The last player who I saw who kicked that effortlessly was Nigel Wright. He used to kick 40/20s when they din't even exist. He kicked that far for territory and the chance to win a contested scrum - it's a natural gift imho and very rare.

Against the Aussies I see a great kicking game as possibly the only chance we have of breaking them down. Nothing frustrates the Aussies more than not having the ball in hand as much as they like. Kick them to death, they won't like it.

We need the best kicker Vs the Aussies as we'll find it harder to get in a position to make an attacking kick. Someone that can kick long is essential.

That's what makes his goal kicking so good I think. Alot of kickers almost struggle to reach the posts from the touch line and have to try to kick the skin off the ball just to get it there. Sneyd just has such easy power, it doesn't matter where he is on the pitch he just strokes it and it flies and flies. Superb technique.

Indeed - I wish Eddie would mention it more often.

Anyhow - I agree with Vasty - on the international stage, Sneyd is probably the better option; his skillset is much more suited to the very few chinks in the Aussies armour - although he'd probably find himself making those snap kicks more often than he does in SL.

having watched two close, high pressured semi-finals, it was noticeable that one scrum half turned up and won the game for his team, whilst the other was largely anonymous.

one had a perfect day with the boot, one missed a conversion which ultimately would have given his team a draw.

funny how different people re-act to pressure.

I like Sneyd but I think Gale is more versatile and should be better at International.
Sneyd is ahead of Williams though but obviously you have Widdop to consider too.

Gale over Sneyd for England. Sneyd is a great player but he does have a habit of disappearing in games, but then rescuing the game with a superb kick, whereas Gale is an ever-present thorn. He's shown he can handle the pressure, and even thrives on it. Sneyd seems to shrink in it sometimes. Gale will win the man of steel, has guided the team that came top by a long way, and took them to a grand final. It seems a no-brainer.

It's the three-quarter line where we are weak, and the Aussies are always strong.

Internationals are not the same as club games.

Both players will be out of their comfort zone with players they barely know. If people think Gale will be able to play for GB like he does for Cas they are in for a rude awakening.

One of the few things you can do at international level consistently is your tactical kicking. When you consider how we struggle to to gain territory let alone posession then Sneyd's kicking game is way more valuable than Gales more obvious dynamic play.

I realise our visiting Cas fan is understandably blinded by his loyalty to his teams players but everyone else needs to be more realistic.

Sneyd and Widdop ahead of Gale all day long for me.

You're not blinded by your pathological hatred of anything Cas, are you?

Gale by plenty.

So any Trinity/England fan who doesn't think Gale is the best choice has a pathological hatred for Cas? Certainly stifles any debate but that is fairly typical I suppose.

If it's any consolation it's purely academic as Wayne Bennett won't have any idea what to do with either of them.

I don't think we'll be kicking many GK's so that just leaves 40/20's I suppose

Widdop is streets ahead of both of these at present. He's been in scintillating form for the Dragons this year. I really hope he can bring it on to the international stage.

The good news is I'm not the one picking, but If I was I'd go Widdop and Gale all day long.

I agree with every word of this. I slightly digress but the same could be said about the previous man of steel Danny Houghton. How he's not played for England is an absolute mystery.

Regarding the three quarters. Why has Atkins been constantly overlooked?

Am I right or is it a figment of my imagination, but didn't Atkins make the England team whilst still with Trinity?

Yes along with Ferres and Rooney.

Long time ago that, and he's played good rugby on recent years. He's certainly got the size to stand toe to toe with the Aussies

I think that was England knights? Not a full cap I'm afraid but I may be wrong.

It was the knights and all three got a mom awards.

Yesterdays Grand Final changed my mind on the Gale/Sneyd issue. Gale has appeared in one big game and was nowhere to be seen. Sneyd has been in two, at Wembley. One he rescued and the other he bossed.

Stick with what I said - Sneyd best option against Aussies

Sneyd has played in 3 at Wembley. 1 of which he was hauled off after a horror half hour.

Gale played behind a pack which made 18 handling errors yesterday. Eighteen, Jonathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk would have been on the losing side yesterday playing in a game with such damning statistics.

I agree that Sneyd also had a big game nightmare at Cas. Maybe there's a clue there ....

Hull were struggling in their first Sneyd Wembley final and he pulled out a forty-twenty that turned the game. He cemented his big-game status by a match-winning peformance this year. Perhaps Gale isn't at the big-game level yet.

Having said that, Gale could have kicked ten forty-twenties and your forwards would have spilled the ball on the second tackle each time.

Woudn't select either; even before yesterday's game the obvious choice was McGuire.

Even with my loathing of everything Leeds RL he is still the best English half by far.

Definitely shone yesterday.

Not the point. Sneyd has shown up well in the last two big games he's been in. However what really matters is that he has always skill that even the Aussies struggle with. He can kick a team to death.

Gale may be the better player in every other way though I personally don't think he is. But he can't run a game with his boot and negative though it sounds that's our only chance.

He's simply a better option imho. Not that I think it will make that much difference.