boxhead

I think the fact there is no major Sponsor for the World Cup or the Super League comp should lead to a change in personnel. I am worried about all aspects of the game in the UK at the moment.

He might get some frequent flyer points and a few free Beers and Meals?

Most Jobs like his have "Perks" like this, it goes with the package.

I don't believe that 7723. Its just an indication that its an "exhibition match" with little or no value or support from the RL community.

That indicates that either England are ###### or have that many players pull out of the games or don't take it seriously. Which one do you think its is? Aus or NZ would put 50 on those bums in the Exiles team.

As the leading Rugby League Nation in the Northern Hemisphere England has some obligation to drag its neighbours up as best as they can. Australia is often critisised about not doing enough for their region although they have developed enough players in the NRL to lose a World Cup and a couple of Major comps to their close neighbours.

Not one of the exiles players are in the top 10 in their position in the World, its a bunch of mainly veteran NRL castoffs FFS

Have we given up on developing France as a Test Nation. The Exiles teams represents what? and develops what? Its a mickey mouse team of average players or old Journeymen, what is the point and what satisfaction is there in beating them for the fans or players. You are hardly going to crow about a victory over that bunch are you?

What is the point of this game? That Exiles team is not worth putting on the field. A combination of past it veterans and fringe players. Not one of those players at this stage of their career are anywhere remotely close to Test Caliber for Oz or NZ. what sort of contest is it then? A concept doomed to failure in its second season and this year will pull down the curtain.

Not a good buy, Never really hit his potential and he has been going backwards from an average benchmark for a few seasons, IMO http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/taulima-tautai/summary.html

I thought Senior was retired.

After several decades since winning a series against Australia I would suggest plenty of players. There have been plenty of players that have been legends in the English game and from what the Aussies have seen of them they rate them as Park players.

Maybe let it all rest for a while.

I did not want to get personal as you have done Derwent but I think you will find the site you quote is absolutely rubbish. I have never seen a site so inaccurate as that one. Have another look and I think you will find Newlove scored at around a try every second game as an average. http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/...ve/summary.html Paul Newlove To view more info on a match, click the icon. Date Year Year Date Team Opposition Number Pos Scoring 1 Oct 21st 1989 1989 Oct 21st L Great Britain 16 New Zealand 24 #15 Bench 2 Oct 28th 1989 1989 Oct 28th W Great Britain 26 New Zealand 6 #3 Centre 3 Nov 11th 1989 1989 Nov 11th W Great Britain 10 New Zealand 6 #3 Centre 4 Nov 9th 1991 1991 Nov 9th W Great Britain 56 Papua New Guinea 4 #2 Wing 1t 5 May 31st 1992 1992 May 31st W Great Britain 20 Papua New Guinea 14 #16 Bench 6 Jun 12th 1992 1992 Jun 12th L Great Britain 6 Australia 22 #2 Wing 7 Jun 26th 1992 1992 Jun 26th W Great Britain 33 Australia 10 #3 Centre 1t 8 Jul 3rd 1992 1992 Jul 3rd L Great Britain 10 Australia 16 #3 Centre 9 Jul 19th 1992 1992 Jul 19th W Great Britain 19 New Zealand 16 #14 Bench 10 Apr 2nd 1993 1993 Apr 2nd W Great Britain 72 France 6 #3 Centre 3t 11 Oct 16th 1993 1993 Oct 16th W Great Britain 17 New Zealand 0 #3 Centre 12 Oct 30th 1993 1993 Oct 30th W Great Britain 29 New Zealand 12 #3 Centre 1t 13 Nov 6th 1993 1993 Nov 6th W Great Britain 29 New Zealand 10 #3 Centre 14 Mar 20th 1994 1994 Mar 20th W Great Britain 12 France 4 #4 Centre 1t 15 Nov 5th 1994 1994 Nov 5th L Great Britain 8 Australia 38 #15 Bench 1t 16 Nov 20th 1994 1994 Nov 20th L Great Britain 4 Australia 23 #4 Centre 17 Oct 7th 1995 1995 Oct 7th W England 20 Australia 16 #4 Centre 1t 18 Oct 11th 1995 1995 Oct 11th W England 46 Fiji 0 #4 Centre 1t 19 Oct 21st 1995 1995 Oct 21st W England 25 Wales 10 #4 Centre 1t 20 Oct 28th 1995 1995 Oct 28th L England 8 Australia 16 #4 Centre 1t 21 Nov 1st 1997 1997 Nov 1st L Great Britain 14 Australia (SL) 38 #4 Centre 22 Nov 8th 1997 1997 Nov 8th W Great Britain 20 Australia (SL) 12 #4 Centre 23 Nov 16th 1997 1997 Nov 16th L Great Britain 20 Australia (SL) 37 #4 Centre 24 Oct 31st 1998 1998 Oct 31st L Great Britain 16 New Zealand 22 #4 Centre 1t I may be wrong if I am let me know and I will apologise. If its you that has no idea (I could say more) I await your response. Andy.

Where did you get those stats from Wikipedia? Connolly was a recognised defensive Centre although he should have done some more in attack. I think you will find your try figures on Newlove are a little wide of the mark.

Oh I misunderstood I thought you was saying Pryce was widely rated as the best 6 in the World. I would not put too much credence into beating the Kiwi rabble that was beaten in 2007 it was hardly the best touring party and yet they lost two of the three Tests by only 6 points.

Who was saying that Stevo? He was never even close to the best 6 in the World, based on what exactly?

Sinfield came good at Test level last year though. Before that he played like a man with an upset stomach.

Hard to choose Cunningham, he was always injured or chose not to play when Test matches came around against Australia. He played against Australia 5 times in a 12 year Test career.

Shaun Edwards

http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague/ne..._Australia.html Cronk and Carney would work or Cronk + Lockyer with Carney on the Bench who offers far more than Gidley.

Maybe but.. fine players that they are Cambell and Bowen are no longer at the top of their game, Preston is 33 years old and has never reached State selection let alone Test and Bowen had a very limited Test career against the likes of the USA over 6 years ago. Slater 5 ft 10 in & 13 st 8 lb Hayne 6 ft 2 in & 16 st 1 lb Boyd 6 ft 1 in & 14 st 13 lb Coote 5 ft 10 in & 13 st 5 lb Minichiello 5 ft 11 in & 14 st 5 lb Dugan 6 ft 2 in & 13 st 12 Tomkins 5 ft 10 in & 12 st 2 lb Sam looked far less effective last year in the Four Nations final as a half when his obvious big step had been noted and allowed for. Scoring more points than any team you play wins the game, but if you do not restrict the points Australia puts on you the chances of blowing them off the field with your own attack is an unlikely outcome. An open expansive game on dry Australian pitches will not work against their structured defense and pace they posses to outplay them at their own game. Tomkins defense against Scott Donald in a recent game did not give me the confidence in his ability that you have. Tomkins would not be as fast as half of the Oz fullbacks mentioned above over more than a short sprint, Hayne and Boyd are nearly the fastest players in the NRL. Play Sam in the Halves and blood a new player at Fullback.

What was realistically expected of Delaney? He was a run of the mill NRL Back. His try per games for Leeds is far better than his previous NRL record. If you were talking about Inglis, Gasnier, Lyon or Jennings or others you would be expecting an impact, not poor old Brett Delaney.

Australia national Sport is Cricket Of the three big East coast States Australian Rules is only dominant in one State it is an also ran in NSW and QLD

Tomkins is a quality player without a doubt. The Australians calculate the plays like a War room. They will see his weight/height and defensive/attack skills and Coach their team to a point against him. Small/light, defensively questionable. Answer Isolate him under the kick. Target him with running back rowers. Hit him hard and if nothing else blunt his attack options. Put him one on one with speedy faster 100kg+ backs that might step him, run over him or beat him for pace. Fullback will be England's hot spot this 4 Nations.