Add George Burgess bursting onto the scene ( Sheens has picked Fafita specifically to counter the Impact George brings )
There is no question the English big names in the NRL are on a level with Australia and NZ's ( don't make the mistake of underrating NZ's pack folks , could prove a level up on Australia ).

Defensively the Australian pack edges out NZ , in the Go forward and secound Phase game NZ ranks Australia ( finally ).

I've said elsewhere Englands exports to the NRL are more walk than talk.

Sam Burgess some think is overrated ( well you get that with most big stars ) but the one thing the English NRL players have in common is that if they keep their discipline they're the edge in the packs they run with when they fire.

Don't forget Tom Burgess is one heck of a player in his own right.

England can more than match the others up front if they hunt as a pack.

As for the bacline apart from Sam Tomkins and Josh Charnely I really have no idea......Widdops good I hope his replacement is better, otherwise that's just dumb coaching.

Hardaker, Graham and McIlorum all left out of Saturdays squad v Australia.

I wonder if the fans will boo them or shout "break their legs" if they play in subsequent games?

Lockers out too, I assume that's through injury though?

Yeah they said a couple of weeks ago in South Africa o'loughlin wont be risked in the first game.

byw The "break his legs" comment came from a family of Saints fans sat behind us at Salford on Saturday. I'll leave you to guess who it was aimed at.
A Wire fan sat alongside us just shook his head in disbelief.

Another thing to be added to the reasons why I am club over country every time.

punishment for alleged involvement in Hockgate?

Is Macnamara cutting off his nose to spite his face? or has he given up on winning the WC already?

TBF to him. We don't need to win on Saturday and this will stamp his authority on the squad and show them who is boss. It's a shame I don't think two of them would have played anyway.

That annoys me as well. If you're an England fan then you cheer for England no matter who is playing. Would they boo him if he signed for Saints?


BTW your location is a little outdated

thats another way of looking at it...the optimistic way

Looks like the other named in the incident have been dropped for the squad to face the Aussies

they still crying about sam tomkins? he no longer a wigan player just a legend.

So what games are we all booked in for? At present have tix for the following but starting to sniff around the Wembley double header as well having seen the way sales are flying on it.:

Fiji v Ireland
Tonga v Cooks
Australia v Fiji
Tonga v Italy
Wigan QF
Final

May also have a look at USA Wales if the ticketing open up a bit in the lower categories and the 50% discount codes continue to work