Steve Macnamara needs to have a look at his selection of Matty Smith in the team. Dire player with limited ability in my view.
Unbelievable that Danny Brough was told by SM that he wasn't in his "plans" - if DB was in the team it would make the difference between losing narrowly and winning narrowly against the Aus/Nz sides. Matty Smith playing instead of Danny Brough is an embarrassing situation.
P.S. Just watched the game and that video ref decision was the worst ive ever seen - try all day long by Ryan Hall - feel the team was cheated.

We were second best for most of the second half (not helped by the Aussie ref) and our kicking game was some way behind theirs BUT, it was a clear try and we need to channel our anger and get past NZ next week.

IF we can win next week, we can win the comp but, it's a big IF.

I think Elliot Whitehead has a better shout for being left out for Tomkins and Ferres.

I thought Smith did fine. The fact that not one kick was completed without a late hit on Smith, and not one penalty was awarded says it all.

I could'nt believe Joel Tomkins made it in and is Dan Sarginson doing much different to what he has been doing for the last couple of years?
Apart from change the colour of his shirt to cherry and white?

Matty Smith won me over a bit this year with his performances for Wigan but he's no where near international standard, same goes for Tomkins. I was a bit disappointed when Shenton was dropped for Sarginson but thought he did well.

We might see Shenton and Sarginson next week, Kallum Watkins was terrible today and Id hate to see him and Charnley up against SKD and Manu Vatuvai

Charnley for me, doesn't look good enough against top class opposition.
There have been a few occasions over the last couple of weeks, where he should have backed himself against his opposite number and taken them on but, he tends to always come back on the inside and in to traffic.
Hall on our other wing was outstanding and should have won the game, but for the VR who bottled it !

Watkins was suspect in defence but he presents enough in attack for me to keep his place. It's Joel Tomkins I can't get and I've always felt to an extent that he benefited from Sam's prowess, in that they talked about the Tomkins brothers. In reality, Joel was alright but Sam was great. Since he's come back from union, Joel has done nothing to merit his selection, and his wander off the line allowed Smith to put in that kick that gave the Aussies the winning try.

Can't decide about Charnley. Apart from that spill that led to the drop out that led to the Inglis try, not sure he did much wrong. He just looks a mess, and when in space he can do some damage.

As for the try, it was one, and the more you look, the more it seems like one. The only issue is what constitutes downward pressure? Does having a finger on a ball when it is on the ground count, or does there have to be actual pressure? What I didn't see was how the on-field ref gave it. If he gave it as a no-try, perhaps there wasn't enough to say that he must be wrong. If he gave it as a try, there was certainly nothing to rule it out.

Late hits? Don't think any were malicious. They just wrapped Smith up each time so he could never play anyone onside. I thought the ref did okay on the whole.

The blame for me lies with McNamara and his half-time talk. We came out negatively when we should have been at them again, ramming home the advantage. I know it's more risk, but the Aussies can score tries at will when they get in the mood. We needed to knock it out of them, but a negative second half took away all that momentum.

Totally agree with all of the above.

The second half yesterday was similar in many ways to the second half against NZ in the World Cup.
No lack of effort from the players but, we weren't brave enough to try and win the game, it was all about not letting the
opposition score and as, no matter who we are playing, there will always be a chance.

I'm still gutted, the Aussies should be licking their wounds this morning, having been dumped out of the comp.
We do still have a chance, if we beat NZ but, the mountain that we have to climb has got steeper.

Watkins posed virtually zero attacking threat against Australia despite doing well to get the ball down for his try.

Where's the footwork and strength he's displayed for Leeds all season, it simply isn't present throughout the first 2 games. On the flip side his defence has been very poor

If we assume that the New Zealand game will be close, and we win, it all comes down to Samoa. We are unlikely to beat New Zealand by enough points to overcome their points difference, so it will depend on how much Samoa can keep out Australia, which I can't see happening. Once the Aussies get a sniff of victory, they are ruthless, and we let them get their tournament going in the second half. If they thump Samoa, we are out.

Which means it all comes down to an Australian video referee (although Widdop would still have to kick the conversion, as a draw would still mean Australia had a chance if NZ beat us and Samoa got a thumping).

That's not impossible Slugger
If we beat NZ by 10 which is not impossible, assuming we win at all, we go above NZ. Then depending on what Samoa do, we play either NZ or Oz in final.

Is that all it is? I stand corrected.

I'm assuming or hoping for the sake of your sanity and credibility you mean Joel and not Sam?