Re: Best England team for Four Nations : Sun Aug 28, 2016 4:35 pm  

meast wrote:

I don't get this whole, there are no good centres so we have to pick a 2nd rower from Wigan/Wire etc.
There's Atkins, Sarginson,Percival, Cudjoe, Yeaman, who could probably still do a decent job there, also the likes of Josh Griffin, Josh Jones, Ratchford, Gildart, who are all capable of playing centre at a fairly high level.

Whether you like these players or whether you rate them as top class or not, they are still a better option than playing a forward there i would have thought?

They are also, first and foremost, English.

Re: Best England team for Four Nations : Sun Aug 28, 2016 5:42 pm  

We won't have a clue until he picks it really will we?? But I reckon for those having a go, don't overcomplicate it too much; pick Englishmen, pick them in their rightful positions, don't worry too much about how they played 3 years ago or may possibly play in the future, pick the best players that give us the best chance of winning & let's hope he does the same

Re: Best England team for Four Nations : Sun Aug 28, 2016 7:16 pm  

Willzay wrote:

They are also, first and foremost, English.

True and that usually is the first criteria someone would have to meet to play for England, sod the residency stuff!

Re: Best England team for Four Nations : Sun Aug 28, 2016 7:55 pm  

When it comes to hooker, it depends on the strategy you want to use.

You could pick Hodgson and Clarke who could interchange and add that explosiveness around the ruck, but on the flip side use a bench spot.

Or you could pick Houghton, who is an 80 minute player, and give that bench spot to an extra forward.

I suspect they'll do the former over the latter as both have played internationally before and allows that "back up" element if things aren't going well (change it up if one is off their game or picks up a knock).

Re: Best England team for Four Nations : Sun Aug 28, 2016 9:05 pm  

To be fair to Hodgson, he does 80 minutes as well, it just happens that sometimes some of that time is at loose forward.

I agree with you though Clark is the only one that makes sense to come off the bench.

Also Danny Houghton is extremely unlucky to be knocking around when we are seeming fly spoilt for choice at his position. For me he would be 2nd choice behind Hodgson if we were to just go the one hooker approach.

Re: Best England team for Four Nations : Sun Aug 28, 2016 10:51 pm  

As usual I've changed my mind as many times as I've had hot dinners. The position I'm having most trouble with is #6.

Tomkins

Hall
Percival
Watkins
McGilvray

Williams
Gale

Graham
Hodgeson
Hill
Bateman
Currie
S Burgess

G Burgess
Walmsley
Whitehead
Clark

Ratchford
Cudjoe
Briscoe
Widdop
Houghton
Taylor
Amor
Farrell

Re: Best England team for Four Nations : Sun Aug 28, 2016 11:22 pm  

Tomkins
McGilvery
Currie
Atkins
Burgess
Widdop
Gale
Graham
Hodgeson
Hill
Whitehead
S Burgess
Cooper

Clarke
Green
Walmsley
G Burgess

Re: Best England team for Four Nations : Mon Aug 29, 2016 2:39 am  

I do find it amazing how Hull are top of the league and have just won the cup and yet still don't apparently have any players worthy of being in the best 17 in this country in the eyes of many.

Re: Best England team for Four Nations : Mon Aug 29, 2016 7:16 am  

Wellsy13 wrote:

I do find it amazing how Hull are top of the league and have just won the cup and yet still don't apparently have any players worthy of being in the best 17 in this country in the eyes of many.

Haven't you noticed, we are only where we are because the standard is so low this year and everyone we beat didnt play well on the day

Re: Best England team for Four Nations : Mon Aug 29, 2016 8:47 am  

George Williams did not perform well at all last year against the Kiwis, we were much better with Matty Smith in the side.

As for those against picking players not born in England. Austrialia, New Zealand and Scotland will all pick players through residency and through parent/grandparent heritage. Why should we not do the same? It's not like were the best team and need to give the others a chance by penalising ourselves. I am sure Wayne Bennett will agree and pick the best team possible.