That was a pretty weak Maori side, even with the shuffling around the 2nd half sounded a poor effort against an avg side. I see NZ didn't consider there game "just a warm up game"!

True. it is effectively the Kiwis third string. The samoans would push the Maoris and we know what the Kiwis did to them

Slightly irked we couldn't come away with the win, but happy enough. England were playing a warm up match at the other side of the world, still getting to know each other and experimenting with formations. Maoris were playing their 4N's final. All in all a good work out. First half England did what they needed, played the formations, played the set plays, everything came off without them really trying. Second half everyone went quiet, but that was when people were being swapped around.

Widdop - started well, good vision, good defensive position, great handling, but got roughed up by Toopi and the bottom lip came out, got smashed and then disappeared, which is a worry.
Briscoe and Hall - solid performances both in attack in defense
Atkins and Shenton - solid, nothing more really
S Tomkins - awesome as ever
Brown - first half played really well, great distribution, disappeared in second half
Robinson - added a bit of vigour in attack, but not convinced on defense
Eorl, Griffin, J Tomkins, Roby - all solid, created a great platform
Westwood - Wasn't running as well as hoped, seemed to be taking a hit and then try to run around the defender
Ellis and Burgess - played with what seemed about 50% effort, but still looked awesome
O'Loughlin - lead the pack well in Morley's absence, defense was great
Morley - pleased don't be injured!

I think the best half back combo is Sam and Brown. The team as a whole had more attacking vigour and options with those two and the twocompliment each other; Sam with his off the cuff genius plays off well with Brown's sharp execution of set plays and great distribution.

Overall, shame we didn't win,but it doesn't matter. We had an extremely dominant first half without even trying, got a good work out, good wake up call, got all those niggling mistakes out of the way and had chance to experiment and learn.

Happy.

I said on here that we will miss Sinfield and Eastmond and that Gleeson is a better player than Shenton. Ok, Eastmond is injured but Sinfield should be out there to organise the team as he does best. Gleeson has had an awesome season this year at Wigan but has somehow been missed.

18-0 with Tomkins on the field though, shows just how important he is.

rlhttps://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/9098568.stmrl

He came on at 9 for the last 10 of first half and first 15 in second and thats when he was at his best, when he went to 7 he completely disappeared.

I'd go with Brown to partner Sam as i think thats the only option we really have. Robinson is a 9 thats were hes performed best over the last 6 month for Hudds. They did pretty well as a partnership in the first half and tbh we was set up quite well with the Widdop, Brown and Sam mixing it up a little and all being 1st, 2nd or 3rd reciever at different times, that along with O'Loughlin joining when needed.

Like i've said previously i think the only thing McNamara has to decide on is the bench. Obviously Roby or Robinson will start the other taking a place on the bench I'd start with Roby hes solid as a rock in defense which is needed at the start especially and his darting runs from the ruck will help get us early field position. Robinson can come on and hopefully exploit tiring big forwards in the middle.

The second spot I'd give to Fielden, you may say through club bias but its not at all he's an all round better prop than both Griffin and Crabtree just look at the stats on the superleague website he's miles ahead.

Then the difficult decision does he want 2 props on the bench then its a choice between Griffin Crabtree and possibly Westwood. Griffin is the same type of prop as Graham, Morley and Fielden they don't add great impact for short periods they work tirelessly throughout and for long periods. Another option is if he feels due to the size of our forwards we could go with Westwood as a Prop/Second row. The final option is Crabtree who adds that impact, I'd go with that as the other 3 props can easily cover the shorter periods Crabtree plays.

Then the final choice is between Westwood and J.Tomkins, this to me is very much a toss of a coin there that close. Westwood is solid without being spectacular and can cover Prop pretty well. Whereas, Tomkins has that extra bit of attacking play with his power and pace. The deciding factor for me would be how J.Tomkins could easily cover centre.

Therefore i'd go with a bench of .... Robinson Fielden Crabtree J.Tomkins

Sinfield is injured as well aint he ? Pretty sure hes having an operation over the off season. Agreed Gleeson should of gone but i don't think Shenton did too much wrong tbf.

I'd agree with most of that, although I thought Widdop disappeared in the 2nd half and Brown looked out of his depth for most of the game.

Also thought the officials were very poor indeed. Verging on biased in fact.

Clan do you not think robinson had a poor kicking game in the second half?

NZ Maori Vs England , Sounds like it was organised by rascists.

I've always said it, Shenton is overrated.

Brown was very poor and as I feared was out of his depth. Shenton is a player that does not impress me one bit. He is a big fish in a small pond at Cas and will be found out at Saints. Gleeson has been a far better player this season and our right side would have been much stronger if he had been selected. Hall should never have been picked in the first place for this game as he has been poor this season, as he was again in this game, and Goulding should take his place. Widdop just doesnt look ready at this level and imo his lack of top flight Rugby shows.

The worst aspect for me was the fact that this New Zealand Maori team was quite poor and we should have won easily, especially after having the bulk of territory and possession in the first half and winning 18-0 at half time. Our forwards which is supposedly our strong point should have completely dominated and didnt. I dont think jet lag is a factor either to simply explain that 2nd half, Australia and New Zealand come to England time and time again and never collapse in that way. The way we collapsed was reminiscent of the final last year when we were fantastic for 60 mins then got battered in the last 20 mins when we were dead on our feet. We should be stronger next week but there is an awful long way to go to match NZ and Australia.

I thought Widdop has a good game today when he playing full back

Same thoughts as you about Atkins. haven't watched him week in and out but in the games i have seen him, he seemed to be coming on well. However, after todays game he looks like a proper thicko. Took his try well but he'll get mashed against the Aussies and Kiwis if he doesn't get his positioning right.

You realise that we played with a prop interchange down for practically the entire game, right? And that we spent the majority of the second half defending?