Powell????
That’s a joke yeah?

I’ve already said myself that I think McShane is a better player but Powell is no mug and I can see why some people would pick Powell. He and McShane are totally different types of hookers. McShane will get out from dummy half and test the line with his running game and try and open gaps for others. Sam Powell is better defensively, is supremely fit, hits harder in defence and has built a game now where his attack really comes alive near the line, as his 11 try’s in superleague show. No point just looking at stats but his 11 try’s and 4 assists stack up favourably against McShane’s 2 try’s and 8 assists. McShane has made plenty more ground than Powell but Powell has made over 100 more tackles, whilst missing just 23 compared to McShane's 50.

Depends what you’re looking for.

I don't have a problem with McShane getting the award. At the beginning of the season he was the best #9 in superleague and a big factor in how Cas started. Don't forget they beat both us and Saints.
His form dipped a bit later on in the season but they had a lot of players with Covid symptoms of which he may have been one.

He and Clarke would be my England #9's with Powell as the third.

Powell and Clarke would be my choices for England, even if it's because they are both the right side of 30.

I don't see the logic in picking a guy on debut at 31/32. He'll be a stop gap for a season and then will need to be replaced by someone else, namely Powell and Clarke as they are next inline.

That being said I don't really care for international RL anyway, so pick McShane and watch the Aussies laugh their way to 50 point score line. The "fans" will still find a way to blame Wigan for it.

Insular and paranoid!

Dont recall many players being booed when palying for England aside from those who so happen to play for Wigan.

IIRC a few booed Longy after his ban but other than that I can only think of a certain Mr Tomkins.

And then you have the Leeds "band" who only sing about Leeds players

Over previous seasons McShane is better than Powell. But this year Powell has been better.

Powell has 15 tries & assists (vs McShane's 10), he had made 100 more tackles, 50 more marker tackles, and missed 38 fewer tackles than McShane. That's pretty conclusive for me.

and helped a team finish the top of the league

And going back a bit I remember walking out of a test match in Bolton to see GB "fans" singing a derogatory song about Andy Farrell.

This is an award for being the best this season. Don't you think making excuses as to why he hasn't been, by definition, means you think he shouldn't have won it? It's like saying give it to Dom Manfredi as he could be the best in the comp if it weren't for injuries. That doesn't make any sense, Brian.

Perfectly put.

I'd also say that, for whatever and across most sports, I find club competitions more appealing than internationals. Give me a Wigan Vs Saints or a European semi final at Anfield over any international fixture (I'm not even a LFC fan either). The tribalism just seems a bit fake when you compare it - we're supposed to get stuck into the NZ rugby team, when I reality I'd rather cheer for guys like RTS or JWH Vs some of the players in England shirts.

I don’t understand this but each to their own I suppose. I was lucky enough to grow up watching Wigan win everything in the late 80’s early 90’s. when you’re in your teens that’s all you care about.

There’s only 1 thing i desperately want to see in RL now. A England/GB win in an ashes series or ideally a Wold Cup. I would happily trade several Wigan GF/CC wins for it.