Makinson had the game of his life to be fair. No shame in our boy being behind in him (or McGillivary) in the pecking order at the moment, doesn't make Johnstone any less of a player, it just makes him pretty unlucky. When was the last time Enlglan/GB had 4/5 quality wingers to pick from?

You can’t be like that with him, he’s right. Where I understand what you were getting at with the Makinson comment; he had the game of his life today and was rightly picked.

However Jean, I still hate you.

Agree Makinson did and with Tom still being young it's no shame like you say that he's behind the other quality wingers we have at the moment - it's a great place to be for England with a WC a few years out, we're really building a good squad of players nowadays under Bennett, none of which would let you down in case of injuries - as we've seen this series.

What is funny though is the trolls obsession with anything Trinity posters say. A few years ago no one gave a monkeys, now it's a big deal to some. Yet he's made a song and dance about it on here and the VT but the fact is there's only one post from someone saying they hoped he had a mare and Wakefield before Country, the others don't say that in fact just about everyone says the opposite but it doesn't suit their agenda.

Spot on post Tommy, he made a couple of blinding try saving tackles as well. Can't remember him putting a foot wrong.

I think Johnstone would have scored at least two of the tries Makinson did, and there was one instance where Makinson got the ball on his 40m line and ducked back inside, and I thought Johnstone would have raced away, but it has to be said that Makinson saved about 3 tries that I'm not sure Johnstone would have done. A superb game from him.

They are different players, with Johnstone more of an out and out winger, but Makinson's all-round game puts him just ahead for me at international level because you don't get the open field that suits Johnstone so much more. Johnstone's time will come though.

Just out of interest, how much does it matter to a winger which wing they are on? Could they comfortably swap, because I'd put him ahead of McGillvary as a threat.

If for any reason McGillvery didn't play or he gave Tom a go, I'd imagine Makinson would go back to the wing he normally plays on, the right and Tom goes to his natural side. On your other point, I'm not sure how much difference it matters but it must have an effect when it comes to doing everything you've learned but on the opposite side of the field. Like finishing a difficult acrobatic try with the defense on top of you, means you may have to change hands you place the ball down with, where Tom usually swan dives and gets it down with his left, on the other side it'd be your right if I've got that correct.

Haven't watched either of the games and probably will give the last one a miss too, unless our guy gets in the team.

Well it's you that's missing out then.

I was one of those who felt Tom was unlucky to miss out when Makinson got the nod, but after yesterday I respect that decision.
The fact is they're both cracking wingers and like it's been said on here, Tom's time will come, but I suspect at the expense of McGilvray. I think he's an excellent winger but he surely got picked on his WC performances rather than league form.
Anyway, I don't really care, I'd rather look forward to TJ performing for Trinity.

Missing out? Joy of the close season. Two lovely weekend afternoons out and about enjoying life. Was a real bummer.

Makinson has grabbed his chance with both hands and whilst he rightly gets all the accolades for scoring a hat trick, I was more impressed with a couple of his defensive efforts, absolutely stunning efforts.
Still gutted for Johnstone and on current form Makinson will take some shifting.
On the other side of the England three quarters, Gildart had a shocker and McGillvery was anonymous, (not helped by Gildart being inside him).
The England side look really tough to beat and it would be great to be having a 3 test series against the Aussies to really test how far they have progressed.

Although I don’t think Makinson did any more than a number of other SL wingers would the fact is he did it. Quite rightly that shirt is now his to loose and I salute him for his performances.

Good thing is it now forces out Tommy to up his game even more which is great news for us.

JM is still a potent player but I’m fairly certain he can’t score much from his own half anymore and certainly not length of the field - he’s lost some pace for certain.

You’d expect Bennett to give TJ a go but I don’t think he will - he likes nothing more than to confound.

Why are you bothered France wernt playing yesterday

Tremendous performance from Makinson, both ends of the field. Rightly his shirt now but think we'll see TJ next week with the series in the bag, might even see Lyne



Thoroughly enjoyed a great game of RL yesterday and look forward to the test in Leeds next weekend.

I've been thinking the same thing! Lol

Manfredi is a better winger than Johnstone and will be in the England team before him

Strange comment considering that Johnstone has already been in the England team.

Terrible attitude

Think he may give a few of the fringe players a run out but then again this is Bennett we're talking about. He likes to win every game.

If that's your opinion then that's your opinion... Johnstone has already played for England though.

Similar comment to someone else's on here, put Manfredi in the Wakefield, Hull KR, Salford side and how many tries does he score? I'm afraid I don't see him as all that.

Exactly that, but I also was of the opinion he was seriously unlucky especially as he could not have done any more than he did against France. In my opinion he will become a mainstay of the England side over the next couple of years and could end up as the county's all time top scorer such is his ability when he does cement his place

He certainly isn't better than Johnstone - however considering the shirts he wears he probably will get his chance first.

Not right is it.

I was hoping that Makinson wouldn't have quite the game that he did have as it would mean TJ having his nose pushed out. I can't see Bennett being the sort of person that would play Johnstone next week.