Yeah. He just can't bring himself to credit Leeds for keeping the ball alive and playing free flowing, exciting rugby. He's certainly inherited Wigan's possession based, emphasis on defensive ruck control, boring philosophy. Phil Clark, as much as he's got a permanent erection where Wigan are concerned, at least praises us for this.

Oh, and Tomkins must be selected at FB due to his world class attacking ability. Despite this ability never being evident against NZ or Australia before. If World Class is now playing well against the likes of Wakefield; he's your man!

I can't wait until next week. NZ have some great individuals, both their hookers are superb, and significantly better than ours, but for the first time in years we may have 2 halves with a better kicking game than the opposition. They'll always give you chances, and make mistakes. If England can wrap the ball, and slow down the ruck we have every chance. However, they also have the players to blow England away.

What is the score?

Finished 36-16. NZ

jet lagg will have played its part i wouldn't get carried away

Too right... I ended up muting the game because of Harris' mind-numbing drivel about 'completing your sets' ad nauseam... it was ruining my enjoyment of what was a really entertaining game, mostly thanks to Leeds' carefree style of play.

Too right. That style's going to mean the odd ball goes to ground.
It was an exhibition game, played to entertain. That's how it should be played.

I'm tired of hearing about how 'depleted' NZ are. Yes, their halves are definitely weakened, but they're still world class across the park. If England do win the series by any margin then it will be a superb achievement.

To be fair NZ were superb to watch at times, also.

unfair really imo.Leeds went toe to toe there for a good hour.

Did anyone find the coverage improved as Silverwood's micraphone was on the blink? Sky & BBC take note, It made an entertaining game better.

Leeds might have played the Kiwis into form there. They certainly finished the match looking better than they did at the start, and Kearney will probably have worked out he should play Nikorima and Lolohea as the halves because Hiku looked lost at 6.

Absolutely, Charlie! I'm not going to get into a Leeds v Wigan argument when we should be celebrating our sport. Harris was a tedious bore and the Leeds youngsters did themselves proud against a rusty NZ side who still had world-class talent on display.

Issac Luke's significantly better than Roby? Kodi Nikorima's significantly better than Josh Hodgson? Steady now.

I'd say so. Certainly with ball in hand.

Roby is a very good player but Isaac Luke is better.

That is up for debate but the poster who said significantly better was wrong imo.

ah, I only saw the first half, in which Leeds could have scored four or five tries. I'm guessing the Kiwis were rusty and jet lagged to be fair.

Leeds' young side took a not undeserved lead early in the 2nd half. The turning point then was when NZ brought on a fresh Adam Blair and Sam Moa (plus the other hooker who looked like another Issac Luke) as Leeds kept interchanging a tiring Morley, Lauititi, Leuluai etc. Leeds' Ashton Golding looked an international full-back in the making & Jordan Lilley will be a star quality half-back. (Throw Sam Burgess into this new Leeds mix and they could be on for a few more trebles).


NZ will benefit from this but if England get their act together a 3-0 series win is very possible.

For Harris to keep saying that England will have failed if they don't win the series 3 - 0 is naïve.
Yes NZ have some players missing but, they certainly won roll over and surrender.
How many times have Aussie or NZ come over here lacking some first choice players and kicked our backsides.

England will be favourites but, the Kiwi's are no mugs.

Last night was just a glorified training session and although Leeds 2nd string did well, especially in the first half,
Test rugby is a whole different proposition.

Write them off at your peril.

Then again, after Wales' performance in the last WC he is well-qualified to speak on the subject.

I was most impressed with Singleton, very aggressive but in a controlled manner. Golding was excellent, deceptively strong, he should a star when he fills out. Although Lilley was very involved & controlling I didn't see anything special I'm afraid. He wasn't creative & lacks the speed to make up for that. I hope I'm wrong but nothing more than Matty Smith or Deacon showed.

This was - supposedly - as close to the first Test side that New Zealand had available, against a Leeds side missing 12 players, and giving farewell run-outs to two old men in Lauitiiti and Morley. Barring a spell in the second half, Leeds gave as good as they got for large parts of the game.

New Zealand have a huge forward pack, but match that and they don't have the halves to get their outside backs into space. Everything comes off the back of offloads, or Luke jumping out of dummy half. Slow that up, and they are there for the taking.

A lot of young lads in that Leeds side - Golding, Handley, Lilley, Baldwinson, Mulhern - stood up against supposedly some of the best players in the world in their respective positions and will come out a lot better for the experience. Would have been interesting to see what the Leeds grand final line-up could have done.

It's hard to escape the conclusion that a Leeds side with Sinfield, Hall, and the rest would/could have turned them over. On the night, anyway. Agree about the Kiwis' strengths and weaknesses; they were crying out for a Benji Marshall to get them going. But what a player Issac Luke is! You just have to stop him, or at least, reduce his effectiveness, to beat NZ.

A full strength Rhinos would have beaten the out of sorts Kiwi's on Friday IMO