This is another dumb decision by the rfl. The England RL team will not play ANY fixtures in England this year and we have decided to play a mid season test in Sydney?


Can you imagine this happening in any other sport? no wonder international rl is a joke.

Pretty decent club player similar to Houghton but not really international class like Roby and Clark, the latter two have quicker distribution and can see a gap better from a quick PTB.

As for the Samoa game one or two clubs (Wigan + Cas) might see it a bit disruptive to the domestic comps.

It’s a good thing IMO, we are getting a full squad together and facing decent opposition. That simply wouldn't happen if we played over here, it would be half an England team battering France/Wales, which benefits nobody.

Why people persist in thinking Watkins is international class (or even close to being as good as Shenton) is beyond me.

Same with Hall really, has his form been any good since the treble-winning season?

An England team made up of seconds and reserves cos they wouldn't want to risk any injuries as well.

Any ideas what TV channel this will be on? 7 weeks notice to fly to Australia is a bit much.

Agree. Hall looks to have put on far too much bulk. He was never a flying winger, but he seems to have lost the pace he did have. At the moment, Lineham, Burgess and Eden are way ahead of Hall for that left wing spot.

Hall's been good so far this season for Leeds. Making plenty of ground and getting good ptb's returning the ball and good under the high ball again.

Hall would still be my first choice England winger.

Great option to play over there. We aren't playing the World Cup over here so no point in preparing for it here. Good decision for once! For me the NRL based players play well the established ones anyway. Sarginson and Turner would get nowhere near for me. I honestly believe we can beat the Aussies this year, but ONLY if we use aggression and maybe not necessarily in the right way (I know but honestly I feel this is the best chance against the Aussies as we can't out play or out possess them). And that includes Bateman (and possibly McIllorum) along with Burgess absolutely winding their pack up (Bateman is good at that as well as being a class player) and show some aggression and hatred towards the like QLD and NSW do in Origin.

I do have an issue at hooker. I want McIllorum in for the Aussie game based on my tactics but Hodgson would start otherwise (as mentioned before World Class!) and Clark needs to come on and run. But with Castleford being outstanding this season we have such a struggle with the team selection. Do we go Bateman, Whitehead, Burgess? McMeekan, Bateman, O'Loughlin? Any combination of those could be our back three in the pack. Plus with Minikin and Eden coming to the for and Hardaker round the back is there space for Hall? I think J.Burgess is nailed on for a wing spot like. Team for me vs. Samoa:

Hardaker
J.Burgess
Watkins
Shenton/Percival
Minikin
Widdop
Gale
Graham
Hodgson
G.Burgess
Bateman
McMeeken
S.Burgess

Clark
Hill
T.Burgess
O'Loughlin

I'm not convinced about Lineham. I don't think he's really gone forward since he was at Hull. Burgess, if fit, should be left winger for sure.

This is mid season Somoa remember, big chance that NRL clubs wont let any of their best players play, and most players wont want to anyway in case they have a chance of playing for Aus in November.
We would get a better game playing France, and it would mean we were playing at home at least once.

Since the last WC, Samoa have been playing with a lot of pride.
They'll give this game their best shot, and will probably win I think.