Anyone able to point out to me what Bennett brought to the table that Macnamara couldn't?

I am very fed up of drop goals.

Last three games.

My teams attempts, two. Scored, nil.

Opposition attempts, three. Scored, three.

Did you actually watch the game? Widdop made wrong decisions in the last 10 but was easily our most creative threat, Sam burgess was vital in getting our sets moving, and Watkins was quiet but still did far better than Sarginson.
Also if you can't actually believe we didn't look better today than last year under Mcbanana

I've not been impressed with Bennet but it's only two chuffin games.

10 seconds left why did clarke run into the kiwi defenders? he should be getting that ball back in the middle, at least give us a chance to throw it around

too many poor decisions, widdop, s burgess


sarginson? oh dear!

Widdop lost us the match - his only creativity in putting Johnson through.

In summary, two poor teams who just provided a backdrop for one good player to show how much better than the rest he was, Oz to win the final by 40 plus. They look a better sde than for a few years and I rate Meninga.

The Burgess twins have bad ball control on collision, that's nothing new from them. We looked far better with Graham and Hill on.

Sam, I think was guilty of trying to do too much today.

Watkins was Ok, kept Kata quiet and didn't get much ball. Sarginson on the other hand seemed to get a lot of ball and make the wrong descision a lot. Wouldn't have a problem with either being dropped for Percival.

I'm a big critic of Widdop, but interception aside, don't think he did too much wrong today and is probably worth a try a game in goal kicks.

He kicked out n the full from a kick off at a vital time. He cost us the game more than any other individual.

On a positive note, so far I have only bought tickets for the London match. Looks like I've saved on wasting too much cash.

England don't seem to know how to use Watkins, he needs the ball either very wary to get on the outside or very late so he can use his footwork at the line to break. At the minute they are acting like he is Greg inglis and giving him the ball in 2 on 2 situations and expecting him to bash his way through.
Maybe Lomax and Gale (and Bennet) should try watching some of Watkins game tape so they use him correctly, as is you might swell play a second row at right centre for the lack of good ball reaching that side.

It's an absolute myth that Watkins is an international standard centre, he's always been anonymous. And it just shows how poor we are in that department. If you keep doing the same thing, you'll get the same result. Keep picking Watkins and you'll keep picking an uninterested bystander.

As for the halfs, I'd go with what a previous poster said. Smith would've had the game management to win that with Williams providing the flair.

Try watching some of Watkins England games when Sinfield was playing, he knew how to use him (so does Matty Smith actually) and as such he was very effective, if Watkins isn't an international class centre the England aren't close to having one as he is easily the best centre in SL