Christ its the Motu Tony sitaution all over again!!

Nick ate you suggesting we fly a young lad over from Melbourne to train with a squad? The lad hasn't even played first grade yet.

And maguire and burrow at half back? Your kidding right?

I think once Hodgeson moves to wire Cudjoe will be given the 1 shirt at hudds, he will become a very good full back.
Smith will be getting a couple of games at FB for Leeds in the absence of Webb, I'd personally give hime the england spot. Good under the ball, decent defence and very good attack.
A fair few Hull fans were saying Tansey wasn't a good enough full back for Hull never mind England, never international quality.

To be fair looking across the English Full backs we are woefully short of anyone who is even close to a Billy Slater

If Tansey improved his errors ( a few are basic ones) then he would have a chance at international honours, think this shows the lack of good FB's about at the moment.

Tansey with ball in hand is excellent, still think he would make a great 6.

Been impressed with Mathers this season, seems to have stepped up since they signed Hodgson.

Lee Smith could get a shot, the main problem is that he doesn't paly there for his club that often, but think he is England Best option at the moment.

Not sure Fox deserves to be in the sqaud been disapointting this year, but again lack of options may see him included.

England are so poor in the backs at the moment, the worst I have have known since following RL.

I think Smith is a great option for a touring squad, because he can play fullback, wing or centre. If everybody is fit, I can think of 2 or 3 better for each of those spots.

I would prefer to see Briscoe & Fox miss out and play for Rovers at Warrington. With the game being switched from the Sunday that removed any chance of backing up and playing both games (as Fox did in 200icon_cool.gif.

I still have nightmares about how poor we were against Quins last year when they both went off to play France. It didn't help that Cockayne & Colbon both missed that game as well.

Interested to know who do you think is better at FB and wing? Centre I would agree.

FB - Wellens, S. Briscoe, maybe Murphy or a fit Owen as one for the future.
Wing - Hall, Fox, T. Briscoe, maybe D. Hodgson or a even a fit Calderwood.

Smith doesn't exactly look out of place in an England shirt. But if he was at a different club, I think he'd be lower down the international pecking order. More valuable at club level, over the course a long season, because of his versatility, IMO. Ignoring availability for England, at Leeds Webb is a better fullback, Delaney and Senior are better centres and Hall is a better wing.

On current form I would have Mathers ahead of Murphy and obviously Owen(due to injury)in your list.
Cudjoe and Riley would also be in front of Calderwood for me in your list.

I agree our backs are poor when compared to the quality Australia have available, they are freakish at the moment. I had a chat with a friend of mine the other day, we both found it difficult to believe the amount of quality full backs they manage to produce. In the NRL, if the first choice full back is injured, in pops the young blood who look like he has been playing regular first grade all his career. No wonder they can afford to lose players to SL and union.

this is alledgedly the reason for no relegation, so youngsters can get first team experience. dont see it workin that much to me

personally i dont think either Briscoe or Fox should get a call up, Briscoe ahs been poor over the last month or so, and Fox hasnt been much better either IMHO,
on current form id have Mathers at FB and Briscoe and Hall on the wings,
hopefully Mcnamara will remember that its only a friendly and try a few younger kids,

Looking unlikely now.

I would agree , especially if the team is picked on form.

The only way Briscoe and Fox will miss the Rovers vs Warrington game is through injury or suspension

I think Riley, Gleeson, Briers, Morley, Westwood, Clarke, Myler should all play for England. Might keep the score to under 40

How have 2 promising internationals deteriorated so badly under one of the games best coaches?

For the most part Tansey is safe under any kicks. He is particularly good when its on the floor, and although he's dropped a couple of bombs this year I reckon you could count them on one hand. He has made a few errors but the vast majority of these have been when in attack. He scores tries, he makes tries, he's fairly quick (certainly quicker than Briscoe and Wellens) and is a pretty strong tackler too having got us out of some scrapes big some big shots on his own line. He's also a good kicker, positional and attacking. His only problem is kick returns, he seems reluctant to get his head down and make the yards that put us on the front foot.

Well looks like a dead set starter for the internationals then.

imo he should play, but of course everyone has different opinions. We'll see what McNamara's is. Personally I think he'll pick Briscoe, but I wouldn't be suprised if Tansey did get a call up.

How are Horne and Yeaman getting on?

Yeaman is having a good season, Horne too many injuries to judge, but has been hit and miss when he has played.

Both will improve the more Long plays.

Both Briscoe and Fox are average and it shows what poor options that we have when these two plus players like Shenton get picked got England.

I dont think he will pick Briscoe and shouldn't on current form but for me there are still a good few more better options than Tansey at full back.

There was fans on your forum only recently saying how poor he has been and will never make a full back, now after 2 wins against teams out of form he has suddenly become international material again in some peoples minds.

Your right but they are some of the best we have available, it just shows how poor the rest that are below them in the pecking order are aswell!

Been international material all season in my mind. tbf if Tansey is the best we've got it doesn't bode well for England, but he is the best of a bad bunch imo.