Well, the fact that two of them were the games top tacklers and that they only made two errors between them might be an inkling.

Also the fact that many posters had a ridiculous agenda against the back row before hand was an issue that seems to keep on going.

Out of the backrow I thought Ferres was the most disappointing. He was very good in the World Cup but looked down on his best form today. I thought Westerman and Tomkins went pretty well tbh and they'd be in my 17 next week. As for Farrell he showed his try scoring ability and a skill to run superb lines for his try but overall it wasn't his best. He didn't play enough minutes for me though. He's an 80 minute player but at this level with the size of the opposition I can understand Macca not doing that.

To sum up I'd bring in O'Loughlin and Whitehead next week with Ferres and Farrell to miss out.

I enjoyed the game.Yes we made some bad errors and gave away a lot of penalties, and there are lots of areas to tidy up especially around the ruck.But it was the first hit out for this team and it was a real good physical battle, we got the result and as long as we can tidy things up we should be much much better next week off the back of this.

I agree with that, Westerman is copping a bit of criticism over the internet but i don't think he was too bad at all. He looked ok in attack and will only get better considering he hasn't played in 6 weeks.

I thought he looked dangerous with the ball and made a couple of half breaks. He's a big lad and that's valuable at this level.

Looking at the stats for the game I'd say most of the forwards were possibly under used if anything. They all seemed to get a very even share of minutes but I think you want guys like Graham and hopefully next week Lockers out there for 60 to 70 minutes. The other guys can play around them then and try and add impact.

Looking at those stats I'd say Ferres wasn't busy enough. He made 13 tackles in the game compared to Westerman and Farrell who both made 33. I could be wrong but I don't think there was a great deal of difference in the time they spent on the field either.

I said on our Hull board, Westerman was picked for this tournament on he back of having a great year at Hull where he has been playing as a ball playing loose forward. It was obvious he'd been told to play more as an extra prop. No sure he made a pads all game other than the offload that went to ground (right idea, very poor execution).
We've seen at Hull that Westy is best when he gets more a free roam and he didn't get to show it today. Widdop had to do too much by himself (hardly any help from Smith).
Still think Westy was better than Ferres even when playing a role he isn't suited to, so I'd be happy to see O'Loughlin in at 13 and Westy in the second row over Ferres.

Next week.....Ferres and Westerman to miss out for me despite the 33 tackles he made.

Both O'Loughlin and Whitehead to replace them, the first being the captain, the second being the best second rower in the country this year.

I agree with everything there apart from the bit about Smith. I'm stunned he's had a few people knock him. Without him in that second half I don't think England win the game. His kicking game was the only thing keeping the Samoans at bay at times and it also led to a couple of try's. Add in the try he set up in the first half for Watkins with a stunning ball for Tomkins and it added up to a very successful debut.

He's never going to take the line on time and again, it just isn't his game but overall I thought the pairing with Widdop had nice balance.

Id start Whitehead before Joel Tomkins and O'Loughlin if fit would be in ahead of Westerman who'd drop to the bench.

Not convinced by Shenton who looked a little lightweight at this level and was bullied by his opposite centre.

Waited until I saw both games on record bevore commenting. First point, with the players we've got. We should beat Australia next week. We should hammer them if DCE & Inglis are injured.

However I expect a comfortable OZ win.

Same every year for England. We struggle against the minnow side, the coaches say we will take the positives, and we have no momentum going into the tournament.

08 WC - lucky to beat PNG, didn't win another match all tournament.

2010 four nations - Drew with NZ Maori. Hammered by OZ and comfortably beaten by NZ.

2013 WC - lost to Italy, had a pretty poor tournament apart from an amazing performance in the semi. But still lost.

Not good enough. We're always taking the positives of scraping past a minnow before being spanked by NZ/OZ. The coach should be demanding more from his players, I don't think i have heard McNamara criticise them ever. He's a weak coach and not good enough.

On paper, we have the team to make history and stop Australia making a final. However I expect a 20+point loss and McNamara boring us to death of how Australia were a wounded animal and we know what we have to fix up to beat NZ. When we lose to NZ we'll hear about how this special group of players have a big future a head of rhem. Forget about the future. Now is our time.

On a more positive note, a large crowd in the suncorp, NZ hammering OZ, and for a neutral who may not watch RL, the Samoa match would have been enjoyable To watch.

The 17 doesn't need wholesale changes, it was a lacklustre performance but it should have hopefully blown some of the cobwebs away. England RL haven't played since the WC semi final almost 12 months ago and have had one training camp that none of the NRL based players or Wigan players could attend because it was the only time McNamara could get off from picking the cones up at Sydney Roosters. Smith and Widdop probably only met for the first time last week, let alone play together. That partnership needs time to build.

It's the same old story, one bad game and everyone's in uproar calling for square pegs in round holes. Move Tomkins to a position he hasn't played for over 4 years. Put props at LF and move Lockers to 2nd row. It's nonsense tbh. The only changes I'd make would be Lockers for Westermand and posssibly Whitehead for Ferres. Before today's game I wanted Hardaker in over Shenton and would still like to see that, because I think he's a better player rather than a knee jerk reaction.

McNamara should have gone after the WC. Today might not have been his fauly but a spine of Tomkins, Widdop, Smith, Clark and eventually Lockers could easily be an international spine if it was playing to some decent attacking structures.