At least he is more Italian than Chase is English!!!!

Who knows maybe after a successful World Cup, Berlusconi might be watching and think why not set up a Super League franchise. I'm sure he would get on well with Nigel Wood and Brian Barwick. Could you imagine the intensity of those great European nights when the Wigan Brigantes go down to Milan and meet the Ultras, flares in the stadium, smoke bombs, everyone with scarves over their faces, it would be electric.

I think some of Wigan's women supporters would frighten the life out of any Utras & riot police.

And that's just the Wigan fans.

Something certainly frightened the Wire supporters at Old Trafford, a lot of empty seats at kick off, and thousands more with ten minutes left to full time.

Dropkick Murphy is salivating at the thought of it! FORZA WIRE n all that.

The England / ireland match at Hudds has now sold out apparently. And it looks as though other matches are filling up quickly. Looks like very good news for income, TV audiences, and RL publicity in general. www.examiner.co.uk/news/world-cu ... ut-6207595 If the world cup is a big success, perhaps it will nudge the Aussies into enlarging the WCC and getting TV rights sold internationally.

The England / ireland match at Hudds has now sold out apparently. And it looks as though other matches are filling up quickly. Looks like very good news for income, TV audiences, and RL publicity in general. www.examiner.co.uk/news/world-cu ... ut-6207595 If the world cup is a big success, perhaps it will nudge the Aussies into enlarging the WCC and getting TV rights sold internationally.

btw I was one of those at the England v Italy game yesterday.

Chris Hill had a decent game when he came on, one of a very few who could be pleased with his performance.

very true...add to that its the 1st game of the tournament nerves a plenty will be on show....we`ll still get thrashed....

Perhaps the hot weather training in South Africa didn't prepare them well for a thunderstorm in Salford. Just a thought.

It reminded me of us stepping off the flight from Sydney and getting straight on the bus to Hull in -10 degrees conditions two years ago. It may seem bizare to the layman but there is certainly a reason behind why most clubs elect to go on a hot weather training camp just before the start of their respective campaigns.

McNamara's team selection remains a joke, and he has boxed himself in with his squad selection.

I'm clinging to the forlorn hope that this might make him see what week-in-week-out SL form, and failed England performances haven't.

Carl Ablett is not, and never will be a centre. Not at SL level, not at international level, not at Sunday pub level.
Sinfield is not a stand-off. You can put him in a 6 shirt & call him John Woods if you like, but it won't change a thing.

Still, the English press love to laugh at the countries failing at international sport (which are frequent and often spectacular) so it should be good publicity. Especially in Queensland & NSW.

Didn't Carl Ablett, whilst playing at centre score past us in last year's Grand Final?

Pretty sure it was Sinfield, at half back who set him up n all.

They didn't frighten me but i'm sure a few police horses were startled !

Didnt Ablett not score in this game too?

Leeds were only playing us and we are not a difficult team to get past out wide are we?

No your not really,or down the middle.

Get a grip. I didn't say they weren't ok (or in Sinfield's case very good) players, just that they are being played out of position and, whilst you might get away with it sometimes at club level, you won't get away with it at international level.

Would you do a straight swop Ablett for Rhys Evans? or Atkins?
Would you play Sinfield at 6 in preference for Briers?

No. Ablett is a good utility backrower, Sinfield is a average SL stand-off, a capable hooker, a very good LF and an excellent kicker. Full stop, end of.

+1

I can remember Aussie teams with Craig Wing and Shaun Timmins at stand-off and Sinfield is far more of a 6 than either of them.

And last time the World Cup was on in England they had Andrew Johns at hooker.

I wonder what bizarre selections the Aussies will come up with this time.

To be fair you did say Ablett wasn't a centre at SL or even Sunday pub level, which is clearly an exaggeration, but I agree that I found it extremely depressing to see him named at centre for a pre-world cup match.

Four England players allegedly sent home from camp...

Hock expelled from squad, replaced by Ferres.

How many chances does this guy need? 1st class end...