he did have a shocker

Seems McBanana isn't only a England coach but he is also a bad motivator of players (even out of the international scene)

Also Atkins is a better than Goulding or Carmont

He'll learn from that tonight. He's still a long way from the finished article, but consider how far he's come in the short time he's been here, he'll be the best centre in the league in a few years time.

Has played better than he did tonight.

Everyone has an off game

Atkins IS a fine player...I don't really care what anyone else thinks....especially the muppet running England.

He got shown up tonight by Watkins. He's not in the same class as Watkins who in my opinion will be world class. Can't see it being too long before union or NRL come sniffing for him.

Atkins is still a very good player, he looked like he was playing under a bit of pressure tonight.

he just had a poor game.... along with everyone else in the team.

its no big deal.

There's some strange substances being smoked/sniffed/injected somewhere tonight, eh fellas.

Atkins was average, like quite a few players, only one of two good ones, e.g. Hill.

Higham was bad.

Carvell was very very BAD tonight.

So, we had a couple of ok players, 13 average, and two poor players, with one decent player going off, and three very influential players in the stand - and we lost by 8, away at the champions. The scenario 4 years ago would of been a 50 point drubbing.....

I don't really see why Watkins in particular seems to have been singled out in comparrison to Atkins. Both are quality centres. I would be more wondering why wellham is in there instead of Atkins, who is miles behind Atkins for me. Watkins is a cracking prospect and deserves to be in there along with atkins

Agreed... watkins is quality..... i dont think anyone is making a direct accusation at watkins..... its obvious there has been a fall out between atkins and mcnamara... first sign of a coach out of his depth.

I suppose it's just because we were playing each other this week that all the media seemed to highlight Watkins and Atkins and neglected others who are worse than both the above. More me at this time they should be the centres for England. I can see the point in including hardaker as I think he will have a big future in the game, and for me both hardaker and bridge would be in front of wellham

Oh and cudjoe is doing well at the moment. Again infront of wellham

no doubt about that.

Ryan had his worst game for Warrington tonight. I don't know why, maybe he was trying too hard to prove whoever wrong.

What I do know is that the entire Leeds three-quarter line was hyped out of all proportion by the Sky commentary team tonight. Hardaker appears to be Eddie's new sock, despite the fact he seems to be no more than a smaller version of Kirk Yeaman.

Don't know about that. Not his best but not his worst.



Yes you do



There you go.

Yeah that was good, you did that thing where you broke the post down - you'd be loved on the VT.

Definitely. I mean listen to Eddie on the commentary saying to 'look out in the future' (or something along those lines) for that Liam Hood... why Eddie, cus he happened to be in the right place to ground the ball when Myler cocked up? Hardly the most skilled of tries was it! Give me a break



Don't get me started on Stevo and his new nickname for Burrow which he used at EVERY opportunity. End of a bell.

Not that great a night for Atkins, I think Watkins had the better of him. I'd still like to see Atkins dominate the bigger teams more, I know he has had a couple of good games against the better teams but he does tend to go missing in them.

That Liam Hood has been given a try that was very short last week and that sitter from Myler's cock up this week.

Then there was the several errors from him for the 10 mins or so he was on the pitch

I wouldn't worry

really,

not many bigger games than wembley mmm. Atkins has come on so much since his arrival at Warrington, playing under a Smith and good players around him. Last night was one of those nights a few of the players weren't up to heir usual standard, happens to the best of em at times apparently.

Hood is a good player with lots of potential, however agree it is embarrassing the way Eddie goes on.

I think hood will be one to look out for but not for scoring 2 easy tries

Oh I am sure he will turn out great but I was saying on the evidence Eddie is coming across as barking mad.

I'm not really sure why people are comparing Atkins and Watkins anyway - they play on different sides of the pitch (otherwise they wouldn't of been against each other last night).

So, technically speaking, Watkins isn't ahead of Atkins - Cudjoe and Hardaker are - Chris Bridge is up for the same spot as Watkins!!!

As an outsider looking in, I would have picked Atkins in the squad, but anybody bracketing him with Watkins is missing the point.

Watkins already looks the best centre the country has produced in a generation - he should be a shoo-in for year's to come.

It's Kris Welham, Zac Hardaker and, in particular, Kirk Yeaman who you should be concentrating on.

Yeaman just fell short in the Four Nations and, at the age of 28, is not going to improve - there is no conceivable reason why he should in the squad above Atkins!