Sorry, only just seen your post.

I realise it's a futile exercise discussing the finer points of the sport with a Wiganer but what the hell.

Sarginson does not run a centre's line. He has two modes: crabbing across field or taking the space from his winger. Wiganers point to his stats but the truth is they're hugely exaggerated by Wigan's dominance of using their outside three for metres on early tackles. You can get away with that in SL. A glance at his Grand Final stats for instance imply he had a great game but the context of it is that he barely threatened despite that flank being up against LMS at centre and Percival shifted to the wing. LMS was able to control him in threatening positions with ease precisely because he is incapable of holding his centre. It's no good making 100 easy metres on exit sets when you can't hold a line against a second rower at 3.

Of course, he's relatively new to the role and fared well in the internationals so there's clearly talent there. However, he is simply nowhere near the natural centre that Percival is. Percival naturally holds his man in the same way Paul Newlove once did; it's hard to define but just enough to take the outside shoulder but not enough to take the winger's space. It results constantly in the winger coming in and a centre with good hands putting his winger in for a walk in. Percival's handling, decision making and timing are superb for a young lad. I realise stats aren't allowed but have a glance at the scoring ratio for the winger on Percival's side in the games he's been their centre. It's brilliant and it isn't because of a dominance on using outside threes on early tackles or from deep. Saints use their backs in the conventional manner: generally 3rd/4th tackle set plays. Still, Percival's stats are exemplary and beyond all on a game by game ratio. As I said earlier, he's 20 years old and in his first real full season. As a Saints fan but more importantly, as a British RL fan, it's marvellous to watch a proper centre.

Britain produces centres like this like rocking horses produce . Obviously not credited across the league as of yet but they'll see it soon enough.

Most NRL clubs do it too: Vatuvei, Uate, Croker, Naqama, etc etc. It's hardly a discredited SL tactic.

Love how SLS is trying to make the most basic on centre play sound so advanced people wouldn't understand. If you want an example of it watch Ryan halls try for England v Aus in the 4 nations just gone.

Next SLS will be trying to claim the rest of us would not be able to understand the concept of the scooting hooker!

Sargison did well enough last year to be given a shot again. He also did what far too few players picked for England do - play better than expected.

Just to show I'm not biased because he plays for Wigan, Charnley OTOH was exposed - again - as simply not physical enough for internationals.

There's a "new" player on the block, who may have played centre.

Must be worth a punt on the recently signed pension seeking crock Gidley! ( he could have an " home nations" relative) and who really cares if he has already played for the Aussies, it not that there's a hard and fast rule anymore who plays for who at international level

Wire certainly rate him compared to other "talent" they have developed

Warrington have been developing young players and thrusting them into first team action on a regular basis.....that's if you read the Leeds board of the Tony Smith fan club who think he can do no wrong.

Can't believe no-ones mentioned Kris Welham yet. Head and shoulders above any centre this season.

It's the way you tell 'em!

Leaving aside the question - maybe SLS has just got the brains and the inclination to do what almost everyone else these days on message boards either can't or won't: argue his case in detail so others can grasp what he's saying fully instead of spewing out Twitteresque-length decrees which, despite lacking all context and substance, are delivered with all the certainty of Moses laying down the Ten Commandments.

Exactly Muggy.

Some dimwit didn't understand the terminology used and SLS explained it perfectly.

And just for the record, it is a myth that international selections are from the top teams. The champions had no representation for England in the four nations. Paranoid on this forum!

The point you are making is silly. I don't think there's anyone in the country who thinks EVERY SINGLE PLAYER at the most successful clubs is demonstrably "better" than his opposite number at Huddersfield.

However, successful clubs are ... well ... successful. Unless you are suggesting Saints, Wigan, Leeds etc. win by magic or bribery or whatever - you have to conclude these clubs possess some kind of superiority in playing staff. Which means any national coach must automatically assume the very real liklihood that player X operating in position Y at, say, Leeds is a better option than his opposite number at Huddersfield.

To deny this truth from the outset is every bit as foolish as the error you keep accusing others of making.



Was Jerry McGillvary kidnapped at gunpoint and forced to sign a contract with Huddersfield? Of course not. He joined the club with open eyes and knew from the outset that given Huddersfield's lack of success he'd have to not only equal the feats of his peers at the top four but exceed them. He hasn't done this. Or would you have us believe that an English coach desperately attempting to be the first man to break the forty-odd year Australian hoodoo would rather LOSE THE MATCH selecting a player from the top four than WIN IT (thus sealing his place in history, enjoying countless career spin-offs, possibly even a Knighthood) by playing a better man from Huddersfield?

Watkins on 1 side (assuming he hasn't forgot his qualities once Leeds get him off the wing). Shenton on the other.

At least we have a few choices we can argue over now in the threequarters (and full back). Not so long ago - when Tony Smith was coach to be precise the options were frighteningly bad 1-5.

True, that.

Lee Smith- -shudder!

Ade Gardner - shudder!

Bias perhaps, but I haven't seen a better classic centre than Percival knocking around sl.

He'll be comfortably the best centre in the league within 12 months barring injury IMO and I wouldn't swap him for anyone, including Watkins.

A real pleasure to watch, a classy craftsman of a centre. Hope the NRL leave him alone but I doubt it.