Our packs of years gone by have certainly been much stronger than this current one - whether they were a match or better than Aus is debatable, but what's certain is the likes of Peacock, Morley, Ellis, Sculthorpe, Farrell, McDermott, Fielden, Newton, Cunningham would have walked into the current pack - even blokes like Joynt and Anderson would be certainties.
For all James Graham has been a fantastic player, he'd get nowhere near the Aus team on current form. Burgess would get in the squad, but I don't even think he'd be a guaranteed starter currently.

The pack is least of concerns. What is worrying is the comparisons of halves and centres, and probably fullback now as well.

Has always been the way. You can't beat the best without quality half backs.

England lag so far behind. Thurston can quit rep football but Australia but it doesn't kill Australia.

Bennett's public persona has always been as a permanently downbeat, negative person. From all accounts once away from the media he's very different, and a lot of what he does is instill belief in players.

Personally, I just don't think we have enough quality players, regardless of the coach.

I thought it was an often quoted theme on this forum that a half back can't perform behind a beaten/dominated pack.

I agree, but on paper looking at all the squads we have an opportunity to at least make the WC final again for the first time since 1995 which would be a step in the right direction.

If we can make it playing some good rugby and compete in the final then i think that would be a good result.

exactly.

I never said Bennett was a poor coach I said he wasn't the right guy for our national side.

Regards

King Dong

Getting like football this, every forum you go on all the posters are happy to say their best players aren't going to the WC so they can have a full preseason or get over injuries etc. Shows the mentality of the modern day fan - club first, country second - and I feel that is the case with a lot of players these days too. More so for football, especially when it comes to friendlies, but see more and more of it happening in RL, so it's no wonder England/GB never do anything in tournaments.

I think it's two-fold; some of it is sour grapes - in that the same people saying they are glad their best players aren't involved would be lauding their inclusion were it to have happened.

Secondly, I think lots of people have lost interest in England RL because we've had years of crap coaching, strange selections and failure to perform - and now we have an Aussie coach who seems to be doing the job against his will, and can't summon up an ounce of enthusiasm for the media or supporters to latch onto.

yep. I appreciate what a good club coach Wayne Bennett is before people jump in with that, it's undeniable, but never saw him as a good fit for the England coaching role. I knew he would have us playing the grind style but that will never beat Australia because they simply play that style miles better than anybody else. We need a passionate coach next, someone who when he gets the best group of players together for short periods makes them feel like they would run through brick walls for the shirt and is aware to what each player actually brings to the table.(Bennett selecting Brown and Ratchford shows he isn't really watching) Yes, i'm talking about Shaun Wane as that man with hopefully Daryl Powell as assistant.

For all the stick McNamara got, from the turn of this decade when we had a poor group of players in general and were as low as i can ever remember on the international stage. he built us back up and got us within hair of a WC Final, 4 nations final away from home and a series victory over the Kiwis it actually feels we have taken a step back with Bennett so far.

That said, i really hope we can go well in this WC and will be fully behind all the lads chosen to represent us.

I'd prefer it the other way around.

yeah, Think you could have it either way really but we all know Powell would do the proper coaching, and just thinking for Figurehead you want Wane, he would be great in the media talking England/GB up to the max complete opposite of Bennett.

McDermott will probably in the mix for the job too, be interesting to see who they go for it's a big call with the international calendar looking pretty decent for the next few years.

As much as he falls in and out of favour with Leeds fans, I think Uncle Bri would be a positive influence; for all his enigmatic nonsense, he's actually quite an inspiring character, and tough as nails - and it seems that players like and respect him. I'd be happy to see my fellow Lupset lad involved - and the England team coached by an Englishman with some skin in the game. That sounds a bit UKIP - not my intention at all - I just find Bennett's apparent lack of interest grating.

I'd prefer not to see thug Wane anywhere near the England team or even SL if possible. Terrible suggestion.