Re: England Full Back : Sun Jul 16, 2017 10:16 pm  

nottinghamtiger wrote:

For me, Bennett has to decide on the spine of the team and stick with it every game unless there are injuries. Only by playing together will we develop the combinations that give us a chance of winning in the latter stages. Whoever Bennett picks, I just hope he is willing to stick with them and give them the opportunity to develop and understanding.
Personally I'd have Hardaker, Gale, Widdop and Hodgson as the four spine players.

I'd go with that but just can't see it happening.

Re: England Full Back : Sun Jul 16, 2017 10:58 pm  

jakeyg95 wrote:

Does anyone actually think Bennett will pick Hardaker though? For the Samoa game when Widdop dropped out with injury he brought Ratchford straight in to play full back and left Percival out even though he was originally in the squad, which suggests he doesn't fancy any centres other than Watkins. I think he'll play the same backline as the Samoa game with Widdop in for Ratchford at full back barring injuries to anyone.

We don't have many centres capable of matching the Australians or Kiwis physically, either in size or pace. Shenton would be solid, and he's in good form, I think he should get the nod, but Josh Griffin has also been in good form recently, he has all the athletic attributes, so perhaps he could work his way into the squad. I also think Joe Burgess would be a good shout to play in the centres.

Re: England Full Back : Sun Jul 16, 2017 11:14 pm  

Charlie Sheen wrote:

We don't have many centres capable of matching the Australians or Kiwis physically, either in size or pace. Shenton would be solid, and he's in good form, I think he should get the nod, but Josh Griffin has also been in good form recently, he has all the athletic attributes, so perhaps he could work his way into the squad. I also think Joe Burgess would be a good shout to play in the centres.

i'm a hull supporter and i wouldn't have griffin anywhere near an international side. would be pulled apart defensively

Re: England Full Back : Sun Jul 16, 2017 11:39 pm  

Charlie Sheen wrote:

We don't have many centres capable of matching the Australians or Kiwis physically, either in size or pace.

Yep, this is what I think Bennett thinks and why I reckon he'll go with Hardaker in the centres.

Re: England Full Back : Mon Jul 17, 2017 12:13 am  

To be fair, against Samoa Percival would have been opposite Leilua, who is probably the strongest centre in the game ATM. On the whole our outside backs aren't big or strong enough, which is why the default will be to pick those who are big enough, even if they're not in form.

Re: England Full Back : Mon Jul 17, 2017 8:17 am  

the artist wrote:

i'm a hull supporter and i wouldn't have griffin anywhere near an international side. would be pulled apart defensively

A month ago I wouldn't have had him anyway near our reserve side. He has put in some decent performances recently though, but still a long way off playing for England. As you say, his defence is woeful at times. It's not his physicality that's an issue particularly, but it's his inability to read the game, & his positional awareness that let's him down.

Re: England Full Back : Mon Jul 17, 2017 8:30 am  

jakeyg95 wrote:

I'd probably pick Hardaker but I think Bennett will pick Widdop at full back, Hardaker at centre and Gale/Williams in the halves.

I'm convinced that's what Bennett will go with too, hence why he played Zak there in the Samoa game.

Whilst Zak has been easily the best FB in SL this season, he still doesn't look completely convincing with ball in hand to pick the right option. Should Widdop play there, a half in great form, it may give our attack more impetus, whilst not losing us anything in defence as he does have experience playing there in the past.

Not saying that is what I'd go with, but that's how I think Bennett may be looking at it.

Re: England Full Back : Mon Jul 17, 2017 10:22 am  

Hardaker was poor at Penrith and hardly got any game time at all last year.
He looked like a boy playing against men.
He will not worry either Oz or NZ and they may even target him in attack.

Re: England Full Back : Mon Jul 17, 2017 11:02 am  

Lomax is definitely going to be in there somewhere, whether people like it or not.

Re: England Full Back : Mon Jul 17, 2017 11:58 am  

Sam Tomkins may have a future somewhere in an England shirt but it certainly won't be at fullback in this World Cup. He is struggling for pace and mobility and if that doesn't come back then he won't have a future as a fullback even at superleague level.

As things stand Hardaker should be at fullback with probably Ratchford providing some utility back up. I'd go Widdop and Gale in the halves as Williams form has gone totally west. A player I'd still be considering for the squad would be James Roby. He looks to be in good form for St Helens and his experience could be very handy.