It's what the aussies would have done had they been losing.

I'd like to say that it was one of the worse performances by a team of officials that I have seen in a RL match. However it's pretty much standard issue when you play Australia with Australian officials. Neutrals won't watch international RL when the home team get 3 scores (they don't need) given to them.

Roby and Westwood were our best players again. It's hard to be critical of Sam, they watched him like a hawk. Not much he could do behind a beaten pack!

Archer's performance was reminiscent of Bentham at his best ( ie worst) last season and the injustices perpetrated by the VR also reminded me of several 95/5 calls that went against Wigan.

The first "mistake" he made in England's favour was the kick which Westwood played after approx 60 minutes. but he judged it to have struck Westwood. The problem was that England were 18 points down by then. Missing those 2 forward passes while pinging the Briscoe to Atkins one ( which was probably a couple of inches forward - not 1 to 2 feet or even a yard forward for the Aussie try) was just criminal and/or totally inept.

The RL have to insist that Bentham is ref for the 4 Nations games against Australia next year with Thaler or Ganson (if available) as VR. And let them watch today's game the night before the England v Australia game and remind them that blatant bias to the home team seems to be permitted.

The annoying thing is that it could have been a brilliant and exciting game - which the Aussies would still probably have won. Not one that was more or less all over by half time - or it was when the final forward pass try was awarded. Rugby league is so much a game of possession and momentum nowadays and blatant mistakes can have a crucial impact on the outcome. Giving a scrum rather than a penalty to England for the stripping of the ball from Goulding was where it all started - until then England had had the Aussies on the rack for almost 10 minutes. But no, scrum awarded then VR try and all momentum shifted to Australia. A couple more Aussie tries soon followed. In reality, England should have been attacking in the Aussie 20 while 8-6 up.

Wrong again.

Unlike you I can make an honest assessment of the players regardless of where they ply there trade at club level.

I thought Graham was our best player he really is playing hard for a contract over there aint he.

For mine our best 3 players were Roby, Westwood and Robinson.

Roby was simply outstanding and from a Wigan point of view could give us massive problems next season playing like that. Westwood was everywhere in defence it seemed in the first half especially. And Robinson showed he can be tricky with ball in hand because of the way he switches the angles of his body, it makes defenders uncertain.

Whilst Graham played OK in my opinion he shouldn't be our captain. His style of play and manner on the field is quite a raw and emotive persona. I think with some calm captain we would have better positioned ourselves. With that being said my choices would be either Lockers or Burgess or maybe Roby because he can get us ticking and lift us from the play the ball.

Yep similar to the aussie defence when 5' 3" Robinson ghosted through and Robinson is the size of a 3 yr old

Many blokes were average today but not seen Joel mentioned, I was really disappointed with him in the last 2 games. he has just been ineffective. looks awesome in sl but hasn't made the step up yet for me.

too true. You need only look at before and after the first mistake. The not-a-knock-on. Before we had a plan and were firing on all cylinders. We could have given them a cricket score. But after we were dejected and it was obvious that nothing was gonna go well.

After half time. A fresh team and really showed how it was don and then more refing mistakes and the same happens. There were glimpses of greatness but it is an inexperienced side that was fighting 14 men on the pitch and 1 in the box. Was never gonna happen with those odds against you.

Good point. I would have thought everyone was like that though. I can't understand that someone would put club level ahead of beating Aussies.

I prefer club footie to international footie. Especially after today ( I felt like I'd been kicked and then punched in the knackers watching those decisions)

But beating the Aussies is always top priority. I wouldn't care if it was shuffle-board I'd still be rooting for us to beat the Aussies.

I can easily admit that Atkins was awful but so were both Tomkins and o'loughlin and briscoe.

Westwood was great and so was Roby (who was better) and Graham.

These are Englishmen and almost our brethren. We should hold them all the same.

I know Graham is erratic but i have a new found respect for him for not beating smith (i think) senseless after that (not-a) play of the ball before they went for the 2.