I think one of the problems is lack of fixtures in international. You play so few can you really drop proven players for potentially good but unproven players against Oz and NZ in WC and 4N games. Not like football we’re you have so many games to try different players.

If he gets his shot this Autumn then realistically he’s not had to wait that long for an international shot especially factoring in his 2017 injury ruling him out of that year.

Why should a player be judged on how many trophies a TEAM wins, or one that has proved he can outperform the other wingers in the Comp playing for a 5th placed team That surely is how an individual is judged not a team. it's not as if he's playing for Widnes at the bottom of the league is it.
Moving from Trinity to Saints or Wigan isn't even necessarily going to make him a better player at all, could have the opposite effect & he may not fit in at either club as we've seen with other players.
Like the point I originally made, which is quite bloody obvious, it's one of the reasons we have guys from England playing there. A move to the NRL and the better coaching and the week in week out standard of the sides would see him against the best and potentially make him a better player. Hard to understand, isn't it.



A typical fruity little anti-Wakey response that doesn't know their a-hole from their elbow.

As far as England selection Hall and McGillvery are the 2 wingers at present and I've no problem with that. Hall, in particular, seems to excel for England even when his Leeds performances haven't. If Hall is out imo Johnstone is the next cab off the rank and ateotd we should be blooding the next generation in at some point whether that's Johnstone or not

Because playing in the biggest games like GF’s and CCF’s and SF’s are massive experiences that shouldn’t be dismissed when you’re facing the likes of Australia and New Zealand.

But the point is it's not the be all and end all, otherwise, we'd have players from just 4/5 clubs playing from SL for England at any one time. Obviously, it would be good to see him in a GF but conversely, players sometimes get picked just for that, because they play in a winning SL team and the team can make them look good. Not necessarily because they're the best player in England in that position.

Seriously I'm not sure why people are getting bent out of shape on this. If you watch the lad play, you can see how good he is and especially how much his defense has improved since he burst onto the scene. He doesn't have to be in the Grand final to show that, does he. It's also not as if Trinity hasn't been playing near the top of the table the past couple of years in good close games against the top teams at the time.
Do you see him not performing say if Trinity makes the top 4, like they were so close to last year, and get a Semifinal or dare I say it a Final because I don't? He tends to excel against the better teams rather than disappear.

ATEOTD I'm not calling for any changes, just acknowledging like yourself the lad has a very good chance if fit.

No one is getting bent out of shape just providing a proper counter argument. Not actually dismissing his claims to be picked for England but it’s not like the other wingers don’t have really strong cases too.

Playing in the biggest games isn’t the be all and end all BUT at the same time it does provide huge experience. If Wakey made the Cup Final and their was a 50/50 choice in one position between an experienced player and a rookie would you dismiss the experience factor?

He had one year where he really could come in contention to be picked in 2016 and it was hardly harsh to be left out to the likes of Hall and McGillivary especially at the age of 21 then, how many play at England at that age? Even if he plays this Autumn he’s younger than a lot of players who get their first cap for England.

The getting bent out of shape comment is more to do with the y comments & rhetoric of, he's got to play for a top team, that's been trotted out not just in this thread but anytime his name comes up.

Also, I'm not generally arguing with what you say, am I. I acknowledge he's behind the current duo and should be in the running when the time comes if fit as you agree with, that's really it. I just argue that being in a GF etc shouldn't stop a good player getting picked because of the team he plays for, it may add to his experience and CV though. Like I've also said, players have been picked wrongly over the years because of just that, because of the team they represent.

Tbh I don't think he was quite ready in 2016, his defence, although sometimes it's down to the centre why you can look daft, wasn't on par with his attack, especially for international level. Not that surprising though seeing as he's just made the breakthrough to play pro RL. but it's vastly improved imo since then

Anyway, if he gets picked it'll be because Wayne Bennett thinks he's good enough and that's good enough for me. If he doesn't that's also good enough and he'll have to bide his time.

I do apologise. I made the fundamental error of replying to the original post: [iThe best winger England have had for 18 months and still no England Cap.[/i

Clearly its easier to catch the eye if you're playing in Cup finals etc. However, wingers like the great Dessie Drummond played international RL while at perpetual mid-tablers Leigh.

Drummond won the First Division Championship early in his career with Leigh (1981 IIRC), from then he was picked for GB.

Correct Matty.

McGilvary's team is hardly one of the glamour ones. Johnstone'll be picked if he's deemed good enough.

Correct. Greg 'Rolling Thunder' Eden it is.