SaleSlim wrote:
I didn't say I thought he was the correct choice... I basically said he couldn't do worse than Cudjoe or Shenton. If anything I was sitting on the fence and reserving judgment.
Back to Smith, I saw enough of him at Salford to make what I think is a reasonably informed judgment. He did nothing in a Salford shirt and before you say he was playing behind a beaten pack so was Chase last year yet he managed to singlehandedly win us 2 or 3 games. Smith just doesn't have the line breaking ability or pace required from an international half, neither is his kicking game exceptional. Both Brough and Brown are better players IMO. I'd have even rather tried a 6/7 combo of Tomkins & Widdup and brought Hardaker in at FB to give us more cutting edge in attack.
Charnley, while a good winger is a million miles behind Hall. From what I saw last year I'd have had Burgess in front of him.
But I'm still willing to bet you questioned the decision. Everyone did outside of Wigan so there's no need to shy away from the fact. If you genuinely thought he was a good choice then I apologise but, in all honesty, I doubt you did.
As for Smith; are you suggesting he hasn't improved since being at Salford? In truth what you saw at Salford has no more relevance than what the London fans saw of Sarginson. Time (and players) move on! I agree Tomkins and Widdop was an option but, as Sam hasn't played half for over 3 years I'm assuming McNamara considered it too much of a risk. Brough has committed himself to Scotland so is of no consequence, Chase was tried and discarded and Brown is now 30 so perhaps McNamara was looking for a partnership that could take us to the world cup. He has also NEVER featured in the national side which, at 30, must say something. Smith has been the dream team 7 for the last two seasons so it appears most journalists and pundits agree with McNamara that he is, and has been for the last 2 years, the best British scrum half in the game. Now pardon me for pointing out the obvious but just because YOU disagree doesn't mean he was therefore 'not worth his place' as you put it. I think those facts, coupled with him guiding last years double winners and this year's Grand Finalists, Wigan, round the park, alongside his Lance Todd trophy win suggest he was very much worth his place! Try listing the achievements of those you think should have been there instead if you need further clarification.
Finally Charnley. So you think the Superleague's top try scorer for 2 of the last three seasons who would, in all probability, have been this year's too had it not been for a lengthy time out at the start of the season wasn't 'worth his place'? Show me the stats that suggest he wasn't because I can't find any. His returning of the ball is as good as any winger in the league and his stats from the 4 nations confirm this. He may well not be as good as Hall (even though his try return suggests otherwise) but then who is? Very few in the world. The fact is, at the time of the tournament, he was England's clear 2nd wing option after Hall. There is even reason to suggest his form going into the tournament was better than Hall's. However, Hall is of such quality and proven at International level that he would always be the first choice and rightly so. However after him only Burgess was threatening Charnley's place and we have to assume that he didn't show enough in training to displace the incumbent. After those two, only Makinson can consider himself unlucky to make the squad but, in reality, he would never have displaced first Charnley and then Burgess to make the actual team short of injury (which didn't happen). Again, suggest someone who's claims were so overwhelming that Charnley 'wasn't worth his place' and list the stats and reasons why. I'd be interested to see who you suggest as I can't think of a single one.
