This, but for the fact that I believe Widdop is injured.

One of the (many) reasons for Aus (and NZ) successes in recent times is that they invariably co-incide with having available world-class halfbacks. You can certainly do a job by playing the likes of Sinfield or Sculthorpe or whoever at 6, but overall will invariably pay the price against a team with superior halves.

I would be very surprised to see anything other than a Sinfield/Chase partnership from now through to the end of the World Cup.Am i right in thinking Widdop is unavailable for the coming internationals? if that is the case, SM wont even get a chance to trial him before the World Cup, and i cant see him throwing him in as starting stand off without having a good look first.

Widdops time will come.Sinfield will be 33 by time of World Cup and is likely to be his swansong at international level.

Quote: Tiddies "Interesting what Sinny has to say here... Hmmmm. New account. Few posts. Links to RL Moments... The deviant Sherlock in me leads me to deduce you are a Hull fan who may not be too fond of Wheels... But then I'm in an odd mood today. A better link www.therfl.co.uk/news/article/26 ... ad-england

Quote: Tiddies "Interesting what Sinny has to say here... Hmmmm. New account. Few posts. Links to RL Moments... The deviant Sherlock in me leads me to deduce you are a Hull fan who may not be too fond of Wheels... But then I'm in an odd mood today. A better link www.therfl.co.uk/news/article/26 ... ad-england

Yes Widdop is injured so will not play any part in any internationals until the RLWC.

Under what rules can England demand players be released from their clubs? Say for mid-season internationals? As someone has mentioned, it's tough to throw in a brand new half back partnership at the WC but we may have no choice.

I believe they have to be released for any International that qualifies as a Test match and affects the international rankings. So players would have to be released for these Autumn internationals, but not for the Exiles game.

we can't demand players be released unless it's a proper test match...ie not against the exiles

So would it make sense to play the French as a mid-season international "test" and put the Exiles game on the back burner so to speak for WC year? If it is at all possible? Just try and get more cohesion between the squad in the build up to it.

I know a lot of fans won't be happy about losing their key players for one game, but I'd be happy if it was for the good of the international team.

We should really be able to call on our overseas players for the Exiles games next year with it being World Cup year.That should have been a stipulation for no series against OZ /NZ this year.It is the only worthwhile hitout we will have before the event starts and 1/3 of our team wont be playing.

It would be 2 years since our whole squad played in a fixture against top opposition,while NZ and Australia get to play each other several times in that period...And we wonder why we get stuffed!!

We should really be able to call on our overseas players for the Exiles games next year with it being World Cup year.That should have been a stipulation for no series against OZ /NZ this year.It is the only worthwhile hitout we will have before the event starts and 1/3 of our team wont be playing.

It would be 2 years since our whole squad played in a fixture against top opposition,while NZ and Australia get to play each other several times in that period...And we wonder why we get stuffed!!

O loughlan is not a better 13 then Sinfield or stand off or better player and certainly not even close to being a better captain than Sinfield and he never has been or never will be any of the above.
Plus I think Danny Washbrook should be in the squad had a great season and rejuvenated his career at wakey. England 13 for me

The Exiles is an Exhibition match though, no NRL Clubs are going to release players mid season for that type of game.

Plays well when the Leeds pack is dominant, but what will he offer for England when we're getting battered by the Australian and New Zealand forwards? Does he have that bit of magic in him to turn a game? Unsure. Definitely got to play 13 if he's in the side for me.

the exiles game is'nt a test so we can't demand anything....


and we could'nt stipulate anything in regards to there being no series against OZ/NZ this year cos it's nothing to do with us...their players union got the players the year off...we just had to sit by and what it happen.

battered by the new zealand forwards???


the kiwis have'nt won in england since 2005......and every time kev has played against them since at home we've won and kev won MoM in a couple of them.......