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If you watched the game, you would have seen that Farnworth was on the wing, not full back.

I don’t think that many of Farnworth’s supporters on here would claim that he is outplaying or dominating the likes of Mitchell. What he is doing is playing against these players week in week out and as you say has been solid. Which, I think, is a lot more than his SL centre counterparts are doing. I wonder how the likes of Reece Lynne et al would get on. It’s them I am comparing him to. I’ve not seen many of the centres in SL, who have been selected, dominate their opposite numbers. And I can’t see any of them outplaying their Aussie oppos.

I'm definitely not putting Farnworth in the category of Turbo or Mitchell. I, for one, have never claimed that. However, Farnworth is better than most of the backs picked in the England squad. That is my point. Edit: If we're only picking players who are better than their Australian counterparts, we're not going to have a very big squad. That is a point that I, and others, have previously made.

Farnworth should be in the squad. I would have him in my starting 13 but I can (loosely) accept an argument to say that he's not quite there yet. I don't think there's any convincing argument to say that Farnworth is outside of the top 15 (or so) full backs or three-quarters available to England. If it's a (specific) discipline/'behaviour' issue, I'm extremely surprised that the Aussie media didn't pick up the story. If he missed a (virtual) meeting - does Wane have proof that Farnworth didn't have technical issues? Australia is not known for having a high-quality internet connection. I think that Farnworth is the best option that England have in terms of covering '1 to 5'. That alone should have him (at least) in the squad. Before I'm greeted with laughter from some - please suggest a better England player who can play full back, centre or wing.

Just pointing out that you ranked Farnworth's performance against the other full backs in the NRL this week despite the fact he didn't play full back. And look, I managed to say that without throwing insults around.

This is strawman argument. Most people look at individuals on a case by case basis and the only people who keep repeating this are the people who seem to not rate Farnworth.

The real concern should be not that Herbert Farnworth is not in the game days 17, which have not yet been selected. The concern should be that he is not even in the squad!!

Farnworth has half a season left to force his way in. Wane is obviously challenging him to be better, so now it's up to him.

I may be wrong (don't say it. ) but I think Wane might know stuff about this that we don't. To what extent should he explain his reasoning on this or anything else, to us, the fans? The feeling that Farnworth should be in the squad seems to be really irritating some posters more than seems normal. Yes he's stubborn and will stick to his informed decisions. Why wouldn't he? Personally think that Wayne's strategy and his ability to get his squad to play to that is as important, if not more important than the choice of an individual and marginal player

Eastern Rhinos 28 Bedford Tigers 22 You can usually tell who are the established teams in the south by the nicknames, those who have been around longest took theirs from the top sides, newer once’s take something more local. indeed Eastern Rhinos go back through Ipswich Rhinos and Felixstowe back to at least 1992 and Bedford although replacing a previous team called Swift’s to a similar date. Both started off as winter teams Rhinos play in Colchester now and are members of the Southern Conference. Unlike some places visited this year, clubs in this are very much clubs not just a group of lads playing as a team and planning year to year. This game is considered to be a derby but the sides are close to 100 miles apart. The London sides dominate this league with a strong antipodean element and strength on the field is essential. Bedford in particular are running numerous sides and had senior, A, U18 and ladies all turning out this weekend. Rhinos were always slightly the stronger and the result was not really in doubt at any time but was competitive at all stages and only a converted try separated the team. The venue whilst ideal for the hosts, was not to my liking. Rhinos were tenants at Colchester RU for many years and they sold up and moved even further out of town. The football ground is visible from new and old sites and was, at least when I visited known as the community stadium, no doubt using the word community scored a few planning points. The ground was solely for football and what community there was, were only involved in making parking impossible near their houses. There was a nearby park and ride which could not be used so fans had to drive into town to get a bus which passed shoppers on a bus going into town from the park and ride. This facility again reflects planning policy not usage. I assume the old ground has been built on and a similar amount of sports facility had to be provided, albeit on what was green belt. The rugby club saw what was happening and took their area and built their own bars and other means of income stream, but not spectator facilities, the first being the priority of all RU clubs. The remainder of the space has a leisure centre which was unused on a Saturday pm apart from a bike track and a cafe where five teenagers were employed to twiddle their thumbs. I imagine it runs at a huge loss and will become run down. The match took place inside a cage with spectators not allowed in side but with concrete steps to sit on outside to peer through a meal fence. Most stood on the top step to try and peer over. I have never been to a facility of this type twice Anyway rant over and more about the game itself next week

June 5 Bath Gladiators 28 Reading 32 Looking for a fixture foir yesterday and fancied going South West before the summer traffic makes it difficult and the choice is amazing. The previous post relates to Droitwich/ Worcester and further south All Golds made their Bristol debut and beyond that there was Devon at Newton Abbot and Tarka Storm at South Molton, a small market town in North Devon. Three hours in Bath is always appealing and was the choice although the club do not paly in the city. There has been a reasonable RL history in the city, originally in the 80's in the winter and more recently Bath and Wiltshire Romans out of Corsham and Melksham This season Bath have done what a few other southern based sides have done and located to a sports facility which was barely used, the route followed by Elmbridge, St Albans and Nottingham. the location is a village called Farmborough which whilst upmarket is actually surrounded by mining villages. The North Somerset coalfield is not one of the more well known. The village has a village hall and separate sports field and it appears the cricket club have folded leaving a vacancy which Bath are improving. The opposition were Reading who came into the game with two large victories whilst Bath had suffered two close away defeats. The match was well refereed with two the culprits of two high tackles being given the benefit of the doubt. When queried he indicated he would not have done so for more experienced players and there was clearly no malice. Reading started well including a penalty try, rarely seen at this level but Bath fought back and took the lead twice before a close finish at 28 32.

Yesterday I wandered down to watch the first home game of Worcester Jaguars v Somerset Vikings in the West of England league. Final Score Jags 28 - 52 Vikings. Bizarrely Worcester Jaguars play at Droitwich Rugby (Union) club WR9 7DU and not in Worcester, but that suits me just fine as I can walk there The Vikings looked a well organised side with some big units, some skillful (and rather cocky) backs (one clear uni union player shouting "kick to me, Worcester, kick to me" at restarts). The bench and coach looked very detailed and communicative with the team throughout - he even had a clipboard.! Jags looked a lot less so. There was some really commitment in the ruck, but they lost their shape out wide on lots of occasions. The real difference though was the play the ball. I couldn't see any huge difference up front. But the Vikings play the ball was so much faster, not sure if it was the ref not cracking down till well into the second half, that Somerset were clearly holding down for ages as a tactic, or Jags were being naive and werent. A few big individual efforts with a ball steal try from the right wing, and one of the forwards somehow wrestling himself over with three Vikings on the tackle, and some good kicking, kept the Jags in it at 22-24 down at half time. Sadly territory pressure told and led to some Viking walk ins in the first 20 mins of the second half. Once Jags started to throw it about and go for short kick offs some quick 1st tackle tries led to a bit of a blowout score. Still, even with some covid restrictions at the bar and the result, a great sat afternoon in the sun. I cant make the next home game, but will be there for Bath's visit in early July.

Deleted toollish comment from me.

I thought Farnworth was good in the game I watched against the Raiders, in a really poor side. Not great, and not in the top 5 NRL fullbacks I have seen in the last week, but not hopeless by any means. He may develop in time to be a really good player, or do a Sutton, and cement his place as an NRL top 17 player. I remain unconvinced that he is a better 1 than Tomkins or Hardaker or a better centre than Percival, Gildart, Newman or King, but he may be as good as those centres. Again, everything I have seen over many years makes me doubt the assumption that any NRL starter is bound to be better than the best of SL.

He wasn't dropped for his playing performance. Perhaps Wane is challenging him to get a better broadband provider.

There’s not many broncos holding their place the way Kevvie chops and changes . Farnworth does hold his own even in that rubbish team , it’d be interesting seeing him in a better side . I think he has the athleticism you want , and it also gives him versatility . I reckon centre may not even be his spot . He has the attributes to full back , and can obviously play on the wing . I like Toby King , I like Harry Newman , I like Johnstone they play here . I’m looking for different to what we’ve put out before

One of nuances of representative selection is that you have to separate the individual from the team performance and judge the former on its merit. And I have to say that hearing complaints on here for years that selections are confined to the big teams at the top of the table, it is a little ironic to dismiss a player due to the poor form of his team.

On here it does apparently.

Does holding your own in a really poor NRL team automatically qualify you for Test selection?

As long as he has a chance to get back in , that’s all that matters . I hope he’s had that communicated to him . Purely on the playing side there’s just no way in the universe he’s not in that squad on merit

I agree. But I would like to know what standards he has let slip. Are they on the field or has he failed to adhere to some process or schedule off the field. As a fan of England it would be nice to have some insight.

It's slightly more complicated than that. Farnworth was selected then stood down with the vague explanation of "The players know the standards expected of them as England players. Herbie’s standards have dipped below what I expect." What we're those standards? Playing, behaviour? It would be nice to know and if he continues to play well is there any way back in... would seem not as other outside backs were recently added.

Or not being able to access the internet to access such meetings. Perhaps Wane thinks that the internet is infallible and it’s the individual’s fault that technology doesn’t always work.

I suspect it's disciplinary. Late or missing meetings.

He’s too stubborn to admit he’s wrong.

Last night’s performance by Dominic Young has established this young giant as one of the most exciting prospects that Jamaica has seen in years.

On a domestic front Edinburgh Eagles travel south to Hartlepool to play the Hurricanes in the 1st rd of the North East RL cup

Dominic Young gets a start on the wing for the Kights against the Rabbitohs tomorrow morning. Hope he goes well.

Monday evening fixture (7/6) at Sharlston Rovers, who hosted Bramley Buffaloes in the Yorkshire League's First Division. Great set-up Rovers have - superior to many grounds in the National Conference League. Highlight of a fairly poor game was a length-of-the-touchline Sharlston solo try five minutes before the break. 10-0 at half-time, 22-4 come the final whistle. Four tries to one. About fair. Way too much niggle in the second half. Bramley had a player sin-binned in each half. I put the crowd at about 235, including circa 50 supporting the visitors. Free admission but donations requested via a pitchside woolly hat collection.

Most rule changes benefit the TV camera's and the upteen officials they have connected by wire, the poor guy on a Saturday afternoon is on a hiding to nothing