Re: Tom Johnstone : Sun Sep 16, 2018 9:55 pm  

Shifty Cat wrote:

But the point is it's not the be all and end all, otherwise, we'd have players from just 4 clubs playing from SL for England at any one time.

Seriously I'm not sure why people are getting bent out of shape on this. If you watch the lad, you can see how good he is, he doesn't have to win the Grand final to show that does he. It's also not as if Trinity hasn't been playing near the top of the table the past couple of in close good games against the top team at the time. Do you see him not performing say if Trinity makes the top 4, like they were so close to last year, and get a Semifinal or dare I say it a Final because I don't? He tends to excel against the better teams rather than disappear.

Ateotd I'm not calling for any changes, just acknowledging like yourself the lad has a very good chance if fit.

No one is getting bent out of shape just providing a proper counter argument. Not actually dismissing his claims to be picked for England but it’s not like the other wingers don’t have really strong cases too.

Playing in the biggest games isn’t the be all and end all BUT at the same time it does provide huge experience. If Wakey made the Cup Final and their was a 50/50 choice in one position between an experienced player and a rookie would you dismiss the experience factor?

He had one year where he really could come in contention to be picked in 2016 and it was hardly harsh to be left out to the likes of Hall and McGillivary especially at the age of 21 then, how many play at England at that age? Even if he plays this Autumn he’s younger than a lot of players who get their first cap for England.

Re: Tom Johnstone : Sun Sep 16, 2018 10:14 pm  

ThePrinter wrote:

No one is getting bent out of shape just providing a proper counter argument. Not actually dismissing his claims to be picked for England but it’s not like the other wingers don’t have really strong cases too.

Playing in the biggest games isn’t the be all and end all BUT at the same time it does provide huge experience. If Wakey made the Cup Final and their was a 50/50 choice in one position between an experienced player and a rookie would you dismiss the experience factor?

He had one year where he really could come in contention to be picked in 2016 and it was hardly harsh to be left out to the likes of Hall and McGillivary especially at the age of 21 then, how many play at England at that age? Even if he plays this Autumn he’s younger than a lot of players who get their first cap for England.

The getting bent out of shape comment is more to do with the arsey comments & rhetoric of, he's got to play for a top team, that's been trotted out not just in this thread but anytime his name comes up.

Also, I'm not generally arguing with what you say, am I. I acknowledge he's behind the current duo and should be in the running when the time comes if fit as you agree with, that's really it. I just argue that being in a GF etc shouldn't stop a good player getting picked because of the team he plays for, it may add to his experience and CV though. Like I've also said, players have been picked wrongly over the years because of just that, because of the team they represent.

Tbh I don't think he was quite ready in 2016, his defence, although sometimes it's down to the centre why you can look daft, wasn't on par with his attack, especially for international level. Not that surprising though seeing as he's just made the breakthrough to play pro RL. but it's vastly improved imo since then

Anyway, if he gets picked it'll be because Wayne Bennett thinks he's good enough and that's good enough for me. If he doesn't that's also good enough and he'll have to bide his time.

Re: Tom Johnstone : Mon Sep 17, 2018 8:08 am  

vastman wrote:

What’s that got to do with anything?

I do apologise. I made the fundamental error of replying to the original post: The best winger England have had for 18 months and still no England Cap.

Re: Tom Johnstone : Mon Sep 17, 2018 8:17 am  

Shifty Cat wrote:

The getting bent out of shape comment is more to do with the arsey comments & rhetoric of, he's got to play for a top team, that's been trotted out not just in this thread but anytime his name comes up.

Also, I'm not generally arguing with what you say, am I. I acknowledge he's behind the current duo and should be in the running when the time comes if fit as you agree with, that's really it. I just argue that being in a GF etc shouldn't stop a good player getting picked because of the team he plays for, it may add to his experience and CV though. Like I've also said, players have been picked wrongly over the years because of just that, because of the team they represent.

Tbh I don't think he was quite ready in 2016, his defence, although sometimes it's down to the centre why you can look daft, wasn't on par with his attack, especially for international level. Not that surprising though seeing as he's just made the breakthrough to play pro RL. but it's vastly improved imo since then

Anyway, if he gets picked it'll be because Wayne Bennett thinks he's good enough and that's good enough for me. If he doesn't that's also good enough and he'll have to bide his time.

Clearly its easier to catch the eye if you're playing in Cup finals etc. However, wingers like the great Dessie Drummond played international RL while at perpetual mid-tablers Leigh.

Re: Tom Johnstone : Mon Sep 17, 2018 10:08 am  

Asgardian13 wrote:

Clearly its easier to catch the eye if you're playing in Cup finals etc. However, wingers like the great Dessie Drummond played international RL while at perpetual mid-tablers Leigh.

Drummond won the First Division Championship early in his career with Leigh (1981 IIRC), from then he was picked for GB.

Re: Tom Johnstone : Mon Sep 17, 2018 10:35 am  

MattyB wrote:

Drummond won the First Division Championship early in his career with Leigh (1981 IIRC), from then he was picked for GB.

Correct Matty.

Re: Tom Johnstone : Mon Sep 17, 2018 11:05 am  

McGilvary's team is hardly one of the glamour ones. Johnstone'll be picked if he's deemed good enough.

Re: Tom Johnstone : Mon Sep 17, 2018 11:16 am  

ThePrinter wrote:

Because playing in the biggest games like GF’s and CCF’s and SF’s are massive experiences that shouldn’t be dismissed when you’re facing the likes of Australia and New Zealand.

Correct. Greg 'Rolling Thunder' Eden it is.

Re: Tom Johnstone : Mon Sep 17, 2018 12:14 pm  

tigertot wrote:

Correct. Greg 'Rolling Thunder' Eden it is.

Come on, Johnstone could get past him in a phone box, without Eden laying a finger on him.
Eden is ok and scored plenty last season but, just as Solomona and Carney showed, playing on the left wing at Cas give you plenty of chances and now that he's playing elsewhere, Carney is no longer ripping it up.

Re: Tom Johnstone : Mon Sep 17, 2018 12:42 pm  

wrencat1873 wrote:

:lol:

Come on, Johnstone could get past him in a phone box, without Eden laying a finger on him.
Eden is ok and scored plenty last season but, just as Solomona and Carney showed, playing on the left wing at Cas give you plenty of chances and now that he's playing elsewhere, Carney is no longer ripping it up.

You're on drugs man. Cement Eden would knock Johnstone & the phone box into next week. Then pull his bird.

You are correct on one thing though. If Johnstone got the service Cas's left wingers get he would score twice as many. I've said before, rarely does he seem to get quality ball from his centre. It's usually from scraps he picks up, a kick or speculative long ball.

A poor man's James Clare.