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.

Call me patriotic but I cannot watch an England match hoping a player does not perform to the best of his ability. Makinson was deservedly MoM and his performance edged a great game for us.

I agree with you gastrick, but I would have preferred that hat trick to have been performed by someone else
who didn't pose a threat to TJ's selection. even Tomkins. Yes, he definitely deserved the MoM.

Yeah I could have worded it better but I mean he’ll get in before Johnstone does again. Manfredi was the best winger in the league before his injury and looked to be getting back to his best at the end of the season. And the last comment is terrible imo because you could say the exact same about Johnstone. It’s not all about tries and Manfredi is the best winger on kick returns imo and is better than Tom defensively.

You need to speak to Bennett then not us.
Please do come back and tell us what he says.

That performance from Makinson has proved that WB had it right - he was absolute class, in attack and defence; it's a fact that he's a more rounded player than TJ right now, and regardless of club affinity, anyone with any insight into the game would be going out on a limb to gainsay that.

TJ will have a good international career - but Makinson is outstanding.

Sorry but he's not outstanding Bren by any stretcg - one outstanding game doesn't give you that kudos in my book =- nor do I think he's a more rounded player, don't know where you get that? Opinions I suppose will always differ.

Compare Makinson to Johnstone on stats, would anyone be surprised if Makinson was to make a move to Centre rather than the Wing?

Makinson scored 11 tries to Johnstones 24 less than half, Makinson made over 100 more tackles than Johnstone, 6 more assists, carried the ball more and made 20 less clean breaks (according to the SL website). There's no doubt he can finish but these stats to me say that he spends more time further infield than he does on the wing.

I think he's more rounded because he does much more, and better, work in defence - but as an attacking threat, I'd say there's not much between them.

Interesting stats that Qwerkycat provided - maybe he is gravitating towards being a centre, whereas TJ appears to be an out and out winger.

Please note - none of what I said is a criticism of TJ; I think he's an exceptional talent.

I agree on all counts.
It isn't an either/or. Both can be great talents but only one can have that wing spot and right now TM is the better player for that International spot.