I'm not sure he was leading try scorer but he did have an excellent strike rate from his NRL career - only marginally lower than the one he currently boasts at Leeds.

Mind you, he also had a reputation for defensive lapses so I think its reasonable to say he has kicked on in some aspects (or the standard of opposition puts him under less pressure - take your choice).

Quote: Andy Gilder "Has Donald "kicked on"? Wasn't he the leading try-scorer in the NRL in the season before he announced he was moving to Leeds?'" His first season at Leeds was 2006, he announced he was moving to Leeds during 2005, (he spent the majority of his remaining time in the Manly reserve grade), so we must be talking 2004? In 2004 the top try scorer in the NRL was Amos Roberts (Penrith) with 24 tries Equal second on 18 were: Steven Bell, Ryan Cross, Scott Donald, Anthony Minichello and Willie Tonga 203.166.101.37/NRL/index.html

Quote: Andy Gilder "Has Donald "kicked on"? Wasn't he the leading try-scorer in the NRL in the season before he announced he was moving to Leeds?'" His first season at Leeds was 2006, he announced he was moving to Leeds during 2005, (he spent the majority of his remaining time in the Manly reserve grade), so we must be talking 2004? In 2004 the top try scorer in the NRL was Amos Roberts (Penrith) with 24 tries Equal second on 18 were: Steven Bell, Ryan Cross, Scott Donald, Anthony Minichello and Willie Tonga 203.166.101.37/NRL/index.html

21 tries for Manly in 2003, next highest at the club was 10
18 tries for Manly in 2004, next highest at the club was 14

So it's fair to say he was already an established, successful NRL player prior to announcing his decision to move to Leeds. He still made 20 appearances for Manly in 2005 with 9 tries, third most tries for the club that season.

Is what he's produced at Leeds really that much of an improvement from what he was doing in the NRL?

That would depend if a winger was only defined by his try strike rate or not and the importance you placed on the factors that contribute to the strike rate.

The point about Widdop is that he has real potential. Not to be as good as Billy Slater but an above-average NRL fullback. Which is a massive improvement on what England currently have available or have had for years.

Whilst I would generally agree about it being too early to pick him, given the absolute gaping hole that is our choice from 1-5, the need to pick him and ensure he's available to England long-term is paramount. The Kiwis have done the same in the past for 'dual qualified' players and its a darned good idea. In fact if there are any other players with similar backgrounds we should be scouting them out even if they never play in SL and sound as Ocker as they come.

What are the rules (re-playing for Australia in the future) once Widdop turns out for England?



Like Tonie Carroll?

Krisnan Inu had only made a handful of first grade appearances before his Test debut IIRC.

Under the current critieria tvoc I think you have to serve a two year waiting period before being able to opt for another side, hence Moi Moi having to wait before he could represent Samoa in the World Cup until two years after his last appearance for NZ?

Thanks for that.

Long term Widdop turning out for England on Saturday won't change very much then should Australia come calling in the future looking for a SOO full back.

Is Halifax NSW or Queensland?

Actually, would he qualify to play Origin?

The rules used to be where you were born, then they added where you played IIRC which would have made Morley eligible for New South Wales because he played for the Roosters.

Given that Widdop was neither born in, nor plays in either NSW or Queensland would he qualify for neither or both?

Don't they count Melbourne as a Queensland team? All their junior sides play in the Queensland comps.

Perhaps, a bit like Fulham playing in the Lancashire Cup.



The Morley one wouldn't get very far I suspect while he was still turning out for GB. Isn't being available to play for Australia also part of the SOO selection criteria?

That said Adrian Lam was born in PNG, brought up from a young age in Brisbane, played in the ARL for the Roosters, played SOO for Queensland while playing for the PNG national side. So there must have been some latitude afforded in his case.

I can't imagine their are many genuine english players in the NRL, last thing I want to see is a load of aussies playing for England just because they can get a passport but are not good enough to get into the Aus team.