arcticchris

That would make far too much sense for to ever happen in Rugby League

Farnworth/Fonua-Blake/Grant are top 3 for me barring an outstanding pacific cup final from one of the other Tonga and Australia players nominated.

Totally agree. It was 100% a deliberate play at the ball and the minimal contact with Johnson’s legs was both incidental and unintentional. It would have been a very soft call to give a penalty there. Credit to all the officials for making the right call and not buckling to favour the bigger nation.

Tottenham Stadium looks excellent and very modern. Big capacity and event venue feel but small enough to fill and give a great impression on TV and atmosphere.

As fair as a foul tackle goes I think it would be playing at the opposing players chair with your arm not at the ball and tag. The spectacular Bechara finish was legal because he was knocked forward by the referee tackle whereas if he had deliberately promoted the chair forward like a diving motion that would be a penalty. This is to give some parity for the players with limb/spinal disabilities that can’t make that kind of movement. The commentators did suggest France picked their side with building for 2026 WC in mind. They were missing 3 of their 5 main players. England had only Jack Brown absent.

You could see France were in transition with a new coach and leaving out several star players but England were excellent and some of their set pattern plays were outstanding to watch.

It would be harsh to enforce this if we were to see anything on the scale of what happened in the World Cup final. To concentrate on the game I expect another feisty, close and hard fought contest between two teams with great skill and toughness who know each other so well.

Wigan also have the wings and centres do a lot of yardage carries early in sets and just look at the brick wall defence in the final month of the season. Payne Haas would be fantastic and has an offload in his game.

For Wigan the biggest upgrade would be James Fisher-Harris as starting prop alongside Luke Thompson

To be fair I was thinking more about overall careers than just a season in isolation. Agree with your forward switch as being very valid as Ellis would definitely be a prop in the 90s when the trend at 13 was for an extra ball player. Brad O’Neill would be very close to making it as well

That is certainly fair as he would bring his immaculate goal kicking along with versatility to plate in the halves or wing and full back. Definitely pushed Wardle hard for the utility/backline cover spot on the bench.

A composite team: 1. Field 2024 2. Robinson 1994 3. Connolly 1994 4. Tuigamala 1994 5. Offiah 1994 6. French 2024 7. Edwards 1994 8. Cowie 1994 9. Dermott 1994 10. Thompson 2024 11. Betts 1994 12. Farrell 1994 13. Clarke 1994 14. Wardle 2024 15. Nsemba 2024 16. Ellis 2024 17. Havard 2024 10-7 to the 1994 team with some positional switches that reflect their careers. 1994 bench balance is bizarre with a centre/wing, full back, second row and a hooker although fairly sure there were injuries in the front row.

I wouldn’t personally. Beating Penrith is bigger for me.

Burgess has done really well as to be honest I thought it could easily turn into a car crash but it seems he is improving players as well as getting better results. All those in the poll are worthy of mention for different reasons. Matty Peet has done an awesome job but even as a Wigan fan I think I would give the award to Willie Peters this year.

That’s interesting insight and tells us that he has a good grasp on what will make him happy at work rather than just aiming for the highest position possible. He did a great job at Wigan with Matty Peet revamping the attack and improving skills. Maybe he could ultimately be well suited to a Director of Rugby role getting the club philosophically aligned from 1st team down to scholarship level.