I disagree to an extent and think our inability to match them in the forwards has been more of the problem than the backs. If you look at Englands defeats recently they've matched the forwards statistically, however the Aussies forwards have been so much better in 'the wrestle' and have controlled the PTB which has meant their backs hav had more to work with and crucially more time and space. England on the other hand have been working off the back of slow ball which gives the Aussie defenders more time to close down our halfs. Look at the last tri nations. Against NZ at the KC our forwards dominated and our half backs were able to execute a good kicking game compared to the NZ, whom despite having the better pairing on paper looked very ordinary. Then in the final it was the exact opposite.

I agree with our point on dummy runners. Also our forwards lack of quality movement off the ball has also been an area we get severly outclassed in. There's so much more to forward play in RL than how many meteres and tackles you make. Until we improve are all round forward play and technique it doesn't matter who are halfs or centres are.

Was hoping last year (especially the tail end) was a bit of 2nd season syndrome. He's clearly shown himself to have the quality (especially in defence) but it's starting to look like he's going to have to put more effort in to get it going again.

Still a class or two above Ryan Atkins and most English centres, though not as talented as Greg Inglis, Josh Morris, Justin Hodges and Michael Jennings.

Kallum Watkins is a talent in attack but not as good as Inglis, Morris, or Hodges, nor Michael Jennings, who has lightening fast acceleration, a great swerve, and dazzling speed over 100 yards/metres.

Michael Jennings and Josh Morris will outpace any English centre including Watkins. Hodges can step inside and fend off most opposing centres. Inglis won't have to outpace any opposing centres because he will either fend them off or run over the top of them.

Reed has got worse at centre as he's grown physically, and as a result is losing his pace. If he continues to slow down I can't see him remaining in the centres much longer.

In his main line break through he was not clueless. It was just that seeing the looming figure of Greg Inglis coming across in cover he may have panicked in throwing a bad pass to Minichiello. He will rectify that. Now that he is playing outside quality halves (Pearce and Maloney) which he did not have at Penrith, he will start to carve up opposing teams.

It won't stop him picking Chase.

If Chase had actually played for New Zealand, that might be a valid comparison.

Can't believe nobody has mentioned Jamie Lyon, I know he doesn't play internationally but he is the other best centre in the world (with Inglis been the other). We have nobody anywhere near the level of these two, not even close.

Neither do Austrailia to be fair.

He has played for New Zealand Maoris, New Zealand A's and the Exiles in a match against England.

Point taken, not a great comparison but still hardly perfect England material.

That is absolute rubbish, Reed hasn't done a thing in 18 months and looks so average it's not funny. You are way too obsessed with anything/everything NRL.

Agree. We're missing quality of those two.

Centres and halves are where we lack at the moment. People keep raving about Watkins but at the moment I just don't see it. He can't defend. And I don't see enough of Jack Reed to be able to comment on him, but he's hardly set the NRL alight from what I've heard.

McNamara doesn't seem to be able to get a good combination going in the halves despite some very good options. Dropping Brough from the squad is criminal and I'm glad he was in the crowd to watch him demolish Leeds!

Regarding Senior & Gleeson, I don't think they ever had the quality wingers outside them during their time, certainly no Hall, Briscoe or Charnley. Perhaps only Carney and he suffered from injuries a bit.

Imagine a prime of their careers threequarters of.....

Briscoe/Charnley
Gleeson
Senior
Hall

Looks pretty good.

True but you could name about 30 sets of 4 Aussies that you'd rather have. As I say, for me we've always been at our comparitive weakest in the centres. I've no idea what it is about that position that seems to mean we don't produce many. In twenty years I can only think of a handful of genuine international class.

We've got a few good young centres coming through but the only one who promises to be genuinely world class and capable of mixing it and hurting the Aussies is Callum Watkins IMO.