i though he had a good game and was solid, when the tomahawks struggled for meters and being driven back in the tackle he still managed to make 8 to 10 meters. He is carrying a lot of body weight compared to his south sydney days but he has been out for a full season so hopefully Bitcon can get Dudson, Pettybourne and Powell back in to shape for the new season.

I was fearing the worst given Wests fans wanting rid of him but he looked really good for the US. I don't know whether he's carrying a bit too much weight to be mobile enough for the second row but I think he would do a good job at prop. I'd consider having McIlorum do the full 80 in big games and have an extra prop on the bench. Flower could do one stint at prop then later come back on at second row.

I was always hopeful given that Michael Maguire wanted to sign him.

By his own admission, Ed had a bad year in 2013.

I'd quite like to see him play there. Strong competition with H and Faz who were in top form when it mattered last season despite any earlier season lapses or injures (i.e. they both played very well in CC and GF final's/play offs) but I always like to see wide running attacking 2nd rows. Really used to like watching Joel T play for this reason.

However I wonder if he is pencilled in for Mossop's replacement?

On a related note I always liked the look of Mossop as a wide running second row. I think he played there when he was Huddersfield. He certainly played that role for Wigan when he first came onto the scene.

Similarly

I always thought that Lauaki would have been a better 2nd rower than prop.

Just look at the impact Ali lauitiiti and Solomona had (granted Solomona has an amazing pair of hands)

Big bloke out wide can have a field day against 3/4 s and half-backs in defence.

About the same number as Italians in the Italy squad

I always thought that Powell or Crosby would be the natural replacement for Mossop.

Not true actually. Whilst I don't think there was a single 'Italian' in the Italy squad, most of the US squad is comprised of players from the US domestic league. They did great.

Has something changed then? wasn't there some guy (owner of a usa team) who made a video complaining that there was 1 or 2 local based players in the USA team? i was impressed by the 5,3 and 7 last night not sure if they are heritage players or USA players.

Not sure but a quick scan of the squad shows that only 6 of the 24 come from outside the US domestic league. McGoldrick got replaced as well so make that 5.

1 Kristian Freed - FB, WG - Connecticut Wildcats

2 Taylor Welch - WG - New York Raiders

3 Gabriel Farley - CE - Southampton Dragons

4 Ryan McGoldrick - CE, SO - Salford Red Devils

5 Matt Petersen - WG, FB - Cudgen Hornets

6 Joseph Paulo (c) - SO, LF - Parramatta Eels

7 David Marando - SH, SO - Belrose Eagles

8 Mark Offerdahl - PR - Connecticut Wildcats

9 Joel Luani - HK, SR - Wests Tigers

10 Junior Paulo - PR - Parramatta Eels

11 Clint Newton - SR - Penrith Panthers

12 Mark Cantoni - SR - Dalby

13 Eddy Pettybourne - LK, SR - Wigan Warriors

14 Craig Priestly - HK - Southampton Dragons

15 Les Soloai - PR - Hawaii Islanders

16 Matt Shipway - SR - Newcastle South

17 Stephen Howard - PR - Tuggeranong Vikings

18 Judah Lavulo - PR - Cabramatta Two Blues

19 Michael Garvey - WG - Ipswich Jets

20 Tui Samoa - HK - Redcliffe Dolphins

21 Roman Hifo - SR - Mangere East Hawks

22 Daniel Howard - SR, PR - Wentworthville Magpies

23 Bureta Faraimo - WG - Mackay Cutters

24 Lelauloto Tagaloa - SR - Hawaii Islanders

The numbers from the actually game dont match upto that squad list... I Think 5 was Petersen formerly of Wakefield, 3 was Michael Garvey and 7 Craig Priestley.

i sit corrected (it was a rather flippant remark with no evidence to back it up, in my defence - esp as i'm in the office & supposed to be writing software not fiddling around with world cup stuff [conference calls & BS bingo notwithstanding])

So did I. I can't see history repeating itself where we play a player suited to the back row as a prop just because he's big and hard hitting or whatever. I'd hope how Lauaki and to some extent Hughes form was possibly affected by not playing in their natural positions would mean we didn't do it again.

Pettybourne made 151m, the only forward to make more in the first round of games was JWH.

rlstatsrl