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England train-on squad, moment of truth?


Scubby

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I assume an England train-on squad will be announced early this week? If so, it will be the first indication whether the likes of Trent Hodkinson and others are actually in the mix or not.

 

Bennett has been keeping a pretty low profile since Brisbane went out. Perhaps on his way to England in time for the semis and GF?

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I assume an England train-on squad will be announced early this week? If so, it will be the first indication whether the likes of Trent Hodkinson and others are actually in the mix or not.

 

Bennett has been keeping a pretty low profile since Brisbane went out. Perhaps on his way to England in time for the semis and GF?

I wouldn't be surprised if he was already here due to personal reasons.

I think he can take us the extra mile to win a 4 nations and world cup.

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Watkins and ?, if it is selected purely on form (my opinion as a SL tv viewer) Ryan Atkins would have to have a big shout, he has had a great season his best for a long time, but we don't seem to pick players on form for the national team, do we?

"If Rugby League had never been Invented, today we would only have Rugby League"

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With all the Wiganers aside from Bateman and Williams now gone for the year/good, and with Currie tragically ruled out, how about...

Widdop - McGillvray - Watkins - Percival - Hall - Williams - Sneyd

Graham - Hodgson - Hill - Whitehead - Bateman - Burgess

Burgess - Taylor - Roby - ?

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Has Tomkins gone for good? Last year he joined the squad unfit benefited from the goodies on offer and then limped away. As he hasn't performed this season please get rid. Similarly O Loughlin, how many games has he actually played this year?

Faith in our new coach to pick a new team.

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Yeah, I'll go along with that, please let centre's who play in the centre be picked there, forget the forwards.

Absolutely; we need pace and skill to beat the Aussies and Percival has it in abundance. Bateman should play as he's quality, aggressive and will get under the skin of the opposition. But with O'Loughlin likely out, he should be nailed on for loose forward with some big strong running players like S Burgess and Whitehead in the second row.

If Tomkins is out, I'd also play Lomax at full back as he's got the X Factor and skill (easily fits in at 6) the likes of Hardaker and Shaul don't possess.

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Watkins and Percival would be my starters, probably a toss-up between Atkins and Cudjoe for a cover spot. I'd really struggle to separate the latter two, but Atkins has been in good form all year.

I can confirm 30+ less sales for Scotland vs Italy at Workington, after this afternoons test purchase for the Tonga match, £7.50 is extremely reasonable, however a £2.50 'delivery' fee for a walk in purchase is beyond taking the mickey, good luck with that, it's cheaper on the telly.

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Watkins and Percival would be my starters, probably a toss-up between Atkins and Cudjoe for a cover spot. I'd really struggle to separate the latter two, but Atkins has been in good form all year.

Of the latter two, both can be very good with ball in hand, but for me Atkins is far far the more accomplished defender, Cudjoe's defensive positioning has been found wanting many times, no more so than at Leigh a couple of weeks back when Huddersfield right side defense was tested and he kept running in space where no attacker's were to be found.

"If Rugby League had never been Invented, today we would only have Rugby League"

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Has Tomkins gone for good? Last year he joined the squad unfit benefited from the goodies on offer and then limped away. As he hasn't performed this season please get rid. Similarly O Loughlin, how many games has he actually played this year?

Faith in our new coach to pick a new team.

20 in Lockers' case I think.

Anyway, if you read the news on this very web site, you will be delighted to read that they are both finished for 2016.

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We do need a new captain, and I would place a man who spent the 2013 world cup trying to leave our game at the back of the queue of role models for the national side. Graham is the man.

 

Graham is far too emotional to be an international captain (watch him at the end of the test in Dunedin when he lost it). I really don't care about who left or returned to our game, I want the best person for the job and someone who will be playing 80 minutes per game.

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We do need a new captain, and I would place a man who spent the 2013 world cup trying to leave our game at the back of the queue of role models for the national side. Graham is the man.

Not for me I have a lot of respect for Graham from his time at Saints and also what he's done in the NRL. For me though he gets too wound up to make a good captain.

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Watkins and ?, if it is selected purely on form (my opinion as a SL tv viewer) Ryan Atkins would have to have a big shout, he has had a great season his best for a long time, but we don't seem to pick players on form for the national team, do we?

New coach, new selection policy. Maybe.

Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

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If not Graham, then Widdop?I may be in a minority of 1, but to me loyalty to our game really does matter, particularly at national level.

Difficult one, not knowing who's going to be selected, as a Captain. IMO it'll be Graham. There'll be a few who will be tasked to control the game anyway, so not playing the full 80 might not be such an issue.

Australia have always had the upper hand over us in threequarters. Getting that right is key.

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If not Graham, then Widdop?

I may be in a minority of 1, but to me loyalty to our game really does matter, particularly at national level.

I know what you mean with Burgess but I do think he'll get it in the end. Is Widdop guaranteed a spot has he played well enough this year. Next in line Hill probably to similar in temperament to Graham both too easy to wind up. The players guaranteed to start Watkins,Manfredi,Graham,Hodgson,Hill,Whitehead,Bateman and Burgess there's. no real stand out captains. So then your looking to see if any of the likely players you bring in could add that. Gale Sneyd and whisper it quietly Hodgkinson.

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