1-
2- Fox
3- Bridge
4- Shenton
5- Hall
6- Tomkins
7- Eastmond
8- Graham
9- Sinfield
10- Peacock
11- Ellis
12- Westwood
13- Burgess

14- Morley
15- Crabtree
16- Carvell
17- Roby

I'm that confident i agree we don't need a fullback...............easy, easy, easy



Same as for me.

Smith can play fullback very well as seen in the 2008 Grand Final in replacement of Webb. I would go as far to say its his best position.

I don't have a problem with Smith as a player but at the end of the day it's been made clear by the ommisons of Senior, Gleeson and co that Smith is looking to build for the future so why is a guy who's off to Union even been selected in the first place?

I'd rather let Briscoe test himself in a huge game. I think he's been pretty solid so far(bar a little fumble tonight).

Sorry I left the fullback slot open for Smith or Briscoe.

Smith is good in attack and Briscoe good in defence so don't know which gameplan I would play against the Aussies and which to play. After watching the game again in the morning sober I will pick a proper team but Westwood starts for me.

Regards

T.Smith

Westwood to start, pffff, Smith only picks him because he plays for Warrington.

He played really well against the kiwis so for me he starts.

True. Wouldn't be getting a look in if O'Loughlin was fit.

IIRC wasnt it about 6 fumbles trying to clean up a kick

1- Briscoe
2- Fox
3- Ellis
4- Shenton
5- Hall
6- Tomkins
7- Eastmond
8- Graham
9- Sinfield
10- Carvell
11- Peacock
12- Burgess
13- Wilkin

14- Morley
15- Crabtree
16- Westwood
17- Roby

Crabtree should start as he's been excellent these past few weeks.

We don't need Roby as Sinfield can play the full 80 meaning we can have an extra prop on the bench

He says himself that he is more effective off the bench and I would agree with him. We want him to come on and give the 'tiring' forwards a bashing, which he does so well. Not to mention keeping them guessing with his nifty offloads (so long as he remembers when NOT to do them!)


We don't need an extra prop for the Aussies. We need pace and passing ability, and Roby has both those things. He is an impact hooker (whether he wants to be or not!) and coming off the bench is what he is best at. His passing improved 100% last night and with his ability to scoot, along with Tomkins and Eastmond's ability to dodge and weave, that should give the Aussies something to worry about.

I agree with the bit about James Roby. I would just give Sinfield a longer spell at hooker and then bring Roby on from the bench to have some impact against tiring defenders with Eorl Crabtree.

Smith should come in at FB, we need more on our kick returns. Plus I think Smith will be better chiming into the line than Briscoe was tonight.

Not far off for me.....after the first few selection debacles Smith has almost got it right....for me the strongest 17 we've got from the current squad, and the closest we'll come to taking the aussies would be the following;

1. Briscoe
2. Fox
3. Ellis
4. Shenton
5. Hall
6. Tomkins
7. Eastmond
8. Graham
9. Sinfield (really stood up in this series and excelled all my expectations. The first time hes ever played up to international standard IMO and hooker is clearly his best position as can be seen how we lost our domination when roby came on and sinfield switched)
10. Morley
11. Peacock
12. Wilkin
13. Burgess
---------------------

14. Moore (Purely because roby offers nothing)
15. Crabtree (again vastly exceeded my expectations)
16. Westwood (dont rate him but hes had a good series and again played better than ive ever seen)
17. Carvell (just as i think we'll need some extra forward power)

In essence all we're off smith picking that is him seing the light and realising chris bridge is not up to it. If bridge goes in next week im worried as it will be wigan re-visited.....inglis will just trample all over him

I'd go with same as beat the Kiwis

agreed. same again for me.

Anyone who marks Inglis is going to get made out to look a fool with Inglis's right fend,size and pace.

It was a good idea to play Briscoe against the Kiwis because he is safe and is fearless but against the Aussies you need speed and flare so I would go for Smith even though it is harsh on Briscoe he has done well but lacks that real pace and try scoring ability that Smith has. T.Smith would be a brave man to drop Briscoe for Smith. Also I wouldn't play Peacock in the second row he isn't quick enough we need him up front as a battering ram.

1- Lee Smith
2- Fox (Needs to room with Bridge all week to get a bond going if they are to partner each other on the right flanks and Fox needs to have confidence in his inside man so he doesn't keep coming in off his wing and needs to practice catching kicks).
3- Bridge
4- Shenton (Room with Hall etc needs to be given more space to run with the ball)
5- Hall
6- Tomkins
7- Eastmond
8- Graham
9- Sinfield
10- Peacock
11- Ellis
12- Westwood
13- Burgess

14- Morley (Prop)
15- Crabtree (Second row)
16- Carvell (Prop)
17- Roby (Hooker pushing Sinfield to Loose)

With having big second rowers and loose forward in Burgess I would want our props up the middle and Burgess, Ellis, Crabtree and Westwood running hard off Tomkins and Eastmond at Lockyer, Thurston, Inglis and Watmough especially and then when they mark have a prop running into them again for the first 15 of each half. I would like to see if Lockyer and Inglis can work their magic after doing 20 tackles in the first 25mins.

Even though it is a negative tactic I would have Sinfield kicking the ball dead in goal on the 5th to take Slaters kick return out of the game.

Also if Ganson is ref I would get sledging Thurston and Hodges to wind them up especially Thurston you would have to niggle him so he reacts and gives a penalty away and when Ganson penalises him he will mouth off to Ganson and because he is a marked man by Ganson I reckon he wouldn't hesitate to send him to the sin bin. Takes Thurston out of the game and Lockyer would be shattered from all the tackling.

Briscoe
Fox
Ellis
Shenton
Hall
Tomkins
Eastmond
Morley
Sinfield
Graham
Peacock
Westwood
Burgess

Carvell
Crabtree
Roby
Wilkin

I think we need to be more secure on the side that got battered last time, with Ellis there he offers power, strength and good defence, not to mention McGuire wont be there to let them all past. We need even more size which is why i've brought Carvell in, i dont see why he hasnt got a game yet since the Wales match? Anyway him and Crabtree will add some power coming off the bench, im happy with that team except the last 2 but they are basically the best what is left from the 24 man squad.
I dont think we can win but i think we can give them a game! if we play like we have been doing the past 120 minutes in previous games then we are actually in with a chance.

Briscoe
Fox
Bridge
Shenton
Hall

Tomkins
Eastmond

Peacock
Sinfield
Graham
Ellis
Wilkin
Burgess

Crabtree
Carvell
Westwood
Morley

No way, he was so poor in his last game he doesn't deserve to play. He would fill his pants if he had to play full back against the Aussies.

after the first few selection debacles Smith has almost got it right....for me the strongest 17 we've got from the current squad, and the closest we'll come to taking the aussies, would be the following;

1. Briscoe
2. Fox
3. Ellis (only player in the team capable of playing that position and handling Inglis IMO and has the added benefit of getting another forward on the pitch...a position we are strong in)
4. Shenton
5. Hall
6. Tomkins
7. Eastmond
8. Graham
9. Sinfield (really stood up in this series and excelled all my expectations. The first time hes ever played up to international standard IMO and hooker is clearly his best position as can be seen how we lost our domination when roby came on and sinfield switched)
10. Morley
11. Peacock
12. Wilkin
13. Burgess
---------------------

14. Moore (Purely because roby offers nothing) if not moore then Myler for me
15. Crabtree (again vastly exceeded my expectations and really come of age)
16. Westwood (dont rate him but hes had a good series and again played better than ive ever seen...isnt world class but hes punching vastly above his weight so keep him in for me)
17. Carvell (just as i think we'll need some extra forward power)

In essence all we're off smith picking that is him seing the light and realising chris bridge is not up to it. If bridge goes in next week im worried as it will be wigan re-visited.....inglis will just trample all over him

Dont agree on the lee smith scenario......Nowhere near good enough to get in and should get off to union now where he can make his 3 tackles and 2 runs a match (should suit him down to the ground).

Rest is bob on tho....every kick down field we need to find touch or if not take advantage of the RL rules and pelt it over the dead ball line!

Kicking it dead if possible is a very good idea. Depends on field position though. also, even though Slater is generally good under the high ball, I'd be looking at peppering him a bit, with the aim of waiting for him to hit the ground and have Ellis/Burgess smash the little b*gger as hard as possible. Get him looking around and he may cough up the ball.

Smtih shouldn't be in the squad at all. If he were staying in league I'd put him at full back - as it is he shouldn't be there.

Briscoe
Fox
Shenton
Bridge
Hall
Tomkins
Eastmond
Graham
Sinfield
Morley
Peacock
Ellis
Burgess

Crabtree
Westwood
Carvell
Wilkin

Big, strong, mobile team. Batter them upfront. Keep it nice and tight. Keep their outside backs out of the game for as long as possible is our only chance of success!