Exactly when it comes down to it hes the 2nd best option we have? The 100th player in line for the Australian right centre would probably be better than what we've got. It just highlights how weak the English national game is, its a shame. However i do rate Harrison and if the likes of him, Tomkins, Shenton, Owen, Eastmond (if he doesnt go to RU) Myler, Ainscough, etc live their careers to their potential then we wont be far off um in the future. The present standard however when compared with Australia is embarrassing.

That bum mathers would do a better job than chris 'thug' bridge

What a joke!

EDIT- Shenton and atkins are 100x player he is

It's bull!!

The likes of Dale Ferguson and Joe Westermann should be picked instead of Bridge. I quite like Harrison.

Had Atkins not pulled out because of injury 'the thug'

Bridge wouldn't of got in the 'train-on' squad, not the 'official' squad, the 'train-on' squad.

Taking away the facts of these lads swapping and changing countries are they actually good enough to be making an England squad?

I believe Harrison is getting to that point as he keeps improving but Bridge

I'd say he's a way off and we really must be struggling if he can get a place in the squad.

The inclusion of Bridge has again got me worried about Tony Smiths selection abilities as an international coach. The guy took 4 props and 9 backrowers to a World cup and packed his side with players from 2 clubs. He now looks like he'll pack the side with players from 3 clubs regardless of abilities because he knows these guys on a more personal level(well 2 sets anyway).

Brough left out yet Bridge included is crazy stuff imo. We need a halfback with a clever kicking game not an average centre with behavour problems.

He's Scottish! TS is picking the England team

He's as English as Roast Beef and John Smiths bitter and has put his hand up to play for England just like Chris Bridge has yet hasn't been picked which i just can't understand. Lets look at our halfback options-

McGuire
Pryce
Tomkins
Myler
Burrow
Eastmond

What have they got in common? To me it's the fact that their strengh is in the running side of the game. They're individual talents that cause problems with ball in hand.

We need a halfback to partner one of these that can probe defences with clever passing and kicking and in Brough we have that man imo. The added bonus is Brough would actually give us a goalkicker.

As for Bridge he's not a bad player and again can kick goals but an England international? Not imo.

Chris Bridge has the potential to be the best british centre IMO.

Oh my God please tell me you are joking!! Atkins and Shenton are streets ahead let alone anyone coming through the ranks at any of the Super League clubs.

I'd put Yeamen in front of him as well, Chev Walker.......I could go on and on.

Nope, no joke.

If Bridge can stay fit, he can be the best British centre in SL - he's a very very talented player, far more so than Yeaman/Atkins/Walker. It's a big if though.

Dobson will be available/eligible to play for England before the next world cup due to him living in the country for x amount of years won’t he?

Regardless of if people think it’s correct or not Dobbo is a quality player who offers what you mentioned above and would be an asset to the team.

I personally don’t mind players such as Peterson in Cricket, Hargreaves in Football or Catt in RU if they play with passion and commitment for the England team they are in.

If he fancies it then IMO he has to be considered…….

Would you be happy if saints bought him? If he is National level then you should be, but he would be (IMO) the weakest link in the current Saints side.

I would be beside my self with anger if Wigan did.

Very happy, as I would be if we signed Ben Harrison.

All i can say is it's amazing how differently people see the same player.

Over the hill IL and Noble wuld be strung up by most if we signed him

Bridge that is.

I rate Harrison but we are more than covered at second row

Of course he is!! I was a bit tongue in cheek. I agree with you entirely. We've argued the same about Briers in the past.

Chris bridge never did anything to impress me, mainly because he's injured alot, until I saw him play centre this season. I saw him play 3 times and each one I thought he looked like a natural centre, he hit the outside of his man well, but also had a good step back inside, he's strong enough to break tackles and served his winger well. I also never saw anyone bother him in defence.

Compare him to Atkins, who in my opionion is a big, strong, fast player, but a technically poor centre. His positional defence seems to look shakey everytime I see him.

If Saints had to sign one of the two, I'd take Bridge in a shot.

Shenton, I've seen less of, but I do rate higher than the two guys above from what I've seen.

At last a couple of people looking at the actual player rathet than the fact he plays for Smith's club side.

If people want an example of Bridge's centre play, watch the last game of the regular season against Quins. He is put into a 2 on 2 situation, and makes them look silly before putting Penny in for a walkover try.

As I have pointed out before, only Senior has more assists this year.

Somebody pointed out about 4 centres earlier, ignoring the fact they are all left centres.

That was me answering the comment that he could be the best in the league, therefore I answered with some I think are better. The comment I answered did not state left right or anywhere else.

Tell you what you have Bridge, I'll take Atkins. Then we're both happy.

Isn't atkins a wire player now anyway?? We should just let the Aussies play them at the HJ (result won't change, will it

)

Fair enough, didn;t go back over the whole thread.

Can you name any better right centres this year, excluding Gleeson who will start? Atkins is a left centre too.

Dobson is a good player in SL. However he is here because he was not good enough to get into an NRL club side, let alone rep footy. We have to face facts. Whoever is playing for England, the Aussies will smash us all over the park. Most of our backs ( except Sam

) and forwards would not even make an Aussie Toyota cup side. We will not win a comp against them for the foreseeable future. We are leagues behind them

Bridge is a strong, intelligent centre he can fill in at 6 (only averagely though) plus capable at full back. It's probably his versatility that helps him.

I think most of this negativity comes down to 2 things

1. He plays for Warrington
2. Everyone hates Warrington

So all these people who say Bridge is crap, you spend a lot of time at the HJ do you ?

every time i've seen him this season he at the very least beats the 1st man on him.

Steady now, 1 cup win does not elevate your importance

even when we're sh--e everyone hates us, we're scum remember