arcticchris

Why not both

The extra year for our young NRL centres along with the young SL guys like Newman and Welsby could prove in terms of the team on the pitch to be our greatest benefit from the years delay to the World Cup. Young has stated his allegiance to Jamaica but that was more at a time when he would have been a squad depth or left at home guy, if he forces his way to the front of the queue for a team with realistic chances to win the competition he would likely take it.

I have been watching the game for 30+ years and can easily say the first two names on my team sheet for an all time team from the late 80s to present day would be Cameron Smith at 9 and Hanley at 13. Sculthorpe and Farrell were outstanding players but both would have to slide out to the second row berths if Ellery was around. Likewise some of the best games from Sam Burgess in an international shirt were at 13 but I would still shift him into the prop rotation. There is not a style of play or team tactic that having Hanley in your team would not raise your chances of winning.

Who is your starting centre - Welsby or Naiqama.

That is true for Ferguson but Morris has been a first choice pick when fit ever since the Roosters signed him.

I am interested in who all clubs are linked with and sign. It surprises me that this is not the case with the vast majority of rugby league fans.

I left out Fages as he is not able to be picked due to injury otherwise I would have had him over Lomax.

Tomkins Yaha, Naiqama, Whare, Makinson Maloney, Lomax Walmsley, Roby, Bousquet Whitley, Mata’utia, Garcia Bench Knowles, Kasiano, Bentley, McMeeken a 9-8 split with a 7-6 split for the starting lineup which reflects how close I expect the game to be.

Got injured in his first preseason game I believe

I think DI Keith Fowler was talking about Widnes in terms of promotion and relegation

Fantastic to see both Catalans and Toulouse leading the way despite the added difficulties the pandemic situation has thrown up. We are on the cusp of a great opportunity to really grow the reach of Rugby League in the northern hemisphere but sadly I have a nagging doubt that the French will be shafted by any format changes to SL. To answer Audois I would put them above Hull as the 5th biggest club in terms of crowds, on-field product and ability to attract marquee players.

Looking at that latest list you would expect the Sharks to be excited and relieved about all the huge contracts about to expire (Dugan, Woods, Tolman). Gives them a chance to start again largely.

Put this season out of its misery like a lame racehorse after a bad fall. Move on and focus on marketing the big return of the game next year and showcasing potential World Cup stars after they have been decently rested rather than flogging them deep into winter in front of fading crowds.

The incompetencies of the RFL

Good luck to the person having to follow the the last one on that list.

I don’t think you can set a hard limit per position as full back is overflowing with talent but there are very few really good centres. Indeed I think only Joey Manu currently stands comparison with the best of the last 25 years whereas I could reel off Tedesco, Papenhuyzen, RTS, Trbojevic, Tomkins, Ponga at minimum as genuine superstars.

Your suggestion is better. Also thought of 1. Brett Stewart 3. Graeme Bradley 13. Glenn Stewart

Best team comprised only of players with a surname that is also a frequently used surname. Bonus for the best on-field team 1. Robbie Paul 2. Richard Owen 3. Gene Miles 4. Latrell Mitchell 5. Brett Dallas 6. Trent Barrett 7. Henry Paul 8. Pauli Pauli 9. Isaac Luke 10. James Graham 11. Toby Rudolph 12. Beau Scott 13. Cameron Murray 14. Danny Levi 15. Isaac John 16. Ash Taylor 17. Nick Graham Coach. Graham Murray Co-Commentators. Ray Warren+Bill Arthur

I believe Catalans was formed as a merger of existing clubs so is in many ways an example of how a stronger bigger identity can be forged.

To be fair I think sacking the coach after a player has agreed to join a club gives the player a legitimate option to back out of the move.

Walters is one of the worst coaches in living memory. His connections are all that keeps him getting big jobs that time after time he shows himself to be inadequate at.

I would have him at Wigan in an instant but given our cheap fix approach to next season I doubt we are even in the running. Best prop in the world over the last 3-5 years for me and would be an amazing signing for whoever manages to nab him.

Can’t help thinking about the effect of the hordes around Wembley the week before for the Euros final. Maybe the cleanup operation wasn’t done well enough.

In a related peeve I don’t get why when they get a penalty about 20 metres out from the line near the rich line they kick it off sideways or even backwards to then take the restart tap from practically the same spot they could have just taken a tap penalty from in the first place. Total waste of game time.

I think Tonga are the second best team but are the most vulnerable to depth issues particularly in the spine where their first choice players need to get close to the level they did in the win over Australia on a consistent basis if they are to win the whole competition.