I'd say so, yep.

Wonder if we'll bring in a replacement? Lynch? Coley?

Stuart Fielden, starting prop, your time to shine now my friend

Widdop
Briscoe Gleeson Atkins Hall
M.Smith S.Tomkins
Fielden Robinson Graham
Ellis Burgess
O'Loughlin

Roby Westwood J.Tomkins Morley

More likely that Burgess will get moved forward to prop and Westwood will start at second row IMO. Joel offers more of an impact off the bench. Either way we'll get tonked by plenty

Sam, as I've always stated is a running halfback, if you are going to get the best out of him in the halves he needs be played a second receiver off a controlling ball playing 7.
This is why I would elect for split halves with Sam acting as the second receiver from FB.
Playing Smith and Sam at 6 and 7 would either mean playing split halves, and not getting the best out of Sam playing as a first receiver, or asking a LOT of Smith to run the team as a ball playing 7.

Bring in Burrow. Let him play split halves with Smith with Tomkins as a second receiver from FB.

Do you think the replacement for Morley should be a play maker half back rather than a forward?
We do still seem to have some very good forwards out there even after losing Moz.
It's a creative h/b that I think we still need, perhaps this is the time to change it about a bit?

Rob Burrow?

Carvell's already flying out according to the Wire forum.

[url=http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rleague/10/10/17/RUGBYL_England_Carvell.htmlLINK[/url

I would have took him anyway to be honest.

Always an option of playing Joel in the centres to add a bit of size to the backs. Maybe then move out Atkins to the wing. Joel with Atkins as his wingman looks a bit more formidable than Shenton and Briscoe.

the only problem I see is that we fell to pieces when McNabanana took Tomkins off. I only hope he learns from his c*ck ups.......but I seriously doubt he will

1. Widdop
2. Goulding
3. Gleeson
4. Atkins/Shenton
5. Briscoe
6. Tomkins
7. Matty Smith
8. Graham
9. Roby
10. Morley (if fit?)
11. Ellis
12. Burges
13. O'Loughlin

14. Crabtree
15. Fielden
16. Robinson
17. Westwood / J Tomkins

If Morley isn't fit i'd have Fielden starting and have both Westwood and J Tomkins on the bench, as Westwood is big enough to be used as a prop. I would have a slight worry with Matty Smith in there, but i think a natural 7 would be able to free up Sam Tomkins at 6 and let him run wide channels. If we are going to have any chance of winning we need Tomkins to be recieveing the ball in a wide channel, he will be wasted at first reciever.

Graham it is.

What a daft call, far too immature for the job IMO. Should have been O'Loughlin with Ellis as vice.

Not true, he's captained teams at all levels he has played, including junior International. He has a will to win, and a bit like Shaun Edwards hates losing as much as if not more than he enjoys winning. I think he'll do a decent job, particularly if he gets back up from the more experienced players in the side.

And the instant something doesnt go his way, the toys are out of the pram!

Hopefully, the extra pressure of being captin, will remove this from his game.

But when things aren't going his way he starts shouting, screaming and spitting his dummy. I don't want his poor response to adversity to be reflected in the rest of the team.

Great minds! He was under extra pressure at the final but that didn't stop him nearly getting himself sent off

I think the extra responsibility will help channel that aggression correctly. I'd have him in the Wigan team anyday.

.....and I'd have him in the England team any day, but that's irrelevant. Would I have him at Wigan or England as captain? No way.

We must only be allowed to appoint prop forwards as captains. Peacock, Morley, Graham. I'm sure if he gets injured Eorl Crabtree will be next in line.

This is Macbannana, it will probably be Griffin

I personally don't like having a prop as captain. I would want my skipper to be on the field for 80 minutes, which Graham won't be doing for England. Has a vice-captain been named for when he's not on the field?

I don't think Graham was the man for the job either in all honesty. I think he could be a fantastic captain if he could control his occasional outbursts. That's one thing we don't need our captain doing. Hopefully the extra responsibilty will work in his favour and he will think twice before steaming over.