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| Club Coach | 29965 | Wigan Warriors |
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| Nov 2004 | 20 years | |
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| Quote nottinghamtiger="nottinghamtiger"My team would be:
Hardaker
McGilvry
Watkins
Shenton
Eden
Widdop
Gale
Graham
Hodgson
Sam Burgess
Whitehead
McMeekan
O'Loughlin.
Walmsley
Taylor
Watts
Burgess.
Firstly, I hope Bennett sees the sense in maintaining the Castleford left edge. Gale, Hardaker, Shenton and Eden have been the best attacking combination in SL this year, and spend hour after hour training together and know instinctively what each other will do. The timing and execution of the plays that these players can run are a potent attacking weapon. As an individual, I rate Percival more than Shenton BUT the advantage of having a unit that already plays together regularly and to a very high standard outweighs this, in my opinion.
Ryan Hall. He's been England's best over the last decade. But he isn't any more. His game has never been based on blistering pace, but he can't score the kind of acrobatic tries that is now expected of wingers. I hear talk of his kick returns, but the extra metre or so he makes on contact doesn't compensate for the metres that could be gained by players with more pace on the kick return(i.e. Eden). If Eden can make six or seven metres more ground before the chasers get to him, it's worth far more than an extra metre or two at the point of contact.
Mike McMeekan. I might be accused of Cas bias here, but McMeekan played very well in the Samoa game and has just earned himself a place in the Super League Dream Team. However, more importantly, I'm tired of us picking forwards who are too small (Bateman and Farrell). They may hold their own in SL (and more), but watching them against Australia's or New Zealand's forwards is like watching men playing boys. All too often, the best they can manage is literally dragging down other forwards, clinging on for dear life. They have no defensive impact and no ability to dominate when they carry the ball. McMeekan, on the other hand, has the size and strength to actually dominate in the tackle, whether this be in attack or defence.
Oh, and if Kevin Brown is anywhere near the squad, it's certain proof that Bennett hasn't watched a SL game all year.'"
I don't think you're bias on McMeekan at all, he deserves a place in the squad but I would dispute that he did well against Samoa. It was probably his quietest game of the year with him making just 4 carries IIRC but he'll have obviously been nervous and a bit alien to the rest of the team.
He gets in the squad for me but will need to take his chance and play better then that when it comes. |
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| International Star | 7609 | Wigan Warriors |
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| May 2011 | 14 years | |
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| Quote musson="musson"Chris McQueen could be an option at centre'"
He’s injured. |
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| International Board Member | 6734 | No
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| Jan 2003 | 22 years | |
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| Jul 2021 | Jun 2021 | LINK |
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| Quote nottinghamtiger="nottinghamtiger"My team would be:
Hardaker
McGilvry
Watkins
Shenton
Eden
Widdop
Gale
Graham
Hodgson
Sam Burgess
Whitehead
McMeekan
O'Loughlin.
Walmsley
Taylor
Watts
Burgess.
Firstly, I hope Bennett sees the sense in maintaining the Castleford left edge. Gale, Hardaker, Shenton and Eden have been the best attacking combination in SL this year, and spend hour after hour training together and know instinctively what each other will do. The timing and execution of the plays that these players can run are a potent attacking weapon. As an individual, I rate Percival more than Shenton BUT the advantage of having a unit that already plays together regularly and to a very high standard outweighs this, in my opinion.
Ryan Hall. He's been England's best over the last decade. But he isn't any more. His game has never been based on blistering pace, but he can't score the kind of acrobatic tries that is now expected of wingers. I hear talk of his kick returns, but the extra metre or so he makes on contact doesn't compensate for the metres that could be gained by players with more pace on the kick return(i.e. Eden). If Eden can make six or seven metres more ground before the chasers get to him, it's worth far more than an extra metre or two at the point of contact.
Mike McMeekan. I might be accused of Cas bias here, but McMeekan played very well in the Samoa game and has just earned himself a place in the Super League Dream Team. However, more importantly, I'm tired of us picking forwards who are too small (Bateman and Farrell). They may hold their own in SL (and more), but watching them against Australia's or New Zealand's forwards is like watching men playing boys. All too often, the best they can manage is literally dragging down other forwards, clinging on for dear life. They have no defensive impact and no ability to dominate when they carry the ball. McMeekan, on the other hand, has the size and strength to actually dominate in the tackle, whether this be in attack or defence.
Oh, and if Kevin Brown is anywhere near the squad, it's certain proof that Bennett hasn't watched a SL game all year.'"
4 props on the bench? |
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Eden was a wet lettuce in contact when he was at the Broncos. He seriously looked like he'd lose the ball every time he was tackled. As did Sargison this year and Hardaker last year. I'd have Eden in the squad because he can play full back, but people seriously underestimate just how much physically tougher the NRL is for outside backs.
I think Hodgson will be given first chance, but he needs to show better decision-making under pressure than he has this year.
It will be interesting to see if Bennett goes for the same sort of team as the mid season test. He likes a genuine ball handler at full back and tends to pick strong centres so may again opt for Hardaker in the centres.
Given some of the movements announced today re Tonga, it will be interesting to see if there are any NRL bolters in the England squad. I don't actually expect any, but I also wouldn't be surprised.
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| Player Coach | 4106 | No
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| Aug 2006 | 19 years | |
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Hardaker
McGilvary
Watkins
Shenton
Hall
Gale
Widdop
SBurgess
Roby
Graham
Bateman
Whitehead
O'Loughlin
Hodgson
Walamsley
Watts
TBurgess
Reserves
18.) McMeeken Backrow/Prop
19.) Eden Wing/FB
20.) Percival Centre
21.) Williams Halves/ Hooker
22.) Farrell Backrow
23.) Hill Prop
24.) Tomkins Fullback/ Halves
Standby
25.) Ratchford
26.) Taylor
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| Quote Wigg'n="Wigg'n"He’s injured.'"
He's not English. Neither is Heighington, nor Cuthbertson. |
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I don't get this Bateman is too small. He's one of our best players IMO he was immense for Wigan in the final against Hull. He's not big but he's bloody strong.
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| Oct 2011 | 13 years | |
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| Quote Willzay="Willzay"He's not English. Neither is Heighington, nor Cuthbertson.'"
Both have English fathers and are entitled to British citizenship with no hoops to jump through, no residency to complete. How much more English do you want them to be? |
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| Player Coach | 9923 | No
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| Quote NickyKiss="NickyKiss"My starting team and squad would be-
Hardaker
McGillvary Watkins Percival Hall
Widdop Gale
Graham Roby Watts
Whitehead S Burgess O'Loughlin
Subs
Walmsley Hill Bateman Hodgson
Rest of squad
Shaul Eden Gildart Williams Taylor T Burgess McMeekan
I doubt that's the squad which will be picked because I think Bennett will go with George Burgess and Heighington over Taylor and Wattsand I think he'll take Ratchford over Shaul but I'd go with that. The only two I wasn't sure on was Gildart over Shenton and Williams over Sneyd. The Williams decision is because he can back up the two hookers as well as the halves and Gildart would get more out of being back up centre long term then Shenton would. They've both had fantastic seasons so that ones debatable.'"
I don't understand the hype regarding Hodgson. I think Clark is a much better player and better in defence. |
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1. Hardaker
2. Eden
3. Percival
4. Watkins
5. Hall
6. Gale
7. Widdop
8. Hill
9. Roby
10. Graham
11. Whitehead
12. McMeeken
13. S Burgess
14. Clark
15. Walmsley
16. Bateman
17 Watts/T Burgess
Unsure why there's even a debate about leaving out a player who's scored 37 tries this season but each to their own.
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| Moderator | 32172 | Bradford Bulls |
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| Quote Bull Mania="Bull Mania"I don't get this Bateman is too small. He's one of our best players IMO he was immense for Wigan in the final against Hull. He's not big but he's bloody strong.'"
He is but it's a different kettle of fish in Test rugby. He comes up against much better opponents than he does at SL level. Size is a big factor. If he plays in the forwards we'll lose IMO. |
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| Player Coach | 8669 | Hull FC |
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| Jul 2006 | 19 years | |
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| Quote Lord Tony Smith="Lord Tony Smith"1. Hardaker
2. Eden
3. Percival
4. Watkins
5. Hall
6. Gale
7. Widdop
8. Hill
9. Roby
10. Graham
11. Whitehead
12. McMeeken
13. S Burgess
14. Clark
15. Walmsley
16. Bateman
17 Watts/T Burgess
Unsure why there's even a debate about leaving out a player who's scored 37 tries this season but each to their own.'"
Anyone can score tries on that Wing for Cas, as have been proven in previous years. It is the attacking structure leading up to the pass to the winger that creates those tries, not Greg Eden. Even the young lad who made his debut against Hull got 3 tries |
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