I don't know the ins and outs or the precise sequence of events or how much has been released to the media but I would ask what more Brough could have done to earn selection in 2013? For me he was the leading player in one of the leading teams throughout the season - indeed from week one at St Helens and his form throughout more than warranted a place in the England squad preparations.



Was he wanted by McNamara? I can't answer that but the signs are that he was not.



No disputing that the point is a moot one now but it's passed the day.

I've no idea whether Brough is a good squad player or not, whether he is the sort to have in the trenches with you or not but neither am I sure that he couldn't have been handled better by the England management who appear to have deprived themselves of a player who could have offered an added running and passing threat - something IMO England will ultimately need to take the game to the Southern hemisphere giants.

Brough has said recently that McNamara told him way back in February that he had no intention of picking him for the World Cup and McCormack has backed that up by saying he knew Danny would be available ever since February. So why did it take until June to have his post match dummy spit after they beat Saints?

Did Brough hope McNamara would change his mind and wait to see the squad for the Exiles match and reconsider.....even though he'd already indicated to McCormack he'd play for Scotland? Makes a mockery of his claims of being so proud to play for Scotland.

Has Brough lied about McNamara omitting him from the WC squad EIGHT months before the tournament began. Why would any coach, especially one who gave him his debut 8 months prior (and picked him for Exiles 2011 before injury) rule out anyone that early when he could suffer an injury crisis?

Either McNamara didn't like Brough's attitude or approach when he got him around the squad or Brough is making up lies to keep up his outcast hero role going with his followers.

Either way, all potential answers don't paint Brough in a good light or a true leader or dependable man.....more a guy who is only really interested in himself and wants to be the star of the show.

Point of order, Brough's dummy spit happened (publicly at least) in June. So what more he could have done to earn selection "in 2013" isn't the right question. What he did after June is irrelevant as he had already ruled himself out by then.

If I'd been selecting the team mid-season (which of course I wasn't but I wasn't party to the decision making process of the England coach) I would have been sharing concerns that Brough had a touch of the pre-Smith Briers about him - that he was hugely talented but inconsistent and of questionable temperament. So what more could he have done? Maintain his form right through the season perhaps? He did that, but had already refused "to play second fiddle" any more. Up to him, but no player should hold that it is their right to be selected as first choice. Sinfield, Myler and Chase were ahead of him in the pecking order, he needed to be patient.

If not picking him in May/June was what it took to "deprive themselves of a player" then again, that amounts to the player holding a (highly metaphorical) gun to the head of the coach. You are entitled to your view on whether that's the case and whether it's wrong, as am I. But mine is that it is the wrong way for an aspiring test player to behave, and doesn't do much to allay my concerns that his temperament isn't what it might be.

I am disappointed that he isn't part of the England squad for the World Cup, as you are. But we differ in that, while I'm not altogether convinced by the current coach, in this instance I am inclined, based on the information visible to us both, to blame the player and not the coach.

lets examine another aspect re Mr Brough

Joined Hull FC 2005... left for Cas 2006... left for Wakefield 2008... left for Hudds 2010

IMHO its not surprising coaches might doubt some aspects of his character that might preclude them for selecting him to the international squad.

You're a classy fella aren't you? Any more of that and you'll be taking a break.

Seems strange. Brough was MOS for a good reason, I can't believe McNamara would rule out any selection for the squad until the end of the season unless there were other reasons other than form or ability. It's also difficult to believe that a British MOS would not make his way into the squad somehow. I know some people don't rate him highly as a coach but even someone coaching at the lowest level wouldn't make a decision like that. Even if McNamara was convinced Chase and Status should be in the halves there is still the not unlikely event of injury or even catastrophic loss of form.
Then again, maybe McNamara really doesn't like him one bit and made it clear?

Brough may have flaws in his character, but the fact he has played for 4 different clubs is not something to hold against him IMO. If I remember correctly hull released him because they didn't rate him. I think he left Cas and Wakey on good terms and you could argue that since leaving hull he has moved to a stronger team each time.

Not sure I can accept that his progression to Cas and then Wakefield was an upward move each time.

www.rugbyclub.biz/danny-brough-s ... -decision/ In the article, which is described as being the week Brough made public his decision to reject England and make himself available for Scotland (which was June 3rd after Saints at home). McCormack says "he (Brough) has been thinking about that for a while" and "I've kept in touch with him for the last few years now and CERTAINLY OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS and for him to put himself available is fantastic." So given that the quotes are from early June 2013, and that Brough made his England debut against the Exiles only 11 months previously in July 2012 what do we make of Brough having a lot of increased contact with the Scotland coach from apparently June 2012. Maybe Brough isn't the victim here some would make out. Maybe like a guy trying to get his end away he tried for the more attractive girl but didn't like the wait and/or possibility it wouldn't happen.....and therefore secretly kept in touch and went back to the ugly lass he's pulled before and who is grateful for the attention of someone out of her league and who he knows he'll score with and won't turn him down. Danny Brough, not just a player....but a playa!

www.rugbyclub.biz/danny-brough-s ... -decision/ In the article, which is described as being the week Brough made public his decision to reject England and make himself available for Scotland (which was June 3rd after Saints at home). McCormack says "he (Brough) has been thinking about that for a while" and "I've kept in touch with him for the last few years now and CERTAINLY OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS and for him to put himself available is fantastic." So given that the quotes are from early June 2013, and that Brough made his England debut against the Exiles only 11 months previously in July 2012 what do we make of Brough having a lot of increased contact with the Scotland coach from apparently June 2012. Maybe Brough isn't the victim here some would make out. Maybe like a guy trying to get his end away he tried for the more attractive girl but didn't like the wait and/or possibility it wouldn't happen.....and therefore secretly kept in touch and went back to the ugly lass he's pulled before and who is grateful for the attention of someone out of her league and who he knows he'll score with and won't turn him down. Danny Brough, not just a player....but a playa!

Brough may not have been in the coaches plans in June. Brett Ferres wasn't in the plans recently either. He stayed English, got a chance and took it with both hands. Brough became Scottish....again.

Really hard to me to get behind that sort of "character". Easy to root for someone like Ferres.

he left wakey because his contract demands were stupid and the giants paid off his £35k gambling debts. he left for money, pure and simple

If true...and it sounds plausible....there can be no doubt Brough would not or would never have been a desirable addition to the recent successful championship winning team.

Aye those were the days: a team of disjointed clashing personality Brough-like prima donnas.

Couldn't agree more.

And having waited for his chance, Ferres has looked as good as any 2nd row in the tournament so far, with the exception of SBW.

Sure is and its also easy to root for a long standing player who always give his all, unconditionally IMHO.