Atkins in English terms is considered to be an athlete which when you look at what the Aussies and Kiwi's have in the same position is actually embarrassing.

We have not produced an international class athlete since Hanley/Offiah, although maybe Burgess is the next one along with Sam, but it simply is not good enough and that is both a failure of the system and society for enabling young men to have such a poor work ethic.

I'd give Tomkins the captaincy now. "there you go son, have that for ten years"

I didn't think Sam looked 100% fit today despite them saying he'd passed a fitness test.
A week until the Aussie game and start him at full back.

Atkins looked poor then didn't play 2nd half due to an injury.
Anyone heard how his injury is?

Clubby in for Atkins next week

I'd agree with that, he came inside and did a ball and all one on one tackle with there lad (number 17?) as he was making decent ground then had a 2nd row and his centre outside him to slide over after he'd completed the tackle, isn't that the whole point of a sliding defence?

Personally I thought Goulding had a very good game, took the ball up well, certainly as has been mentioned saved a try though obviously then out of position for the forward pass that was given moments later. Briscoe as much as it pains me has still not improved his positiional wing play and didn't look for work enough(he didn't get the ball in one attacking play mind either)
The rest of your guys I thought lockers was not at the races & below par (but far from the worst forward) tompkins was a bit of a let down too (didn't seem to have the normal zing) & could do with learning how to kick properly. Tomkins Snr didn't have any impact on the game but will be in the 17 again for sure, maybe he'll get more game time?

because you come on wigan board trying to blame wigan players for england getting beat .You sound like a bitter saints fan thats why i put that you idiot

To be fair he had just walked off the set of Neighbours circa 1987.

Speaking of which, why wasn't Brown's try given? He touched the ball - which is all you need these days for it to be considered a try.

A push on the Kiwi player in the in goal area.

Seriously? Good god. I didn't realise they needed the ref on their side too.

I see we are witnessing the usual tactic now from Stainsfan.

ie Staying away from the thread having been totally handed her ar$e yet again.
This has happened quite a few times before.....remember the O'Meley / Roby incident at Hull earlier this season when she went into a rage about how there should be a banning, despite not seeing the incident as she wasn't at the game, despite Hull fans stating the clash was legal. She wouldn't have it, stated the SKY red button ticker stated it was a bad challenge?
Well there was no ban, O'Meley didn't even appear before the beak, even other Stains fans agreed it was a poor tackle by Roby.

So what happened next? The threads on here/ VT / Hull board which she had contributed her bile too for days were simply ignored, she had no defence (bit like Roby in that situation), she completely ignored the threads. No apologies, no admittance of being wrong.

I doubt you will see it happening here. She's a troll, who's obviously on a wind up.
Pity she's a troll from a team who wins nowt these days!!!!!

Seriously? I don't get where this has come from but quite a few have been saying this.

What is off about being the top tackler, taking on some organisational duties, making the breaks and hard yards?

O'Loughlin was very good, along with Graham in the pack, and anyone that says otherwise needs to take the blinkers off. The rest of the pack need to step up big time though.

It's an opinion, I'm not singling out individuals I was commenting purely on your players (As this thread appears to be reasonably normal) but of the other forwards Burgess was a far bigger let down, Ellis was sporadic but made more impact going forward overall than did lockers(IMO of course) Fielden was woeful, Griffin out of his depth. Jammer gave his all & did well but isn't a captain by any stretch & Roby was just above average.
Compared to the limited amounts I have seen him I thought Lockers did not perform as he can and what I have seen of him this season gone he has been immense.