Dunbar

Because our Australian friends seem to think he is world class now for some reason.

I would riot. But going all the way to the street is a hassle. I would probably just throw something out of the window.

All depends on what happens after. If England started with a defeat then it would be an absolute statement of how strong the competition is. Whether they would be slated in the press/fans would be down to the performance and the score. But after that, if England finish 2nd in the Group and go out to Tonga in the Q's then there would be plenty of noise. But a win against Tonga and rematch with Samoa would be huge. Plenty of variables for what should be a fascinating tournament.

The original tribunal in this paragraph is the first appeal panel though, not the Match Review Panel. The match Review Panel simply concluded that it was dangerous contact and imposed a 2 match penalty. It is this first review (appeal) panel that muddied the waters by agreeing with the decision but stating that the players shoulder or wrist was not placed in an unnatural position. Saints have used this wording to convince the 2nd appeals panel that the original decision of dangerous contact and a ban was, therefore, wrong.

The error came (if there was one) from the first appeals panel. The Match Review Panel deemed it dangerous conduct and foul play. The appeal panel upheld the ban but critically said "the panel agreed with the MRP verdict but accepted the opponent’s arm stayed in a natural range." It is this wording that Saints have jumped on to get the decision overturned - their argument being how can it be dangerous contact if the arm stayed in a natural range.

I have watched Anthony Milford play many times and there is absolutely nothing that I have seen to suggest he should be above your 'good club player' level. In fact, the fact that he keeps getting moved on / dropped from some of the underperforming NRL teams suggests he may not even belong in that category.

So, let me get this right because it is a big point. What you are saying in the above is that the wins that Samoa got when Milford was playing were due to him playing well? Not just that he played well but that the actual wins were because of him?

So you rate him as an international class player?

I'm ok with that.

Sorry, what is an Australian got to do with a conversation about the Samoan team? Look, just answer me this one question honestly and I will move on... do you rate Milford as a top quality, international class Rugby League player?

I accept it. You are right and I am wrong. If there is one thing that is sure to put the fear of God into any team it is the name Anthony Milford lining up for the opposition. The way you guys are going on about him, he is like Brett and Wally Lewis rolled into one, when in reality he is a bang average NRL player who has been one of the common denominators of bang average NRL teams for the last 10 years.

So the speed of the Samoan game will be a problem for England but the slower paced game will suit Milford. Got it, that's not contradictory in any way at all.

Have to say, I didn't think Saints would manage to get Knowles off but I guess they managed to twist the panel's arm.

I can neither confirm nor deny that.

I'm back in the game!

Correct. And for 10 minutes.

Here is a quiz question. Answers please without a Google search. In his career, how many games did the new inductee Adrian Morley play alongside fellow Hall of Famer Ellery Hanley?

I agree with the posters above. I watched and enjoyed the game on Sunday... in fact with the NRLW triple header on Sky Plus the whole day was women's Rugby League. For the big games in particular, I think a match thread on the main forum would be welcome.

I assume it is just that there is a limited number of inductees each time and players cases are evaluated each time.

And that would only be true if every international quality Rugby League player was the son of an international Rugby League player... or vice versa.

Well for me the reason why he has excelled is that he has been allowed / encouraged to play his natural game at Salford while having good players alongside him. His talents were there for all to see at both Melbourne and Brisbane but they both wanted him to be a game management half which he isn't. He is a creative and dangerous running half back. At Salford, he is perfectly complemented by Marc Sneyd with his organisation and kicking game. It shows once again that the best half back combinations complement each other. I am very sure that if Croft were allowed to play to his strengths in the NRL he would be equally as effective.

Congratulations to Brenda Dobek, Lisa McIntosh and Sally Milburn for being the first inductees into the Women's Hall of Fame.

There are some excellent edge forwards available across the World Cup. Fiji have Tariq Sims and Viliame Kikau and I'm not sure that Frizell would walk into a side with those two available.

Exactly right. If the top players in the country eligible to play for Australia were the given games and profile of other sports then they may commit a bit more.

I'm not interested in these 'if he was English' or if he was in Super League' arguments. They are just not relevant. Let's just have a sensible conversation about the merits of each player. In my opinion the best halves combinations complement each other and Milford / Luai don't do that and I think you just don't get enough game management from this combination. The point about the Tongan spine beating Australia is a fair one and shows that this world cup is very competitive despite the Kangaroos having the best spine of all the nations.