https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/en ... amoa-test/ Williams and O'Loughlin picked for England, tough ask against Salford, god knows who's going to be in the halves if Tommy is out injured.

https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/en ... amoa-test/ Williams and O'Loughlin picked for England, tough ask against Salford, god knows who's going to be in the halves if Tommy is out injured.

No Liam Farrell is a disgraceful call when you consider two Aussies (including one who is at retirement age) have been picked.

Talk that he's too small is ridiculous. He's player 80 mins against Brisbane twice and against Cronulla and he's been one of if not the best forward on the field. The clue is in the fact he was on for the full 80 and not just playing for 20 mins here and there like he's done for England in the past.

Bennetts NRL bias is starting to grate.

If Chris Heighington is a better player than Liam Farrell then we need to give up. The absolute epitome of a journeyman player. Tried and failed before. I'm afraid Bennett is clueless about coaching England. That isn't as daft as it sounds. (I remember in football Alex Ferguson being a clueless international manager too). Shaun Wane, Brian McDermott, Steve McNamara or even Darryl Powell could do a better job IMO, and they'd be a bit more good tempered with Tanya Arnold!!!

Still I'm glad we've got Faz against Salford.

Couldn't agree more with both you guys.

And me. I've said in the past that Faz is too small. Glad to say he has easily proved me wrong.

The whole squad looks lazy to me. Not just the rather more dubious picks like Heighington, but it's certainly experience (aka age) over development that he's gone for. How many of those bodies will on top form when the WC actually starts? I suppose there's another 4 years to bring on the younglings after this time round, but I've not seen anything that makes me think he will (assuming he's still in charge after this year).
Time will tell.

maybe the fact that the England captain and half back play for Wigan has been a limiting factor, they have selected a maximum of 2 players from each club.

Wouldn't play SOL (too old) or Williams (too young) for England



Regards , EW

I would hope/assume that McQueen and Heighington are the 19th and 20th man, and selected as they are based in Australia, rather than fly two players around the world not to play, when they could have ran out for their club. If they actually play then it is ridiculous.

As an aside - Should we not have one eye on the future for games like this? I'd rather them have picked Farrell and J.Burgess/Johnstone rather than Lockers and Hall.

There are three from Castleford.

Looks like Salford will be without Justin Carney, facing a Grade F racial abuse charge!

You'd imagine they'll have to be pretty certain he's done that for him to get any sort of ban. It'll be a huge one or no ban at all.

As for us it's good to have Faz available (as embarrassing as that is for Wayne Bennett) and Joe Burgess. It'd be nice if we got some good news on Tommy Leuluai also. If not then we may be looking at Escare and Powell in the halves and Tierney at fullback at a guess.

The ref red-carded him, so must have heard what he said? Deserves a big ban if he's found guilty.