Don't get me wrong here, Brown would have been my choice given the circumstances but only because he was next in line. I rate him but you can't seriously think he is the best SO in England at the moment! I would think McBanana's first choice would have been Tomkins at 1, McGuire at 6 and Eastmond at 7 with Widdop in reserve for 1 and possibly on bench as a utility back. Brown would have been effectively down on the team sheet after all those three starting players and any combination of those three would have been the starting 6 or 7 for me. As Eastmond and McGuire are not available he is the right choice for 6 and worthy of his place.

My thoughts exactly. People just read what club they play for (sorry, are contracted to) and think they must be good.

Major concerns if England don't win this one.

If England lose this one, and it's not impossible, the 4 Nations dies immediately.

RL in this country nosedives to beyond a joke.




It will not happen, will it?

you seem to want it too...

Was McGuire injured/unavailable when Brown played at six in the mid season test against the French?

yeah i think he was injured...think kev sinfield was playing 6 for leeds at the time?

The ideal backline for me would be as follows.

1. Tomkins
2. Briscoe
3. Shenton
4. Atkins
5. Widdop
6. Maguire
7. Eastmons

Pace, Youth, good defnce and skill in that backline imo.

1. Tomkins
2. Briscoe
3. Bridge
4. Atkins
5. Hall

6. Mcguire
7. Eastmond

Although in a year or two i'd hope that Widdop fulfils his supposed potential and takes over from Mcguire at 6.

I agree, i rate Griffin, he's a very good prop forward and deserves his call up. Also, i'd have picked Mason instead of Crabtree, and thats just from Huddersfield. Crabtree is over-rated.

Crabtree did well in the 4 Nations last year so as the incumbent he deserves to keep his spot

For a (very) big man, he has a good workrate in defence and his size can trouble the Aussies and Kiwi's - while he doesn't always run his full weight, he can get a good off load away

I would be happy with him as an impact forward in the 4 Nations

I hope Brown proves his doubters wrong. Ask any Giants fan (the ones who actually see him week in week out) and they have a lot of good things to say. Just because he's not everyone's first choice doesn't mean he can't do a good job.
Assuming the squad as a whole doesn't go belly up in terms of performance, I reckon he'll do alright.

yes

Of course he does than he can blame Sooperdooperleague for all the problems and bring it all down to the fact that keighley were shafted and if that had not happened England would be world beaters.