What doesnt kill you makes you stronger and I fully expect a fired up Tom Briscoe to prove a few doubters wrong next season. I have no doubts he will be an international player for years to come.

I agree Smith will not pick him against the Kiwis I would imagine Lee Smith will get wing spot (which he will do OK), but after the first half defensive no show he can count himself a lucky boy.

Be interested to see if Tom was injured/ill from what a previous poster has said about him throwing up before half time.

I think he was just [isick[/i as fook of being left stranded out on that wing !!!

And he would have been justified. Three experienced Leeds players left him out to dry and on his debut against Australia as well.

Right decision was made showed by a much better second half performance in attack and defence.


I'm just glad it wasn't fox on that side you lot would have butchered him yet as it was one of your own he did nothing wrong

What he said

I think what a lot of people are forgetting (Especially that noob Zod from the dark side who has been constantly on his computer since the final whistle slating Tom)is that the Aussies strongest side is unfortunately the side Tom was on. They have a number of players who play for the same team and play with each other every day of the week. They have ripped apart team and team over the past few years on this side.
I and most people knew that this is where their most dangerous attacks would come from and I knew Tom was in for a hard afternoons work with him more than likely encountering some form of criticism from the Dobbins fans who have found it hard to swallow that Tom has pinched their players spot !!!
Anyone with an ounce of rugby league knowledge could see that yes there were huge gaps on Toms side for the Aussies to punch through but it was easy to see that Smith left him stranded on a good half a dozen times making these gaps.
Also the Aussies kick and chase in the first half was second to none and Toms kick returns was no worse than anyone else including Shaun Briscoe. It wasnt our teams fault the Aussies excelled in chasing us down and giving us no room at all. Its just another thing they are very good at !
Keep you chin in Tom you have been made a scape goat but just remember you was in that team for one reason and thats because you deserve to be in it !!

2nd half - when the aussies switched off as the job was done.

Nail ,Head ,Fact

Yeah because replacing one player gives the other 12 on the pitch special powers pillock.

What about Smith,Maguire and to a extent Peacock then...what was they

All poor especially the first two but the coach made a decision at half time and it proved to be the right one.

What its done for the young lads confidence who knows. I for one hope he isn't cast out and is given the chance to redeem himself next week

Plenty of big games ahead of him dont panic. He was on the end of the weakest defensive set up possible, he will learn from that. Wont get picked ahead of Lee Smith next week though IMO.

I think the Australians are too professional to just take the second half at a canter and some credit should be given to England in the second period.
I don't remember 'The Invincibles' letting up and I don't suppose their ethos has changed from the early 80's.

The improved performance of the backline in the second half was on the back of more dominant forward play and the fact that Smith was moved out to the wing.