Of course it benefits England to have players with NRL experience in the side. Whether it benefits England enough to make a difference vs Aus in terms of getting really close or even beating them is a different issue. Unless we get a pair of halfbacks, some decent threequarters and a good fullback, it probably won't matter that much though.

It will probably benefit in England if more players play the NRL as it will help to remove the mysticism and demonstrate that one or two players are just boofheads - albeit talented (esp. when compared to man in street).

Indeed - anyone who thinks Adrian Morley wasn't improved significantly as a player by his stint at the Roosters is losing the plot.

Having just one player out of 17 with those raised standards however doesn't do you much good.

So what your saying is that it was the system was the reason he wasn't shining? Not too sure about that. Agree that Noble's tactics were poor though, hence he isn't here any more. But he was outshone at every level by players like Joel Tomkins, and wouldn't have been in the first team (imo) this year without Noble had he stayed.

I'd have expected Morley to improve over those six seasons whether he had stayed in the UK or gone out to Australia. His best individual performance in a GB shirt, for me, remains one from '97.

I'm not suggesting he isn't a better player for it but Ellis's international performances since he went down under have been poorer than before, IMO.

Not that I am dissagreeing with you. But Adrian Morley went down there still relatively young. He was always going to improve anyway, regardless of which league he played in.

his dad (KENNY) reckons he'll see out his time at the club he supported as a boy, castleford. and before you mock his dad told me he was going to oz a full year before he did although he did say manly but wests came up with the better deal.

You mean Castleford Wildcats by the time he comes back?

i said something along those lines aswell

Exactly.

I think he could have been a better ball handling forward if he had stayed in England, he had terrific hands and was a great passer. There was no need to turn him into a one trick big hitting prop.

Watched Ellis the other day and he looked pretty good. As good as any back rower I've seen in the NRL over tha last few weeks. And speaking of the NRL, it was nice to see Clinton Toopi playing again and looking fit.

Huddersfield Wildcat Tigers surely?

Or maybe Castleford Bulls?

Could that be part down to coaching at international level?

I thought Ellis had a more rounded game - especially his offload game -playing for GB when he was at Leeds and he looked similar at Wakey before Leeds.

Maybe TS liked to use him for England/GB and Leeds in a way that really made the most of his core qualities but maybe didn't allow him to demonstrate some of his other skills?

Prrrrrraps and you may be onto something because, during his time at leeds, whilst a monster in defence, and a great player, I never thought he played like the ball handler he was at Wakey.

i agree he hasnt been the same at international level. I do think it isnt a bad thing for more uk players to play over there, at the least it would help the phycology of our players that they can beat them and they arnt super human. I sometimes think we are beaten before we step on the field against aussies sometimes