Quote ="Lefty"People who are slating Morley should really look at the stats for the game and he wasn't as bad as people are making out Morley only made 6 runs in the second half and made the same metres as Crabtree. I think we are over reacting a little here. They were GOOD in the first half and went round the pack completely. It would have been hard for any player. I'd imagine we would be saying the exact reverse now if Eorl had started and Morley came off the bench.'" live.nrlstats.com/matches/nrl/match2709.html 2nd Half stats: 8. Adrian Morley 6 (50m) 14. Eorl Crabtree 12 (100m) also making 4 tackle breaks to Morleys 1. Half as many metres. (Same meters per carry but half as much work)

Quote ="Lefty"People who are slating Morley should really look at the stats for the game and he wasn't as bad as people are making out Morley only made 6 runs in the second half and made the same metres as Crabtree. I think we are over reacting a little here. They were GOOD in the first half and went round the pack completely. It would have been hard for any player. I'd imagine we would be saying the exact reverse now if Eorl had started and Morley came off the bench.'" live.nrlstats.com/matches/nrl/match2709.html 2nd Half stats: 8. Adrian Morley 6 (50m) 14. Eorl Crabtree 12 (100m) also making 4 tackle breaks to Morleys 1. Half as many metres. (Same meters per carry but half as much work)

It was no surprise to us Giants fans how well Eorl played, he's been like that all season. The difference is that most of you admitting you are wrong about him was because you was actually supporting a side that he was playing in.

Sorry mate but thats rubbish. I was one of those you are talking about and I can always admit to rating players in other teams, it is just that Crabtree has honestly never impressed me due to a variety of reasons, mainly being that he doesnt run his weight and size and goes missing at times.

He however did play very well on Saturday, which I acknowledged earlier on this thread, but he doesnt play like that consistently hence why I have never rated him. If he does he will be a regular for England thats for sure. Before you say it I dont believe it is just a coincidence that he hasnt played particularly well in any Huddersfield matches that I have seen and that he has been outstanding in all the ones that I havent.

He has played like that in EVERY SINGLE GAME THIS SEASON.

Absolute, simple fact.

Quote ="Code13"He has played like that in EVERY SINGLE GAME THIS SEASON. Absolute, simple fact.'" Apart from the seven games he missed against: Saints (H) Bradford (A) Hull (H) Castleford (A) Leeds (A) Hull (A) Saints (A) www.slstats.org/p348/Eorl%20Crabtree.html

Quote ="Code13"He has played like that in EVERY SINGLE GAME THIS SEASON. Absolute, simple fact.'" Apart from the seven games he missed against: Saints (H) Bradford (A) Hull (H) Castleford (A) Leeds (A) Hull (A) Saints (A) www.slstats.org/p348/Eorl%20Crabtree.html

That was an implied given that only arch pedants and people who talk in cinemas would point out.

He always seems to play that way when its against us, good lad with guts to take them on.

Not 100% true. I've liked him as a player for years, but I never saw him take the step up from Enlgand reserves to the first-squad. While I always rated him I didn't think he was quite that good.
While I did preffer England to win over Oz, my team is France, so I wasn't really supporting his team, the difference is that he has had a shot in the top side and he did himself proud. The only time I've said I didn't think he would do well at this level is in this topic, where I followed that up by saying that I thought he was one of the key impact players for England.

Get the grammar right and the rest will follow...

That's what I was alluding to.

What, that Crabtree did more work than Morley?

Too early to say whether he's a natural international or dog which has had its day.

I'm not denying Crabtree had a better game here. I am simply stating that there has been somewhat of an overreaction on here (surprise) about it. Considering Morley's career and form over the season and the past ten years for that fact, I trust him to put it right.

True, maybe next time he'll get sent off early doors instead.

www.gillette4nations.co.uk/article.php?id=15845 Comes across very well, when interviewed.

www.gillette4nations.co.uk/article.php?id=15845 Comes across very well, when interviewed.

Only one way to find out, start him against Oz.

If nothing else it will send a clear message to the squad that Form will pick itself.

Very eloquent. Must be after an RU contract

Picking on form Crabtree will be in the 17. The decision on whether to start him or not should be based on him being more effective as an impact prop off the bench. It says nothing about him being either a better player or in better form than the two props who will start.

Indeed, RL is not a 13 man game any more

I don't understand why you can't have an impact from the start, then interchange. TS knows England needs a good start.

If he's articulate it won't be long before the RL anti-intellectual brigade line him up behind the crosshairs.

but impact isn't much use if you are already 20 points down! Seems silly to have the best two forwards sat on the bench then having to bring them on to play catch up.

That's a different problem though. Playing someone out of position (starting an impact prop) to try and fix it isn't a good solution.

Given that we actually have a good set of props the problem is that they weren't they as effective as you'd hope in the first 20 minutes. Personally I'd be looking at the decision to start an impact hooker (again, out of position) who isn't particularly known for his distribution skills.

we weren't 20 points down because of the pack. Our packs stats are better than the Aussie pack stats. They threw it wide and our backs couldnt cope.

not that simple its a team game. the backs rely on players on the inside not leaving them exposed.