I do not think that McNamara ever intends to pick MM, he is only in the squad in case Roby was to get injured, then he would have to pick him so that he wouldn't have to bring another player in.
McNamara's will always go with Roby at halfback for about 55min, then move Sinfield to halfback which would let him bring either Widdop or Burrow in.
If MM was to come on he would find it hard to bring on a half back substitute without making wholesale changes, it is set in stone that Chase and Sinfield play the full 80, regardless of form.

wait itll our long necked friend from over the lump see's that, he will wet himself with the excitement of posting a response!!!

I wouldn't be surprised to see Micky get his chance Vs Fiji in what will be a real physical battle.

On another note Josh had better hope Briscoe doesn't impress (Which shouldnt be too hard Vs Ireland) otherwise he might not get another game in the World Cup.

Barring injuries I think McIlorum and Hardaker may well struggle to get a game this series given their involvement in the drinking incident and the fact both are fringe players. It's a shame though, I think Mclorum would be a handy player to have out there in the opening stages of a test match. I'm undecided on Hardaker, it would be nice to have him in there but that would mean Tomkins to 6 (good) but then dropping one of Widdop or Sinfield. IMO Widdop's not really had a fair crack yet and we need Sinfield for his boot, plus like him or loathe him he has a hell of a lot of experience of leading teams to victory in big games.

Thought last nights was the best game of a very good bunch so far.

Haha. You do understand that hookers don't play against each other 1 v 1 don't you? Just because Wigan have been more successful than Saints in the last 3 years and have beaten us more times than we beat you, that doesn't mean McIlorum "owned" Roby.

Interestingly, Roby was named no.9 in the Dream Team in 2011 and 2012 and has been England's regular no.9. Not bad for someone who has been "owned."

I think sometimes it is easy to be blinkered and assume our own is better than anything else out there. But it's also very short-sighted. If Saints fans came on here saying Lomax should be England's no.1 you would all say it was a load of nonsense; suggesting McIlorum is England's best hooker is just as ridiculous to everyone but you Wigan fans.

To say MM has owned Roby for 3 years is a tad much! However, on the last 2 seasons I would put MM in my team ahead of any other hooker in SL. Roby is outstanding has been the best 9 in SL for a very long time. Last season though, he was devastated by injuries and both Lunt & MM therefore had better seasons. I like Roby but I wouldn't swap MM for him! McBanana has his favourites regardless of form. Roby is one of them as is Sinfield.

A very mature response; not one that I normally get on here.



To be honest I see your point with regards to this season. It could be argued that Roby hasn't played enough to warrant starting for England and whilst I would have been a bit surprised had he been left out, I would have understood it to a certain extent.
However McNamara is obviously well aware of what he is capable of and when all the no.9s in England are on top form Roby is comfortably the best in my opinion.

I very much agree with you on the issue of McNamara and him being very stubborn in his selection. I don't believe Sinfield and Chase had to do anything this season in order to get picked, it seems that decision was made a long time ago and he is sticking to it regardless.

Ablett over Farrell is another ridiculous one for me. I'd also have Mossop over Tom Burgess, but I'd have Crabtree over both of them if I'm honest.

poor poor Wales performance today.
Mr Harris hasnt done his rep any good with this World Cup. No creativity, no passion, not up to standard. 24 unanswered points.
Miracle needed now

They've been poor apart from Kopczak who has stood out for them.

Paulo, Priestly, Offerdahl, Pettybourne and Newton have looked good for USA.

Harris not covering himself in glory. Too much arm wrestle.

USA well better coached. Although the comeback is on.

Is Whether Roby or MM are should play on form a bit of an oversimplification, is it not as much if not more about who fits into the overall team system.

didn't take long did it!



Thou shalt not talk bad about Jim Roby, because nobody could ever play better than him. Ever.

Here we go, the bigoted stupidity begins.

Go and read my comments and then point out the bit where I said nobody could ever play better than him. Good luck.

You're probably right, but to know the answer to that you would have to be able to understand McNamara!

So what's the crack with Hardaker? If you can't say on here PM me

It oozes out of every awful and cringeworthy message you post. It must just really hurt that that big bully Mickey Mac shows Roby up every time they step on the field against each other.

Quote ="post"So what's the crack with Hardaker? If you can't say on here PM me'" www.loverugbyleague.com/news_137 ... squad.html first Hock, now Hardaker...doesnt exactly all smell of roses in the England camp

Quote ="post"So what's the crack with Hardaker? If you can't say on here PM me'" www.loverugbyleague.com/news_137 ... squad.html first Hock, now Hardaker...doesnt exactly all smell of roses in the England camp

Haha. I will never understand people like you. Going out of your way to pick a fight simply because I don't share the same opinion as you. It's probably because of people like you that Rugby League fans are still seen as unintelligent cavemen by some folk.

I would genuinely be interested to know exactly what I have said in this conversation about Roby and McIlorum that could be described as awful and cringeworthy. Also, I'd be equally as interested to see your response if a Wigan fan had written the exact same comments as I had.

Actually, it smacks more of a few silly kids getting giddy with all the hype & losing a bit of any sense they may have been born with. That said, "personal issues" could be anything, press conf tomorrow (?) from McN then a statement from Zak on Thursday. That's got to be the wrong way round.

[urlhttp://www.sportinglife.com/rugby-league/news/article/480/9011364/barwick-thrilled-with-world-cup[/url

England 19 for Saturday.

Carl Ablett (Leeds Rhinos, Hunslet Parkside)

Tom Briscoe (Hull FC, Featherstone Lions)

George Burgess (South Sydney Rabbitohs, Dewsbury Moor)

Sam Burgess (South Sydney Rabbitohs, Dewsbury Moor)

Rob Burrow (Leeds Rhinos, Featherstone Lions)

Rangi Chase (Castleford Tigers, Dannevirke Tigers)

Leroy Cudjoe (Huddersfield Giants, Newsome Panthers)

Liam Farrell (Wigan Warriors, Wigan St Patricks)

Brett Ferres (Huddersfield Giants, Smawthorne Panthers)

James Graham (Canterbury Bulldog, Blackbrook)

Ryan Hall (Leeds Rhinos, Oulton Raiders)

Chris Hill (Warrington Wolves, New Spring Lions)

Michael McIlorum (Wigan Warriors, Queens)

Lee Mossop (Wigan Warriors, Hensingham)

Sean O’Loughlin (Wigan Warriors, Wigan St Patricks)

Kevin Sinfield (captain) (Leeds Rhinos, Waterhead)

Sam Tomkins (Wigan Warriors, Wigan St Patricks)

Kallum Watkins (Leeds Rhinos, Latchford Albion)

Ben Westwood (Warrington Wolves, Normanton Knights)

1,000 tickets have just been released to sale for the Final, I'd move sharpish anyone wanting some!

Widdop must wonder why he's bothering sometimes.

Other then that I don't have too many issues. I can understand why Briscoe keeps his place and it should prove a lesson to Charnley in the future to never take your place for granted. I felt against the Aussies he played at half pace at points and its cost him. I'm surprised Roby isn't in but I think we'll see him back for the knock out stages playing alongside either Micky Mac or Burrow.

I'd leave Mossop and Ablett out of that 19.

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And who pray would be playing Hooker ?