilful

But even before his latest ban, I don’t think he did enough to earn a call up – he showed glimpses of good form but for me his defence was quite a bit away from where it should have been. I think he would have been shown up internationally this Autumn. That’s not to suggest he wouldn’t be worth a shout at the end of a full SL season (if he manages to stay away from the beaks)

p.s. agree that O’Loughlin is the best option we have at 13 – he is very well suited to play internationally where he has more size and strength than Sinfield etc but he has been very unlucky with the timings of injury and not has a chance to demonstrate this as much as we would have hoped

We have a coach who is a politician, tries to please everyone, he won't bring him in.

O'Loughlin has his faults but we will miss him because he is another leader on the field and you can never have enough of them when you're playing against the world's best.

Hock isn't good enough, isn't fit enough and has no form.

Other than that and his attitude, appearance and level of intelligence, he's perfect.

All true, if understated to an infinite degree.

Convoluted? No, not at all quite straight forward! You can't make your mind up if the England coach's opinions are valid or not. Or perhaps they are only valid when they suit your argument, and not when they don't.