Betts England assisstant : Thu Apr 28, 2016 2:07 pm  

Good call imo, probably should have gone with Powell but Betts seems like a good second choice

Obviously there will be some bias towards picking Wigan players but that was the case under Mcbanana anyway, as long as they dont bottle it and pick Matty Smith then I'm happy

Re: Betts England assisstant : Thu Apr 28, 2016 3:31 pm  

leedsnsouths wrote:

Good call imo, probably should have gone with Powell but Betts seems like a good second choice

Obviously there will be some bias towards picking Wigan players but that was the case under Mcbanana anyway, as long as they dont bottle it and pick Matty Smith then I'm happy

Can't see why there would be any bias to picking Wigan players myself, he is Widnes coach now and it will be Bennett picking the squad not him

Re: Betts England assisstant : Thu Apr 28, 2016 4:04 pm  

Biff Tannen wrote:

Can't see why there would be any bias to picking Wigan players myself, he is Widnes coach now and it will be Bennett picking the squad not him

Yea but he played for Wigan didnt he, and his Widnes squad is basically the Wigan B team
Betts will be in charge of who from SL goes or at least who gets in a preliminary squad, Bennett basically said so when he appointed him
The England team will be any NRL player who gets regularly picked (with the possible exception of Cooper as the props positions are so competative) and then who Betts recomends

Re: Betts England assisstant : Thu Apr 28, 2016 5:47 pm  

leedsnsouths wrote:

Yea but he played for Wigan didnt he, and his Widnes squad is basically the Wigan B team
Betts will be in charge of who from SL goes or at least who gets in a preliminary squad, Bennett basically said so when he appointed him
The England team will be any NRL player who gets regularly picked (with the possible exception of Cooper as the props positions are so competative) and then who Betts recomends

I'm sure Betts will have some input but i would also expect Bennett will be watching some SL throughout the season to form his own opinions. The England team pretty much picks itself in a lot of positions anyway imo.Who will partner Widdop is one tough decision, like you i hope Smith isn't in the team.

out of interest who from Wigan do you think may get in the squad who shouldn't? i think the Tomkins brothers, Bateman, o'loughlin and Sarginson will be in there and possibly Farrell.All will probably be there on merit come October too.

Re: Betts England assisstant : Thu Apr 28, 2016 6:03 pm  

Kevin Brown for England?
I'd be happy with that assuming he's not injured.

Re: Betts England assisstant : Fri Apr 29, 2016 8:42 am  

Betts a good coach. All coaches have played for someone in the past so bound to have a connection to one club or another. As for Wigan players, I think some are past the point where they would be in my England team. O'Loughlin, Joel Tomkins and Farrell would not be in my 17. Think it's time we looked at some of the younger guys in the back row. If Sam Burgess is back then O'Loughlin isn't needed as a captain, so IMO isn't needed. Sam Tomkins, if fully fit, would be there as would their halves -although I think Smith is beyond ordinary he plays a game that suited us grinding out wins last year. Sarginson has also been very good, he has to figure. Bateman would be in the back row, if he rocks up at centre again then I'll have to re-assess my opinion of Wayne Bennett (although I have heard that he would be unlikely care ).

Re: Betts England assisstant : Fri Apr 29, 2016 1:14 pm  

Agree with that DHM, i think we need to look to the WC next year.I would want a monster pack or as big a pack as possible which is why i wouldn't pick Farrell, who i do rate as a SL player. Joel Tomkins hasn't impressed me as much since his return from union but i would probably have him in the squad but not the 17 if everyone is fit.Our back row should start to look better now with the likes of Currie and Ward maturing, Whitehead improving in the NRL Sam back in the mix and Bateman looking the goods.Hopefully Reed can be arised with the internationals this year, am i right in thinking he hasn't played since 2011?

Re: Betts England assisstant : Fri Apr 29, 2016 1:38 pm  

Wouldn't knock the guy for squad selection before we've even seen what it is. Whilst he does have Wigan connections, his type of play at Widnes is very different to what Wigan players play. If he has a strong say on SL players I wonder if Cuthbertson can get in even though it's Bennett in charge. One things for sure some of our usual nailed on selections like Hall and Watkins will have to step up if they want including this time.

Re: Betts England assisstant : Fri Apr 29, 2016 4:10 pm  

If used correctly there isn't a player in England that can touch Watkins at centre. Hall has barely bee asked to finish anything for so long now I think he's forgotten what to do. Switch Hall to the right, give Watkins less defensive work to do and give him the ball early and he'll cause havoc.

Re: Betts England assisstant : Fri Apr 29, 2016 5:38 pm  

Biff Tannen wrote:

I'm sure Betts will have some input but i would also expect Bennett will be watching some SL throughout the season to form his own opinions. The England team pretty much picks itself in a lot of positions anyway imo.Who will partner Widdop is one tough decision, like you i hope Smith isn't in the team.

out of interest who from Wigan do you think may get in the squad who shouldn't? i think the Tomkins brothers, Bateman, o'loughlin and Sarginson will be in there and possibly Farrell.All will probably be there on merit come October too.

I deffinately wouldnt have Joel Tomkins, I would probably not pick Farrell either as I think Whitehead, Bateman, Currie, Ward and Ferres are all better
I also wouldnt pick SOL as that would mean moving Sam Burgess (our best player) out of his best position, Graham would probably be my captain
I would also have Gale (or possible Brown or even Mcguire if he gets fitness) over Smith or Williams (though Williams would be in the squad)