Missed that.

We knew Fielden wouldnt play but Graham rested and Griff in?

Probably just nursing a slight injury or something. Or maybe just needed an extended rest. Not as if he would be dropped!

its a solid team all told.

Fielden has had a great season and no mistake, but he has also got a very poor rep at international level, even when he was in his pomp at Bradford

Crabtree has had a flat season by his standards, but has picked it up at the business end of the season, and that counts for a lot. Plus he did the business against the ockers last time out.

Griff has been the hard worker, no flash carries, no massive busts, but the man doing the hard bloody graft in the middle, and thats what allows the likes of Patrick (and in Englands case Fielden or Crabtree) to come on and get the offloads and big busts.

Sam Tomkins has the pace and agility to burn, and given that the England pack is good enough to give him and Brown some space, then he should revel in it and I bloody well hope so.

Kev is one of the most underrated stand offs in the game, he gives the team something that Tomkins doesnt, a brilliant distributer of the ball, he might not be wearing shiney yellow boots, but he will be the one pulling the strings. It is my genuine opinion that he is one of the most complete stand offs we have seen in a generation.

Robbo has the ability to play at 7 or 9, and in both he has a super little kicking game, the speed to go through gaps from 9 and the defence to bring even the biggest down one on one.

A LOT of people have written this team off, but its probably the most balanced, well thought out squad we have taken in years, picking players based on form, skill and temperament is a huge tick in Macca's for column in my opinion. Better than previous coaches picking on club and rep and earning us a spanking.

I actually have a lot of hope that this squad, even if they ultimately dont win the comp, will do themselves bloody proud.

Oh, and dont forget this is a warmup game, players are still playing for places. Graham is nailed on for the full test, Griff and Crabtree arent so have a chance to prove themselves.

oh yeah, expect the props for the first full test to be

Graham and Morley and then it depends on how well Crabtree and Griff do, if they tear the Maori apart then they may both get the nod over Fielden, otherwise it will be Fielden + Crabtree I bet.

Says on the BBC that we still can't play more than 17 players. Which two of the subs you reckon will miss out?

Also..............

The Wire players.

If Robinsons going to be on the bench then i'd imagine Cudjoe would drop out. There's enough utility from Tomkins and Brown to cover across the backline so we don't need 2 backs on the bench. Unless he wanted to give Cudjoe a chance to stake his claim but I see that backline pretty much settled already.

We will have a hooker on the bench, another prop (moving Burgess up as fourth prop) and therefore 2 second rows.

Therefore I would expect Cudjoe (19th) and Harrison (18th) be to be dropped. I see no point putting Cudjoe on there as 18th man / water carrier as three weeks ago he ended his season on crutches therefore better to 'rest' him.

fair point

maybe he starting spot is already assured for the big event

I find this whole thread quite interesting, on one hand you have some derogatory comments about our players from posters mainly from Wigan because they dared to be picked by the England coach.

Most of the Huddersfield players should never be picked, are never good enough, utterly rubbish ans not fit enough to tie the laces of the toilet cleaners boots from the DW stadium........etc.etc.........


Well get use to it fellow Giants fans because it's the price we'll all have to pay for following a club with ambition, desire, know how and drive to succeed, yep having a team full of international stars will bring these types trollers along - long may it continue

Well, after years of watching players from Leeds, Saints, Bradford and Wigan get spanked, it will make a change if nothing else.

After all, we have been so successeful just picking the favourites from those few clubs havent we.

Quote ="inside_man"But he has made a lot more tackles so there's bound to be more penalties in there. For what its worth I would have Griffin over Coley. www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2010 Thats Fielden against Griffin. =#FF0000:hrywkavxIf it came to it would you have Griffin or Crabtree for that "impact" prop role?[/ Griffin has been the better prop this season BUT Eorl is a differeent palyer to any of the props that we have . If encouraged to play on offloading game he can do it very well. As an impact prop i would go for eorl. For a workaholic to share the work with Graham i would say Griffin. It all depends on what balance and tactics mcBanana wants to employ.

Quote ="inside_man"But he has made a lot more tackles so there's bound to be more penalties in there. For what its worth I would have Griffin over Coley. www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2010 Thats Fielden against Griffin. =#FF0000:hrywkavxIf it came to it would you have Griffin or Crabtree for that "impact" prop role?[/ Griffin has been the better prop this season BUT Eorl is a differeent palyer to any of the props that we have . If encouraged to play on offloading game he can do it very well. As an impact prop i would go for eorl. For a workaholic to share the work with Graham i would say Griffin. It all depends on what balance and tactics mcBanana wants to employ.

Crabtrees stats are more comparable to Fieldens and i think he edges it when you consider he has played four games fewer.

Unless McBanana feels that any impact we need in terms of offloading and breaking the line can come from the 2nd rowers. In fairness Burgess can definately do that and *IF* Joel plays so can he. He may just decide to have workhorse props on constantly to just make the hard metres and try and get good field position.

I wouldn't make anything of the squad for tomorrow even more so after macs comment about graham

I fully expect sam to run these kiwis all over show

Anything to add now?

I know it's only the first game but we cant afford to play like that from now on, one man rugby doesn't cut it anymore

What exactly would you like me to add? Last I heard Sam doesn't have 14 brothers and we've only just drawn a game where you said Sam would run the Kiwis all over the show. You're the one decrying one man rugby but talking up one man. You figure it out.

And now we hand over the batton to your guys. Happy to do so to be honest. Hudds fans can take the fallout for a change!

Btw, I thought Robinson was good but Brown isn't up to it at international level. If Tomkins is fit next weekend (which I sincerely hope he is) then it should be Tomkins at 7 and Robinson at 6.

As ever, Roby was magnificent.

I think today proved that brown is out of his depth and robinson at 7 he did ok at 9

Only a fool would judge a player after one full International regardless of whether he played well or poorly. Especially when he's travelled half way round the world to play it. Things just aren't that black & white.

You maybe proved right.

You would probably like us to drop Brown and bring in an overrated Aussie.
Oh. We cannot it is England and not Wigan.

We will just have to give him time to find his feet and maybe try to develop a relationship with his half back partner. Not just condemn a player who is playing an unfamiliar role and in a new set up. On many occassions he was playing scrum half and dummy half. Not a role he plays at the Giants. despite that he did OK in the first half.

If i was you i would be worried about your wonder kid. Is he turning into Danny McGuire just some one who backs up the work done by others eg Robinson and Crabtree.

The slagging off of brown by a Wigan fan is interesting. If you think brown was bad (i didn't) then you must think Joel Tomkins had a stinker - while many of our forwads did reasonably well J Tomkins was poor and on this showing Westwood showed he is far better at this level.

Brown - okay. showed one or two quality touches- no one in their right mind would select him to kick. Uncharacteristically soft defence on a couple of occassions. A few times he received dreadful passes. A full week working with the team especially the backrowers and we should see more of his passing game next week. Certainly worth selecting next week.

Robbo. Effective as a 9 unlocked the maoris a few times. his distribution will get better as he works more with the forwards. Not a 7 and no long kicking game. Should be selected.

Griff. Solid peformance. Did exactly what would be expected of him. If everyone is fit would probably not be selected but has shown he can do a job for England.

Eorl. Showed exactly why he was selected ahead of several other potential props. He often attracts up to 4 players into a tackle, able to hit up out wide and can off load under pressure - which opens up defences. Would be staggered if he is not on the bench next week.

Well by all accounts Wigan, and thus Michael Maguire, was after Brown prior to him extending his stay with us.

Had he actually gone to Wigan and be wearing their colours in SL I'd happily bet my last quid that king warrior would be singing a different tune with regards to him.

Lmao a danny mcguire wow you are after a bite or dont know much about rugby

Did you see him in the gf saints was scared everytime he got the ball he ripped them to bits and today he goes off we go to pot come on durham thought better of you