Rose tinted glasses???

Widdop dropped a high ball (he should have caught) other than that was reasonable and supported well for the try.
Fielden was quiet I agree but that is a tough pack to match up to.

Griffin was largely on par with Fielden but had a decent enough game as interchange prop.
Robinson struggled in both decision making and impact and IMO is not international class.......quick over 10 yards at SL level but thats it.
Brown is and never will be an international 6.

Can see your logic in bringing Crabtree in but that will more than likely mean for Griffin.

Shame Cudjoe cant play centre as maybe he wouldnt be quite the turnstyle in defence that both ours were at times today?

Next up I'd put Widdop to centre in place of Atkins, Tomkins at FB, Eorl in the pack off the bench and move Robbo to SH to start and then depending on who is doing better sub between him and Roby.

Macca has picked a few Hudds boys. He picked us not just because of the individuals but how they played together as a group. He should let them play as they play with us; let them interact and interchange in the game as we do. Be fluid. With Tomkins at 7 it restricts the other half to play as the defending half and it doesn't work; it's not how any of them play and we end up looking predictable. Browny is doing as he is told, EOS.

I note no one has countered that Brown, for all the criticism, threw the pass for Lockers break and the last ball to Widdop when he could have been greedy and tried to score himself. He's not doing what he does with us, is he? But would NB ask him to do what he's doing?

1. Tomkins
2. Goulding (though Cudjoe could go there for me)
3. Widdop
4. Shenton
5. Briscoe
6. Brown
7. Robbo (fluid with Roby)
8. Graham
9. Roby
10. Fielden (could pick Griff but wont to be fair, Fielden did as much as Griff but concede more penalties and errors)
11. Ellis
12. Burgess
13. Lockers

14. Eorl
15. Griff (Fielden: we MUST have 4 props)
16. Westwood
17. I leave to Macca, although he will pick J Tomkins.

Just to throw in there; look at the 1,6,7,9. Pick and mix lads, pick and mix.

The English game is about the fact we mix and match, that is the strength. Sam Tomkins is a gobby sh*te but he is also a clever, talented lad and he can slip in and fill the Bodgy gap and complement Robbo, Brown and Roby. Mix and match.

You can even take Brown and swap with Lockers. This is what it needs at this level; we need to mix it up and make the opposition wonder, hesitate.

Widdop is going to be skinned alive at FB against the Aussies so young Tomkins should be there.
Atkins took a heavy knock on the thigh so I doubt we'll see him very soon.
Hall will probably come in at centre, but why not play Leroy, NB says that's his best position (who would argue with the 2009 SL Manager of the year?).
Robbos' run was never going to come off, he had worked his socks off for quite a while and I'm sure there was nothing left in the tank.
On the whole it was a far better second half and as a unit they were asking questions of the Kiwis that could not be answered. Without Benji they would have been nothing.

shenton done his ankle ligaments

cudjoe maybe to come in?? or ship somebody else over from england...

Once the tournament has started, no further players can be added.

If your pack is on the back foot getting mauled for 80% of the game, you dont need halves you need Geniuses, Sam Tomkins needs to be at full back (best in Superleague ) Atkins Oh dear, Shentons defence Oh dear, Tackling from the England pack Oh deary me,( Westwood and O'Loughlin the pick ) Browns kicking Oh dear, ( other than that was as good as anyone else) Robinson ran out of steam late on ( but was still backing up ) broke the line with no one to pass too, good as anyone, J Tompkins anonymous ( but not on long ) As a team out gunned all over the park, some poor performances, and not one outstanding one.

Some interesting posts. I like part of the last one. Every tournament we talk about having the best pack? But they never dominate. Props arent powerful enough. Halves have to have something to play behind! Browny did ok, but is not a great kicker. Robbo did well at dummy half. Best playes for me. O'Loughlin throughout. Robbo, Shenton 2nd half, Westwood - if they were all that committed, Roby 2nd half, but too blinkered, J Tompkis, big impact for short time on pitch, Graham 2nd half. Griff wasnt great like Fielden. Thought the new lads froze in the first half and then realised they werent playing supermen. Would love Frank Paul to be British. Atkins was poor in defence. And we lack a bit of power, that shows in the contact, but that can develop if you play at the top level, i.e NRL.

Can't do that, the rules don't allow once the comp has started.