The stand by squad IIRC

He’s trying to take out and stand up defenders for attackers to run through the gaps left behind or hit the weaker shoulder of the stood up defenders and make more ground. It works at Canberra as the players around him are quick enough and have game sense to hit those lines. It didn’t work yesterday as it went back to kids RL where everyone runs sideways towards the touch line.

I seriously don’t understand some of Bennett’s choices. The amount of halfbacks in comparison to wingers and forwards is crazy.

Graham looks past his best. As much as O’loughlin has the back end of this year. Players running past him with ease.

If he’s so desperate for wingers who will make yards. Why did he not select Sarginson who makes as many yards as anyone plus can cover any back line position.

Watts not being in the squad is crazy too.

Agreed with all but one from the “no longer good enough” and “need to step up” lists; Hodgson. He’s a far better hooker than Clarke will ever be and is streets ahead of any other English hooker. There is literally no other option.

The “outsiders” list though I’d tend to agree with. Though I do question Grace, he would have been mullered v Tonga and I’m inclined to think he would v NZ/Aus but we’ll never know until he’s been put in there. Williams’ exclusion is down to his 9’s performance IMO which was sub standard. Philbin, Hughes likely excluded in the pack purely down to size. Connor excluded to make way for Hardaker who in turn made way for Coote. Connor should be given his chance v NZ given Gildart’s injury.

FWIW I think the only reason Clarke was excluded was down to needing a big bench to match the Tongan physicality.

Wayne Bennett as GB coach is akin to me playing Career mode in FIFA where I’m internal boss of a football team as well as a club side, you get an email saying you have to submit a squad ‘now’ so you just accept the previous squad without even checking it because you’re hearts not in it, your only coaching that international side so you can scout the players for that nation for your club, which is probably what he’s doing too. Eg Thompson