Quote: roughyedspud "widdop was earmarked as a star while playing under 20's..it made perfect sense to select him,more to stop NSW getting their paws on him..
as for reed being a brickie last year......my point being that if australia where as strong in the 3/4's and as good as developing young talent as some of you have us believe jack reed would have been picked up years ago..apparently canbarra knocked him back while playing for their feeder team in the QLD cup......he's a average player thats taken his chance,fair play to the lad, but he only got that chance due to lack of talent coming through...'"
You may think you are making sense, but your not.
That he was "laying brick" last year, as you so poetically put it, is totally irrelevant despite your attempt to qualify it. Players just like "ordinary" people develop at different rates or have different drives and committment levels. I would suggest there are sufficient variables in there to make it perfect reasonable for him to have been a lollipop man 6 months ago if he wanted and it still not have a bearing on his ability or form.
The England/British 3/4's have never been so poor in my opinion. We simply do not produce them, we produce very few quality backs full stop. We get the odd maverick that turns up, but thats through chance rather than design.
You are making yourself look a little foolish here. Reed is declared for England he is amongst the top 4-5 centres available for selection. He will train with the squad and maybe get a game against the French. 
