Well there you go then, he aint a stand off.

But half of those other appearances are being made off the bench too, so who knows where he plays when he comes on. My guess would be 50/50 split which perhaps indicates he's played more of a stand off role than centre.

Put it this way, Bridge's figures should be higher than Yeaman's considering he's played more games, 8 of which have been in a much more prominent position on the field.

Which stats are you looking at?
The official super league stats show Bridge has
-3 times as many try assists (12 v 4)
-50% more tackles (330 v209)
- twice as many tackle busts (65 v 37)
- 6 times as many marker tackles (47 v


- 50% more clean breaks (15 v 9)

Yeaman has made more metres, however he has more carries so this is unsurprising, (Bridge has played in the halfback positions at times during the season).

Bridge's stats are pretty impressive but I don't expect you to agree on that.

Should be but then again I dont think Yeamans as bad as some make out. I reckon Bridges decision making is a lot better and he's sure as hell quicker. Bridge aint a finished article but he's pretty nifty. Simply put, potential but been hampered with injuries for a few years in his development. IIRC he was centre for England youths when they turned over the aussies that time Just to compare; www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2009

Should be but then again I dont think Yeamans as bad as some make out. I reckon Bridges decision making is a lot better and he's sure as hell quicker. Bridge aint a finished article but he's pretty nifty. Simply put, potential but been hampered with injuries for a few years in his development. IIRC he was centre for England youths when they turned over the aussies that time Just to compare; www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2009

He's played more at centre than stand off this season, basically filling in at 6 whenever Briers or Monaghan were injured, hence he's a better centre than stand off.

People!!!

Enough!!!!

Who REALLY cares that much who is in the squad/team???

We ain't gonna beat the aussies so why waste your time.

I think Bridge's stats are good, and he does seem to have kicked on this season.


Try assists mean nothing in comparison because he's played stand-off - Yeaman doesn't. Therefore one would naturally expect his figures to be higher.

The other stats you have to remember that Yeaman has played less games so his figures are going to worse in that respect. OK, had he played the same amount of games they may still be worse, but all it means is that you can pick the stats you want and ignore the others. For me, Bridge and Yeaman are pretty similar and one has the advantage because he plays for the national coach and can be judged week in week out on training etc.

About 90% of Bridge's assists have been at centre. I've lost count of the time he's put Hicks over this season.

From difficult positions too.
Look this is all irrelavant because the centres will be Gleeson and Shenton unless Senior has a change of heart or Smith decides to do whats right and puts Pryce there.

I'm not sure if playing pryce in a position he hasnt played regularly in a long time, after a poor world cup and a season that was far from his best, is doing whats right.

Can't agree more with the OP.

Tony Smith is a closest Rugby Unioner.

Do remember this is a train on squad.

Barry

Hayne's played fullback all year but will be playing on the wing for Aus.
Inglis used to play 6 all year then move to the centres. Not that big a deal imo

he's not going to be as good as if he played there all year is he? he hasnt been that great at stand off this year, and he's a far better stand off than he is a centre. I can understand your desire to get him in the team as on his day he can be a great player but i would rather play someone in the position they play all year than just slot them in somewhere for the sake off it. Theres no recent evidence to suggest that pryce would do well in the centres.

Bridge has been far better than Pryce this year

Neither however should be in the final England Squad

From memory Bridge had played 2 or 3 games more.

I was just responding to someone who said Yeaman's stats are better than Bridge and therefore he is more deserving than Bridge to be in the England train-on team. In reality this wasn't true.
It's good that people are suggesting alternative names rather than just slagging Smith off without justifying who they would rather pick. I think certain players may feel slightly hard done to such as Welham, but I don't think there is a clearcut case of someone who is clearly more deserving than Bridge and Harrison who hasn't made the squad, Yeaman included.

bridge and yeaman are nothing alike, kirk has always been argued about as a centre cum second rower which is what was holding him back from being a truly class centre and kicking on, more in the style of senior and latterly atkins where he runs hard and direct, bridge is a gleeson footwork style where he's got the ability to put the step on and accelerate around a defender through a gap, this is how in our eye's he's done a bloody good job of replacing big gleeson. And some of us have been saying for ages that he's a below average halfback but would make a great centre.

Ben Harrison I can understand as IMO he has great potential but Chris Bridge? Seriously?

I think I'd prefer Fielden in the squad than Bridge.

The biggest problem I have with this is not the selection of players for a train on squad that in reality is not going to beat Australia any way.

It's the blatant abuse of powers as the national head coach in appearing to be picking players for the squad becuase they play for him. ATEOTD and IMO neither Harrison (yet) or Bridge would be any where near the squad if Smith wasn't in charge.

I like Smith as a coach and the effect he has had on the domestic teams he has coached cannot be argued with, however at international level he just has not cut it (not had the cattle perhaps).

I just don't like the advantage this gives him/Warrington when it comes to delivering a message of 'come play for me and the national setup awaits', nor do I feel to comfortable in having some of the leagues best youngsters in the presence of someone who is appears to not be bothered about abusing his position.

This squad would of had 8 Warrington players in it if Atkins hadn't pulled out, thats more than both Leeds and Saints are likely to have and don't tell me that Smith didn't play the I'm the England head coach card when trying to sign Myler/Atkins

I don't particularly blame Smith more the RFL/system, it was the same whilst Noble was in charge it just didn't seem as 'in your face' as it does right now.

I like the idea of train on squads and bringing players who are on the fringe into the setup for the experience but as far as I am concerned the coaching setup should be headed by a full time coach (no idea who) who is not linked to any club and is therefore not providing any unfair advantage to any team in the league.

Whilst last year was pretty poor, the way you and many others talk, you would think the 2007 series against NZ never happened.
How did the team we stuffed do a year later?

Is it a full time job though? What does he do for 10 months of the year? Who are you going to get for the job if it's a full time role? The honest answer is that we would get a coach not regareded as good enough to have an SL or NRL head coaching position.

There also the fact that in a sport not awash with cash, a full time England coach might not be the best use of what would be a much greater expense for a full time coach than it would for a PT coach.

Beating half-a-side is hardly comparable. Look how they did against us in the 2008 World Cup.

IIRC, they had a full 17 out each game.
Look at what we did to them in 2007.

Why do we have such a hard time accepting success?

It's almost as if our supporters prefer to see their team lose, so they can bitch about it.

Quote ="Durham Giant"When i posted thisthread i had my doubts about Tony Smith viewtopic.php?t=430528 Now with this it has confirmed them www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... gland.html Is Bridge really going to be an England half back ahead of Pryce, Myler, Tompkins, Rachford, Burrows etc. Is Harrison going to be ahead of Wilkin Burgess, JJb etc. then why are they in the train on squad for England now . What has it done to attempts to get a meaningful international competition now Ireland have lost two key players. Between the RFL and Smith they are messing up International RL. Aditionally what does it say to club players come to Warrington and i will get you in the international squad. The sooner Smith **** off the better for England internationally he is incompetent, nepotistic and possibly a fifth columnist for the ARL and RU. What a waste of space Particularly when you look at the players left out. Dale Ferguson should have walked in ahead of Harrison. What a joke'" Really........ you sure about that???

Quote ="Durham Giant"When i posted thisthread i had my doubts about Tony Smith viewtopic.php?t=430528 Now with this it has confirmed them www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague ... gland.html Is Bridge really going to be an England half back ahead of Pryce, Myler, Tompkins, Rachford, Burrows etc. Is Harrison going to be ahead of Wilkin Burgess, JJb etc. then why are they in the train on squad for England now . What has it done to attempts to get a meaningful international competition now Ireland have lost two key players. Between the RFL and Smith they are messing up International RL. Aditionally what does it say to club players come to Warrington and i will get you in the international squad. The sooner Smith **** off the better for England internationally he is incompetent, nepotistic and possibly a fifth columnist for the ARL and RU. What a waste of space Particularly when you look at the players left out. Dale Ferguson should have walked in ahead of Harrison. What a joke'" Really........ you sure about that???

now that is a bold statement!! (not literally

)