Defiantly.

I don't think he is that good a player to be honest, and I think he'll be back in League in a few years time anyway.

I think that's basically down to a lack of depth in English Centres and probably Englands first choice Centre Ryan Atkins being ruled out through injury...

But as has been noted earlier by a Wakey fan, Atkins was totally outplayed by Senior when they came up against each other in SL this year. Likewise Shenton. When Cas had their most embarassing performance of the season (over 60 points conceded at Sheddingly) a lot of the points came as a result of Senior running over the top of Shenton.

People have been decrying Senior and Gleeson at centre for the last few years but the fact is we still don't have anyone close to 'em for the test berths.

I'd give Ellis a place there against the Aussies cos he's the only one who will match up defensively to what is an awesome Aussie threequarter line and lets face it, on last nights showing we won't be losing anything in attack by playing a forward there!

Eastmond is possibly the only player England have got that could provide the 'X' factor so he's got to be in somewhere. Playing him at centre or fullback would be a risk defensively but it's a case of play it safe and try and keep the score to a respectable level (a policy Gt Britain followed for too long against the Aussies ie. playing forwards in the halves for their defensive abilities) or take a risk and see what happens....

Theres Super League teams with better backlines than ours too.

Briscoe
Hall
Ellis
Shenton
Smith
Tomkins
Myler
Peacock
McGuire
Graham
Burgess
Morley
Sinfield

Roby
Carvell
Westwood
Eastmond

I've not picked a team, and if I did I'd leave Briscoe in now. It's a sad reflection (generally, not talking about specific players now) though that you have to be poor to be dropped, rather than good to retain your place.

some people seem keen on a bench with only 2 forwards on it and roby and another back. seems like suicide to me that, we are strongest in the pack lets try take em on down the middle

Playing Eastmond at FB will be suicide.
We need other options if S Bricoe isnt gunna be the one.

As an Aussie my head goes for the "Three forwards and a utility back" when I think of a bench.

Your bench is just an extension of your forward rotation really.


I dont think England will beat Australia anywhere on the park, they won't come close, but at the same time I don't think there is any hope in hell that some back is gonna come off the bench and blow us away.

i agree. our only chance is to try and smother the play as best we can. our attacking line was so pathetic last night it's likely to be individual pieces of skill which will lead to breaks rather than good passing plays. we need to try lure you into an arm wrestle (or whatever stupid phrase you wanna use) and try get you rattled. having shenton or eastmond/tomkins plus roby on the bench is pointless imo

to me tomkins and crabtree both need to be in the 17, we need a forward who can offload and a halfback who can make a break for me the team would be

1- eastmond
2-hall
3-bridge
4-ellis
5-fox
6-mcguire
7-tomkins
8-graham
9-roby
10-peacock
11-burgess
12-wilkin
13-sinfield
14- crabtree
15-moore
16-morley
17- carvell