Seven key players in one team? Don't think I've seen the like in 40-odd years of watching the game.

Are the stats from the game available anywhere?

if Leuluai and Vatuvei are "key players" then the Kiwis really are struggling.

So what? If Australia have an injury chrisis before the World Cup should we not bother with that? Why do people still bang on about Vatuvei too? He really isn't missed that much.

World Cup isn't as problem.

4 nations, isn't a problem.

A Test series IS a problem - NZ and Aus have never been that bothered have they?


You can BET your bottom dollar that if it was a World Cup, rather than a one off test series, some of those 'injured' players would be over here.


Its always 2-1 - certainly keeps ticket sales flowing if nowt else innit?

Dont you think?

Leuluai would be off the bench and a half option and Vatuvei would replace Kenny-Dowall on the wing who would replace Kahu in the centre to the bench.


Fair enough if you don't keep tabs on the NRL though - understandable.

Bit of a mix of two threads and a tad unrealistic / over optimistic BUT if Burgess was to sign for Leeds / Souths this week would he be brought into the England RL team? He still looks fit but surely the number of runs / tackles in league would be hard for him to keep up with so quickly? Would be a great media boost for RL.

I've seen enough of both players thanks. Leuluai isn't a massive upgrade from Nikorima, and Vatuvei is either famine or feast, quite often a famine of catastrophic proportions under kicks in particular. SKD is a much safer, if less spectacular option on the wing.

Johnson, Foran and JWH are major losses and would be to any side. The rest of those you've named are hardly "key" losses by any stretch of the imagination.

England have their own missing players in Buregess (x2 arguably) and Tomkins.

Completely agree. Imagine having these Lads in the England Squad.

George Burgess - Injured
Sam Burgess - Unavailable **At the minute**
Stevie Ward - Injured
Adam Cuthbertson - Not Selected
Tommy Briscoe - Not Selected
Alex Walmsley - Injured
Sam Tomkins - Injured
Michael Shenton - Not Selected
Dan Sarginson - Injured
Danny McGuire - Not Selected
Mark Percival - Not Selected
Jordan Turner - Not Selected

Jack Reed is a big loss for England, also.

Oh yes I forgot about Reed. He's had a great season with Brisbane but didn't impress on his last outing with England.

The RFL should say it will take him 6 months to get back up to fitness.

Fact 1. England / GB only ever win games when the NZ or Aussies have injuries.
Fact 2. English club sides only ever win the WCC when the NRL club isn't taking it seriiously.
Fact 3. English RL has more morons following it and posting on message boards than any other sport.

Ha, that made me laugh. Would be great (although almost certainly not going to happen) if he could play but I can't imagine he'd be ready fitness wise. I don't mean that in a derogatory way to Union as I accept it is a different sport with different types of fitness but it would still be funny for the RFL to say.

It certainly would be good to parade him in front of the crowd after the 3rd test after a whitewash of NZ after he has confirmed his return to our game!

He could perhaps hand the winner the trophy? Would be a fantastic photo to have on the back of the papers!