Re: England Team vs Exiles : Thu Jun 14, 2012 3:40 pm  

El Diablo wrote:

Still can't get excited about this game to be honest. I've tried, but I just can't do it.

Looking at it as an England team, whether it's his best position or not, Ablett is quite possibly one of the best English centres in Super League. Given that it isn't his best position, that says a lot about his character and ability, but also a lot about the shocking dearth of quality English centres. Don't make me get on my hobby horse again.

I can see why McNamara thinks Sinfield and Chase would be a good combination, but it showed very few signs of working last year in the four nations so I would question how long we should persist with it. Brough would be at 7 if I was picking. Which I'm not, obviously. I might even be tempted by Tomkins at 6, provided he still had license to roam behind the line when we had the ball. I dunno though. M'eh.

What I do know is that Leeds players need an extra game like they need the proverbial holes in their heads at this point.

Is that a Hint you want Big Keith Back as the Best British Centre?

Re: England Team vs Exiles : Thu Jun 14, 2012 3:42 pm  

Rangi Chase does have saome virtues as a player. Logically it sort of feels like a combination of his off-the-cuff wildcard style of play and Sinfield's more rigid pivot role ought to work. Sadly it hasn't so far. Chase for the most part looked lost in last Autumn's tests. Whether that was because other players were not used to linking with him in the way Cas's are or because that kind of bouncing around across the defensive line just isn't productive in the intensity of a test match I'm not sure. What spark we did have came from Tomkins.

Re: England Team vs Exiles : Thu Jun 14, 2012 3:51 pm  

El Diablo wrote:

Rangi Chase does have saome virtues as a player. Logically it sort of feels like a combination of his off-the-cuff wildcard style of play and Sinfield's more rigid pivot role ought to work. Sadly it hasn't so far. Chase for the most part looked lost in last Autumn's tests. Whether that was because other players were not used to linking with him in the way Cas's are or because that kind of bouncing around across the defensive line just isn't productive in the intensity of a test match I'm not sure. What spark we did have came from Tomkins.

Rangi Chase isn't as good as the Media and McBanana the Leader of the Band would have you believe. Plus I thought Lomax and Brough should have been 6 & 7.

Re: England Team vs Exiles : Thu Jun 14, 2012 3:56 pm  

All 4 Rhinos players (Hardaker, BJB, Clarkson, Lunt) in the Knights squad are still in after it got trimmed down to 19.
Lomax (Saints) Patrick (Hudds) Houghton (Hull) Watts (KR) are the 4 to be lost from the original 23 man squad, would think possibly injury reasons for their non inclusions.

Re: England Team vs Exiles : Thu Jun 14, 2012 4:33 pm  

Middleton_Loiner wrote:

Is that a Hint you want Big Keith Back as the Best British Centre?

That would definitely highlight the lack of quality British centres in Super League.

Re: England Team vs Exiles : Thu Jun 14, 2012 6:43 pm  

ThePrinter wrote:

Wouldn't put Tomkins at 6 until he plays there again at club level, which could actually happen in 2013 if Wigan can't bring in replacements for Finch and Leuluai in the halves and they go for playing Matty Russell at Fullback. If you were to move Tomkins now that also bring up the question of who would then play at 1 now? In 12 months time the likes of Eden, Russell, Hardaker (if moved there by Leeds), Makinson (if he replaces Wellens at Saints) all possiblities but not quite yet.

Some fans of other teams are really upset by Ablett inclusion and i could understand about being starting centre but i think he'd be a good choice for subs bench, a back row option who could slot in the three quaters quite comfortably if you get an injury in the backs.

People are also bemoaning the Leeds selections by saying the team isn't on form atm (1 win 4 losses), whilst at the same time the same people are calling for Brough from Huddersfield (5 losses on the trot) to be played instead. I'm not saying all the Leeds players should be picked, would rather see Mossop in place of Peacock with possibly Hill from Wire on the bench, and obviously JJB benefitted from no Westwood, Burgess, Ellis. As for the centre position Reed is almost certain to play when he's available and Watkins too if fit before any possible Goulding or Cudjoe selection so i'm not too bother by that one.

Printer for England coach ...you make far more sense in your selections than yet another incumbent hopeless hapless coach.

Re: England Team vs Exiles : Thu Jun 14, 2012 7:40 pm  

Shame Watkins is injured again. He would have looked good partnering Atkins.

Re: England Team vs Exiles : Thu Jun 14, 2012 7:44 pm  

Teddy Picker wrote:

That would definitely highlight the lack of quality British centres in Super League.

Ya talking Nads Pal

Re: England Team vs Exiles : Thu Jun 14, 2012 7:48 pm  

Ablett is a fanatstic player (who is in a poor run of form these last three or so games). His place is fully deserved. He's a better rugby player than any fit alternative for the centre. Cudjoe may be a better athlete but he doesn't have an ounce of Ablett's rugby skills.

Re: England Team vs Exiles : Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:09 pm  

Surely you would put Goulding in at centre ahead of Ablett, he has formed a good partnership with Charnley who has been selected on the wing!! Sinfield is not a SL 6 let alone an international 6. Chase looked lost last year and hasnt excelled this year so i dont know why he is selected. JP is lacking at SL level so he wont be much good against the exiles let alone the Aussies. Surely this game is part of the preparation for the world cup in which case why is JP playing and why havnt more youngsters been given a shot?

Tomkins
Charnley Goulding Atkins Hall
Lomax Brough
Crabtree Roby Mossop
Hock JJB
O'Loughlin

Burrow, Prescott, Hill, Tickle

Something along those lines is what i would have gone with!!