boxhead

He was all done a couple of years ago. Bradford must be setting their benchmark just above absolute ######.

I think comparing players from different eras is not easy to do or make an Apples for Apples comparison. If you look at the three English/Welsh players mentioned what was their try scoring record like at Test level compared to Caps? Compare any of them to say Billy Slater. Then it is Apples and Oranges. Even back then Garry Jack was over 50% tries per game Anthony Minichiello was over 50% tries per game. Pretty sure when Lockyer was a Fullback it would be better than most as he holds nearly every record in the NRL and has been the games Premier player for a decade with 33 tries from 51 Tests in all positions

I blame the Convicts for everything. They should stop sending their castoffs to England as well, its depriving our local talent from coming through. They stuff everything they touch. Why do they have to send their players everywhere? :lol: :lol:

Maybe it will revert to a 3 nations tournament and Kangaroo tours again? Not forgetting the fact France are always chasing ex Aussies to make them not come last in World Cups.

The quicker Australian born players or Citizens are discouraged for playing for the Mickey mouse "Heritage" concept the better. It will go a long way to stopping the farce of the last World cup where dozens of them represented nations with small or little links to them just so they could get a run in that competition and bolster and Islander or Kiwi teams. Hopefully if its cleared up the 2013 World Cup will not have the likes of Jarryd Hayne and Ashton Simms representing Fiji and it will be all local products.

Plenty of players have been under good Coaches but made ###### Coaches themselves. Its a totally different skill with different aspects, same as plenty of average players have made good Coaches. Whether PNG love him or if he is the biggest name from PNG as you say will have little bearing on his Coaching ability.

Lydon was not that special at Fullback, the fact he was on the Wing or the bench for half is representative career tells you that.

Its a select side of Australian eligible players usually. http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/spo...ns/1933993.aspx There is the link He moved to Oz aged 15 and has represented Oz schools. The quicker they bring in hard and fast laws the better. Australia will not even blink, the poor underdeveloped Pacific Island nations will be lost from the World Cup Format. Adrian Lam resigned from Coaching PNG today to concentrate on Saints and get beyond the Kumul politics and in fighting.

What level was Uate developed to in Fiji? other than being a fast athlete? Which Fijian team did he play for? Was he plucked from the Fijian national League?

Why? Its an Oz PM's Australian select side. Why would they pick none Australians? The PM's side is selected from players either up and coming to showcase their talents or well deserved acknowledgement for players like Corey Parker who will most likely not win a Test Cap. The ARL's media release says all the players selected are eligible for Oz in the four Nations. Will they be selected? usually Origin players make up the Test squad.

The International ruling body should bring in a rule that you play for the country of your birth or the Country a player nominates when he is graded, no changes allowed. That will rule out plenty of the Aussies in the Kiwi Test teams and leave the Pacific Islands to develop their own. It will also hit Australia hard where they will feel the full brunt of poaching overseas players where they have played at least 6 or 8 players that may have immigrated to Oz but were not born there in the last 20 years or so. Everyone wins and the farce of representing "Heritage" teams will be done with by the 2013 World Cup.

A Test standard Fullback should have rock solid defence and positional sense, the ability to return the ball in broken play and chime into the attack is the other half of his resume. Show me a top full back that has bad defence? (don't say Slater, he has had some clangers but in general his try saving is better than nearly anyones.)

I would not rate Graham as the best Prop in the World, I would take Civ even in his twilight years. Issac Luke can be hot and cold, not as good as Smith and not as all round as Farrah. If you wanted a tough creative Lock that can fill in in the Halves Greg Bird has plenty to offer.

I guess it is a wind up but I suspect decent judges may consider Petero Civoniceva Dave Shillington Paul Gallen Sam Thaiday Luke Lewis At least half of those are better than their counterparts in either the English or Kiwi teams according to many good Judges. We will see in a few weeks time.

I do not agree at all. Most of the good Centres have totally different body types too Second Rowers. You may have players like Watmough that can run wide during a game and punch holes through smaller defenders but they would soon be found out if they played wide all game. Look at the best Centres most have tall rangy builds.

Wingers are usually only as good as the service from their inside men. Gasnier, Lyon and co will fancy their chances if they get one on one with a second rower. If England has to put Forwards in the Centres as the best option its a lost cause.

I agree. England will have to score more than they let in. Pace will win the day on dry hard pitches, second rowers will not make 50 metre breaks nor will they contain the speed out wide that the SH teams have in abundance.

Heighington has an English Father.

Australia provides dozens of players to other countries in World Cups and 4 Nations. At least half a dozen players selected for NZ squad this year are Australian born and raised The 2008 World Cup had about 50 players born and raised in Australia representing other Nations. Its nothing new. How many Aussies play in England with Greek, Irish, Maltese or Italian passports? to get around the regulations.

New Zealand lost the points for their win in that seasons 4 Nations from memory because of Fiens inclusion.

Kenny-Dowell Is ok. Top shelf? no. Would he be picked in a Kangaroos Test Squad? I doubt it.

Heighington is an Australian that has English heritage not unlike Pat Richards Irish situation. Ellis may be rubbbed out of next weeks game his tackle was dodgy.

The theory that Shenton held the defense together is not really accurate. All of the attack went down the other side in the first half, not because Shenton was on the right. The game developed and the Australians moved down the other side after Shenton went off either because thats how the plays developed or due to the reshuffle of the England team to cover that Centre spot made the Aussies take advantage of the shake up. The fact Englands game plan had no utility back or cover for an injured back from the bench is the sort of mistake Australia will notice and take full advantage of if the opportunity arises. Reshuffling players or playing people out of position may work at Club level but not against the Kangaroos.

Problem is Dave the backs only scored 1 of those 3 tries and it was the same in the first encounter. 6 tries in 2 games with 4 tries from the forwards and 2 from the backs. It wont be enough points unless there is a better game plan and performance.

Give it up. What does it matter?