Know you are not a sore loser ,But when you think we played the 3\4 rated team made of players that mostly play in Australia shows were S L is in this country .My take on the game was England were never in it till, the last 20 mins ,and it was down to the bounce of the ball and 50\50 calls that kept us in the match .Think it we had made final it could have been embarrassing

Nothing to do with SL or NRL the coach got it wrong. Players on that pitch only there because of the coach, international selection in SL is a complete joke. Watkins has played 2nd row all season but Wane puts him in the centre. Burgess did about 15 minutes. Hooker was totally exposed Ackers should have been given the gig. Tomkins was he playing until 60 minutes. Williams one break. Yet again we have failed to develop the pathways required as we pick a biased coach.

It’s amazing how so many fans seem to be bagging selections after the event.

I personally think the selection was bang on with the exception of only taking 2 centres in the squad.

We have a pretty competitive top 18/19/20 players, sadly at the moment the quality mode dives drastically after that.

Maybe.
But they are not actually the 3/4 best players. Half of that team have dominated the NRL.
I wasn't sure before but team selection was fine for me. I'm not sure there was anyone else I'd have added that wasn't injured.
We should have won in my opinion but blew it with interception and Watkins no try.
As for the final. I hope Samoa can do it again but I fear Tonga and England have taken a lot out of them and Aussies will just glide past.

The only selections I wasn’t happy with was Mcilorum and at a push Tomkins. I genuinely think there are better players in each of their respective positions throughout SL.

Like who?

At Hooker
Leeming
Ackers

FB
Welsby (played there throughout the year to amazing effect)
Connor
Hardaker at a push, I believe he had an excellent end of year with Leeds.

For what it’s worth we were missing the likes of Lomax, Percival, Dodd, walmsley, Josh Hodgson. With Welsby at FB that’s completely changed our spine and Percival would of made a very solid contribution at centre. Wane did the best he could with the players available, but unfortunately we came up short against a team who simply have more experience within their team at this level and played the occasion better. I thought it was an absolute thrilling game and I’m gutted that we lost. On reflection only them two players really stuck out, it’s not bagging them, they clearly did their best, nobody can ever dispute the passion Mcilorum plays with, but he’s 34 playing big minutes. Tomkins was obviously there for his leadership and experience qualities, which again I understand, but as I stated I feel there are better fullbacks in SL.

I think there are better attacking fullbacks but Tomkins seems a better organiser and has an experienced head. At international level, it's all about defence.

Hindsight is wonderful thing. Watkins showed his weakness, defence, and arguably was the reason why we lost the game, as errors by him put us on the back foot and maybe increased our nervousness, and he couldn't even ground the ball when he was going over the line.

On the other hand, he's had a good tournament, the whole team has, and it seems obvious to stick to a winning formula.

I am not bagging post event it's my opinion on the team and squad you can bag me as I didn't buy any tickets to watch England. My opinion is we can play a better game than Wanes predictable tactics

It's not that I disagree, but none of those would have made the difference.
Welsby at full back, yes of course.....but then who would have been in the halves?
Tompkins was actually involved in most things we did well and certainly was the leader.

Of course if we'd had all those Sts players you mention then yes, they'd have made a difference.

It’s all well and good pulling the coach and players to bits after the event , if the drop goal had gone the other way they would have been lauded by all and sundry. Basically a makeshift England squad got knocked out by a team of NRL players by a drop goal . If the likes of Walmsley , Lomax , Newman and a few more had been available who knows .Welsby’s uncharacteristic mistakes aside , the hooking role was a bad choice in hindsight and was targeted from the off. But I’d keep shaun Wayne over and overseas coach any day of the week

Worst for me was “MickyMac”. Looked like he was bored sh#tless. Ineffective and slow. Watkins was exposed badly as was Samkins when the intensity levels reached NRL standard.

This NRL level that was only 1 point better than those out of their depth super league players you speak of.
They must have done alright then.

I get this I don't watch the NRL much as it's a different offering to our domestic game. I don't think it's any better I just think tactically we got it wrong and that included some of the players selected. All down to the coach