My apologies. Saints are worthy Champions. Roby if fit, plus Makinson, Walmsley and McCarthy- Scarsbrook must have been close to selection.

So am I to take it that you think Scott Taylor has a better chance of playing for England with Hull? Or were you just desperate to point out your team's Champion status?

On a related point - are you of the opinion that it is the BEST team that ALWAYS wins the GF (I did say Wigan were the best team, though of course, not Champions any longer)?

Just having a bit of fun! Saints were underdogs and Wigan were the better team, whether that would be the case if both teams were at full strength is up for debate. But in terms of form going into the GF, Wigan were undoubtedly the better team.

As for Scott Taylor, sadly he would have a better chance of earning recognition playing for a top team. That shouldn't be the case but unfortunately selectors can't seen to get past 'big team syndrome' and picking players from, teams that are playing well. Kevin Brown for one is a victim of this.

Players that usually leave Wigan get a good reception when they come back but I can't see Taylor getting that.

I don't have an issue with a player wanting to leave but you've got to be professional about it. His form was appalling for major parts of last year and now he's ended up having to sign for Salford.

They're a strange breed rugby league players sometimes. Mossop felt homesick 12,000 miles away which I can understand but Taylor was 90 miles from his family. I see my mam and dad probably once a week and they live round the corner!

I'd agree that it is more difficult for players from lower teams to get recognition. But I suppose when you look at the top teams and ask yourself, why are they at the top, it is fairly logical to assume that they are at the top because they have the best players.

Though of course, there are other factors like good coaching, the presence of good imports and luck involved.

It may be easier to stand out in a poor team, Rangi Chase at Cas winning MoS springs immediately to mind. Rangi was shown to be out of his depth when he played for England.

There is the other factor for a national coach of wanting to pick winners or players from a winning culture.

I think Wigan have done okay out of this. To quote Lenagan, Wane and Radlinski, Taylor wanted out and it was becoming a problem. Wigan have now unloaded that problem and have received the compo from Salford that Hull - rather cheekily - clearly didn't want to pay.

But I'm not sure how this works out for Taylor or Salford.

The player is no nearer home in relative terms, and now must spend 12 months at a lower profile club than he was at before. People can spin it how they want, but that won't assist him with his international ambitions. The outcome presumably is that he'll carry on sulking, only now on Salford's time rather than ours.

I don't know about obscurity tbh. He is a real talent and there's no reason why he can't develop at any other club. I do agree that professionally it makes no sense in joining a lesser club (being honest) if he wants medals but perhaps he feels there is more to life. Good luck to him.

All I can say is, hahaha. Wants to go to Hull and they wouldn't pay up so we flog him to a club down the road, brilliant by Lenegan and co. I bet his missus is happy

Guess he had his reasons.

I hope he fulfils his potential and becomes the international prop he should.

I'd argue that not all 8 were worthy of selection and herein lies part of the problem with picking players based on the fact that they play for a "top team" rather than selecting better individuals who may have suffered as a result of playing for lesser teams. As someone pointed out Kevin Brown being a prime example. Put Brown or Brough in the current Wigan team and there's not a chance Smith would've started at 7 for England in the 4N.

As a Salford fan I'm looking forward to seeing Taylor next season. Always looked handy at HKR and can only improve our young looking squad. I can't comment on his attitude as haven't seen much of him but if he can knuckle down I'm sure he'll go well for us based on what I've seen of his playing ability.

And yet the Aussie media, including the great Andrew Johns, heaped praise on Smith. Go figure!

As for 'not all being worth their place'; that is said every year regardless of who is picked. The same was said about Chase last time around, for example. Opinions and h0les and all that! Just for the record; would you have included Sarginson in your squad pre tournament?

Joe westerman managed it ok playing in a poor team so that prooves your theory wrong

I think Smith is a decent player but only at SL level, I just don't think he has the skill-set to shine on the international stage. I'm not singling him out btw and I didn't see anything in the 3 matches that would have had the Aussies purring.

I didn't slate the inclusion of Sarginson purely on the basis that I don't think Cudjoe or Shenton are up to international rugby either. IMO, he couldn't do any worse and I'm glad to say I thought he was excellent as I really think we're lacking in the centres and he's rightly claimed the shirt for the foreseeable future. FWIW, I genuinely believe that Wigan were a perfect example of the whole being greater than the sum of the parts last season. A lot of this down to some excellent coaching and a great defensive structure. Again IMO, there were better options than JT and Charnley but I believe they were given the nod over reputation and the team they play their club rugby for.

Seen a few quotes about him being "plucked from obscurity", let's not forget he was an England international when Wigan signed him.

Achieving your potential, which he undoubtedly has, is more mental than physical. Many have the physical gifts but not the mental strength. You have to be willing to go out of your comfort zone and go the extra mile.

I think this entire saga and the way it has played out shows that he does not have that mental strength and he is not willing to go out of his comfort zone.

I am sure he will have a solid career, I seriously doubt though he will trouble the International scene. Hope I am wrong as he certainly has the potential.

Was he?

To my knowledge he isn't even an England International now, so he would struggle to be then. He play in an international origin game (game 2 in 2012) but this is very different than being capped.

Some Wigan and Leeds players were pulled from the squad for game 2 and made 10 changes including making Jon Wilkin captain when he wasn't even in the team for game 1. Only 4 players played both games in the same position.

He only played when the first choice LF, from Wigan, was injured, nice try though.