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

I wouldn't didn't rate him at wigan and i dont now

Mabye maguire would have made him better but not my cup of tea one bit if you find the thread about him on our board my comment was along the lines of 'is mm and il drunk or on drugs'

On the plus side crabtree had a cracker like i said griffin went ok robinson is no 7 he did well at 9 but his kicking game is ****

Joel was 100x better than brown today, can joel play alot better than that yes westwood was better today but imo joel is a better player

Brown your waaaay of let him get a tan and bring the water on he will do a better job

Robinson i agree and will add he needs to be in the middle of the pitch in defence he got caught a few times and they went straight at him

Griffin yeah he played ok did his job

Earl played very well just showed what he can do with decent players around him

Brown just looked average. Sam did some great things but some poor as well.

As has been said robbo was quality at 9, poor at 7.

Thought griffin was also average and didn't stake enough of a claim for me, although crabtree played a lot better than I expected.

Think only having 2 subs available for te entire 2nd half took it out of us but we just lacked any direction after sam went off.

Brown offered nothing to the game at all. Sam Tomkins made a huge difference but he needs to control his passing better and also communicate to his team mates something of what he is going to do: he isn't playing for Wigan now so they won't be expecting his wild runs, much as they are great to see. I hope he isn't out against the Kiwis or we are truly screwed. McBanana missed a trick in not bringing Brough this time even if he isn't the easiest individual to manage. We needed someone with real halfback skill out there given the absences through injury. Without Tomkins, we just don't have it at halfback.

Crabtree had a good game and I liked his nifty offload between the legs! Westwood also had a good game and hopefully he ran off the bang he got from the late tackle which should have been penalised.

We were too soft around the ruck defensively; in fact too soft defensively full stop, except for that excellent chase for the drop goal, which was heartening to see.

But at international level that is exactly what players have to cope with. If you want your players in the international team you have to take the heat. Heck, us Saints fans took it for long enough! Sam Tomkins had exactly the same issues to deal with as Brown but Tomkins, like a few others, looked just as good out there as they do for their clubs. If Brown cannot replicate that then he shouldn't be on the field. I don't know how well Brown plays at club level but he needs to seriously step up and get creative if we are going to stand any kind of chance next weekend should Tomkins be missing from action.

Good first half, we had no ball or shape in the 2nd half. Some off the pivots looked like they hadnt played together, which they havent. They need time. They played against mainly quality first teamers from the NRL, dont forget that. I agree, Robbo not an international 7, all Giants fans will tell you he cant kick long. Earl was very good, and griff good. Browny was ok, he is a 6 at least. S Tompkins is quality but not an easy half back partner,(full back for Wigan remember), he doesnt often link well for others but is a special player!

The obsession of you Joe Tomkins wet dreamers know no bounds.

Thought Brown was average but can do better.

Sam T is clearly weak passing left to right, the pass is slow and lacks accuracy. His long kicking game is inconsistent. He should not be the No1 kicker in any team. However... he is an outstanding fullback and will be the best English fb of the summer era. The fb position maximises the use of his talent. I spoke to Nathan brown a few weeks ago and he said Maguire was spot on playing him at fb. Steve Mac has sadly missed this. Nathan brown also recognised that Robbo and K Brown are particularly poor in long game kicking so brought in Brough. Brough's kicking game today + Tomkins at fb would have made us a stronger side (Widdop could play wing / centre or at 6)

Oh, I agree with that. But without other halfback options, if Tomkins is fit then he's our no.7. We have no option on that one IMO.

I still have no idea why Brough has never been chosen for an international.

www.superleague.co.uk/statistics_player.php?hs1=2010&hp1=2163&hs2=2010&hp2=470&stat=tries&season=2010

It was a nice hit out, just what was needed.

Thought Brown was ok. He can (and will) play better. Unlike Mcguire he creates not just follows up.

Griffin was solid (but won't get in the test team) and Robbo and Crabtree played well for me.

A few wonder tries in the second half got NZ back in the game.

Joel Tomkins didn't have the best game but isn't yet in the same class as Burgess and Ellis any way. Would be ok from the Bench as long as he keeps the pens count down.

Was generally impressed with Atkins and Hall.

Get a grip you lot we'll all be smiling after a great win next week.