Maybe they are better than us, but results over the last few years show this to be inconclusive. I don't believe for a second that all of the times we (England and GB) have beaten them in the last decade has been purely because they haven't turned up.

You can tell you haven't posted much around here Farsley

He's hooked you well and good!

Watkins attempted tackle on Farrell was a one on one face on and he missed the man. He will have plenty of those to face in the World Cup. His defence at centre may have improved and look good in SL but it is nowhere near to Intl standard.
As for the tackle he made when chasing Farrell, he was chasing him and he's faster than Farrell, that all!
We have to have better defensive centres than Watkins and Atkins where they are if they are out there I don't know.
That's why McNamara has a real problem.

Yes they are out there.

we even have one that offers more in attack, possessing a better all round game

No it wasn't. He was tracking across the field behind the defensive line when the gap opened up. He had to rush into the line and try to make a tackle on Farrell, who was already picking up speed, running away from the covering Watkins. Should he have made a better attempt? Of course! But to say he missed a face on, one on one tackle is silly.

I can think of one too who is good in attack and has a good all round game.
Trouble is he isn't good enough for Intl Standard.

Just a reminder of the five best centres in Australia[iGreg Inglis
Jamie Lyon
Josh Morris
Justin Hodges
Michael Jennings[/i

Not one English centre is as good as any one of these five.

Oooh, let's all suck off the NRL.
I remeber watching Justin Hodges play in a WCC against saints and he didn't fancy it at all, playing against Willie Talau. Talau was a good centre, but not great.

cool story and nice contribution.
you could also name the top 5 halfbacks in the NRL, rinse and repeat. So what?

Yes and Watkins and Hardaker did very well against Lyon and Matai in 2012. I'm sure the Aussies make mistakes too but some are just blinded by NRL loving that they only see the good things they do.

Lyon has retired from rep rugby hasn't he?

Jennings is just fast, he isn't rated in Australia at all.

Yes. But he is still a top class player. If St Helens had him again he would make such a difference that St Helens would be hot Grand Final contenders and perhaps favourites. None of the English centres could match him.