As the title says Smith for England........... https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/63143981

As the title says Smith for England........... https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/63143981

Quote ="exiled Warrior"As the title says Smith for England........... https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/63143981'" Am I reading too much into it that all the extra players are from Wigan + Wardle?

Quote ="exiled Warrior"As the title says Smith for England........... https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/63143981'" Am I reading too much into it that all the extra players are from Wigan + Wardle?

Hard to say but realistically you’d imagine Marshall was the next winger in line, Smith the next halfback and Wardle the next centre. It’s Powell that makes me wonder because surely Leeming, Clark or McShane were next up in that position.

Boston, Ashton, Fox, Sullivan, Bolton and Murphy. The best RL backline EVER.

Why did you not mention Gerry Round at full back Brian? Agree with you that theirs was the best back line GB have ever named and played.

Once in conversation off air and suggested a reserve GB to the one you mentioned.
My reserve team was - Eric Fraser, Ike Southward, Jim Challinor, Alan Davies, Frank Carlton, Harold Poynton, Jackie Edwards.
A very long time ago now.

I was waiting for that response!

Out of interest what would your team be Stu?

Difficult one really with all the withdrawals and the fact that Bateman is banned. However it would be something like

Tomkins
Makinson
Watkins
Farnworth
Young
Welsby
Williams
Lees
McIllorum
Oledzki
Batchelor
Whitehead
Radley

Subs
Ackers
Thompson
Burgess
Knowles

You could argue that the starting props and interchange props could be swapped around. Also a part of me wonders if Lees and Bachelor are International class yet however Lees has a great engine and hits hard in defence. Going forward he still lacks size I feel but does have good feet and some movement in him. Batchelor will no doubt make way for Bateman after his ban.

The beauty of Lees and Batchelor now though is the amount of big games/finals they have played in. That will definitely help.

I'd just like to be able to watch the Fiji game. The RFL being the RFL, of course they don't make that easy.

I thought it was on the ourleague app?

Correct, it is.

Anyone watching, then?

Ok first half, rubbish second, playing in a monsoon probably didn't help

England 50 Fiji 0

Watkins/Young combo looked good

Some nice tries - Ackers was great, Williams played pretty well and Young looks a threat. Sneyd's kicking will be useful.

I feel Wane should be brave and play Welsby at fullback over Tomkins. It won't happen though.

I watched the game and debated next weeks side in my mind and Welsby plays fullback and that leaves two spots in the halves between Williams, Sneyd and Tomkins. A lot would probably depend on the weather funnily enough. I’d find it tough to leave Sneyd out if it’s meant to lash it down. If it’s dry conditions I’d probably edge towards Tomkins and Williams at 6 and 7.

I’m with you though, it’ll be Tomkins, Welsby and Williams at 1,6 and 7.

Enjoyed the game and great to get a 0.

Couple of observations I thought Young was outstanding in general play but his finishing was poor. Should have got a hat trick comfortably.

Akers was great, injected real pace into the game.

I do t think you can drop Sneyd off the back of that performance. Man of the match in my opinion.

Thought Wardle looked sharp when he came on too which bodes well for the future.

Farnworth looked rusty but to be expected.

Huge game next week but after that we should go in with confidence despite what the bookies are saying.

Not sure what Hall brings to the table at this level anymore, think Marshy very unlucky to miss out on the squad.

I disagree. I prefer Welsby at 6, he’s more dangerous as he gets his hands on the ball more. I’d be happy with the 1,6 and 7 you mention although Sneyd would be worth a shout too, his goal kicking alone is exceptional without even mentioning his all round kicking game.

Not sure he could get his hands on it more than the first half last night. Maybe it was a pointer to him moving to 6 because he seemed to be in the line, as much as he was chiming in from out the back. I just like that added pace he’ll bring from fullback and Tomkins in the halves probably offers a bit more in terms of control and experience.

All good problems to have though. I think last night will have just given people a bit more confidence that we can do pretty well in the Tournament. We’ve got Tomkins, Makinson, Bateman, Oledzki, Knowles and Lees to try and fit in, it was so pleasing to see the players who turned out make cases not to be dropped.

Agree they are good problems to have and a real confidence booster. The other option (although unlikely) is that I can see Welsby at centre if he sticks with Williams/Sneyd as a partnership. I’m not sure Williams and Welsby would work as a pairing as they are similar type of players. Sneyd complements either but I can’t see Williams or Tomkins not playing so if he wants to fit Sneyd and Welsby in then that’s what he may do.

Joe Burgess should be in there before Hall…and Marsh unlucky to miss out too.

Williams, Welsby, and Ackers best players on the night comfortably.

Looked way off the required standard last night Hall. He’s always been top heavy and not the quickest winger but he looks to have lost another yard and other than using him as a battering ram from our end, I’m not sure what he’ll add. I was pretty surprised how poor he looked tbh because I didn’t have an issue with him being in the squad but on that evidence, I think you could make a case that Burgess, Marshall and Davies at a minimum, should’ve been ahead of him.

Wardle looked like he didn’t have a clue what was going on. He won’t play for England again.

As for Marshall, he’s 5 foot 4 and ten stone wet. He would get mullered af international level which is why, thankfully, he is no where near the England team and probably tenth choice for the wing spot

What I find staggering is that you genuinely seem to have no concept of how sad and needy you come across.