The sensible thing to do would be for everyone to get together and say "yeah, we messed up. We made a simple botched decision look like something far worse, lets put a neutral ref in place for the remaining games and sort something permanent after the comp'. Only RL would double down on such a clusterfuk, the parochialism and self - interest even here at the very pinnacle of the game is just draining.

The team for last week was announced as the same team as the week before but it didn't line up as that against Australia - who is to say the same wont happen this week?

Is this not just a provisional team like last week?

If not I have to agree with everyone on Joel Tomkins still getting in over Whitehead.

Also if that is the final team, NZ 23 - 12 England. I'm hoping i'm wrong and we can reach the final

I can almost taste the faux outrage over this latest non-neutral refereeing appointment

Well I have to agree with every person on hear what a farce, but I forgot I do not agree with William eve

Ours is bad enough but the Aussies getting their own way again just beggars belief TBH. I wasn't going to bother watching on Sunday but if England win then Sunday will be must watch, car crash RL at it's most corrupt.

Can't wait.

think this is actually a blow to englands chances! the video ref will be getting lots of use as bentham can rarely make a decision on his own

Yes, id disregard the link at the top of this thread as the official England RL 18th Man news shows the team same as named last week for Aus game minus O'Loughlin and Sarginson rlhttps://theta.ecommzone.com/lz/RFL/00APT2/06cb61dc9a1309ad0ee70ae321e63a778b/story1.htmrl

I would expect there to be changes. Hopefully Hardaker and Whitehead get a shot!

It's not all about Aussies, JT being Joel Tomkins not Jonathon Thurston!

If we're in trouble at half-time, hopefully Bentham decides to penalise NZ for everything he sees second half and ignores everything England do.

If Bentham performs like Sutton did last weekend, I doubt it would be brushed under the carpet.

I thought Hodgson played well, what was wrong was not getting Clark on in the first half as the Aussies tired. Hodgson was targeted & was caught out after being winded in a tackle. Clark is a strike weapon & is devastating against big forwards when he comes on as a pair of fresh legs. I do agree Joel Tomkins should be no where near this team & would hope hardaker gets a run out.

Johnathan Thurston is universally known among players, coaches and media pundits as "JT." I don' t know if the Queen slander has patented the name, but he should have. Because of his stature as the greatest player in the game today, his moniker needs to have its exclusivity respected. The use of it to refer to such a limited talent as Tomkins the Elder is reckless, tasteless and utterly disrespectful.

Tomkins the Elder should be referred to as JoTo, in the manner of Jennifer Lopez, rather than sowing confusion and shameful insolence in the debating halls of TGG.

He's right, you know, just like always.

I'm not as outraged as most with Joel's inclusion, and I'd rather persevere with him than chuck Whitehead in cold on debut in such an important game. He's not without his defensive frailties in Super League let's not forget.

I have to agree on the Joel Tomkins issue, Whitehead has had an absolutely brilliant season. I'd be dismayed if I was him.

I wouldn't change anything else to be honest.

Just imagine if Roby or McIllorum had been fit for this tournament, we'd have won comfortably on Sunday in my opinion. Hodgson just doesn't have what it takes at the moment.