not seen much of the nrl this year but could widdop not do a job at scrum half? think we need someone to direct us around the field with a good kicking game. does he fill that role? chase will be class at 6 and with a good 7 we could go really well! id prefer to have lomax on the bench and go with either brough or widdop at 7. lomax can cover any posistion in the back line so would be a great backup player to have on the bench.

It just isn't right, and other teams taking advantage of residency rules doesn't mean we have to stoop to that level in this country. I can understand Heighington playing as he has an English parent, but not Chase, not after just 3 years in the country. If he wants to be English he should get English citizenship before he plays for the national team.

What a bloody farce internationl sport is....

Should make the next visa application go a bit more smoothly .

Internatioal Rugby League . A COMPLETE JOKE .

I have said it before and I will say it again.

The crap player pool we have IS NOT the coaches fault. His concern is result. IF he believes these players will help get results then he should pick them.

Chase, Widdop, Reed etc. are better than what we have!

I agree. If he decides to make the UK his home then fair enough but if him being able to play for England is allowed under the rules then the rules are too lax. Same applies to this kind of thing happening in Oz and NZ.

What a load of crap, it's annoying that talented English born players could miss out on a chance of gaining valuable international experience because of the idiots at the RFL, how are we supposed to develop our international game. I thought Rugby Union was bad enough with Hape and Tuilangi playing for England, looks like were going down the same route!!

If he does start playing for England he needs Castleford to start making the playoffs every year so he can have more big game experience. His game could kick on a level then imo but if that doesnt happen he needs at least to move to a regular super league contender if he wants to be really good.

Who do you reckon said this earlier this year?

I've not seen it mentioned here but apparently cherry evans was also given the option to join the England team because his mum has English heritage .

I dont mind when it's because of family like pats parents being Irish but I'm not sure about residency yet. I think growing up with football as the main sport in the house makes it seem odd to me but I know all the pacific islanders do it so suppose it ain't too bad as it's what the others do just seems odd to me.
It's not like he could show any less passion for the shirt than the rest of the squad/some of the fans though is it?

Joke

how very strange

what the hell happens to Widdop now?

Pacific Islanders often have to choose because their parents/grandparents were from the Islands but emigrated and the player may have been brought up in New Zealand or Australia. So fair enough, they have a decision to make between the country of their parentage or country of their upbringing. They can be nationals of both, of course.

What I don't like is someone coming over here as an adult to further their career and then being picking as "English" because they've been here a handful of years. Jeez, Rangi even sounds like the Kiwi he is.

Good to hear. If he qualifies for residency that's good enough for me. He's old enough to make the choice for himself.

Likewise if some of the English lads down under decide they want to play for Australia, that's fine. Although I wouldn't give them the time of day if they came back and I'm sure the same is true for Chase in New Zealand. That's the sacrifice you make.