2 Nov: New Zealand v Great Britain KO 4am (UK Time) (TV)

[Man of Kent]

1 minute ago, graveyard johnny said:

Clarke is an impact player not 80min test player, when hall took the intercept there was as much chance of him going the length of the pitch as me watching the ru later, sad times we don't have an offiah, Sullivan or hunte to snap up chances like that anymore.

We do but he wasn’t selected for the tour.

[Scubby]

Looks like Hall is crocked, so we now have no centres and one winger.

[graveyard johnny]

1 minute ago, Scubby said:

Looks like Hall is crocked, so we now have no centres and one winger.

whats wrong with him this time?

[Rage]

 

8 minutes ago, OMEGA said:

Whatever happens next week there needs to be major changes to both Coaching setup and selections.

I would have liked Powell to have been given the opportunity as head coach for the GB lions tour when it was announced. I know it's too late now but I just wonder what might have happened.

[Scubby]

Just now, graveyard johnny said:

whats wrong with him this time?

About 5 minutes from the end, he went down and put his hand straight up. Then hobbled off the field and didn't finish the game.

[telliner]

13 minutes ago, GeordieSaint said:

Plus points:

Walmsley, Clarke, Lomax, Hastings (when given the chance to dictate), our defence.

Negatives:

HODGSON!!! And Widdop was really poor.

I thought WIDDOP out those two was worse,kicking game at early tackle count,kicking and completely ignoring the overlap,over running the ball he had a stinker.Hodgson that step off the mark and deliberation then passing giving first reciever zero time 

[Chrispmartha]

1 minute ago, Scubby said:

Looks like Hall is crocked, so we now have no centres and one winger.

The Squad selection on this tour has been absolutely woeful especially as we had players already out there for the 9s. Grace or Handley should have been in the squad as we have absolutely no cover on the wing, Hardaker will never be a centre, look at the no try near the end Hardaker should have commited the outside defender before passing but he is not a centre

[Scubby]

Just now, Chrispmartha said:

The Squad selection on this tour has been absolutely woeful especially as we had players already out there for the 9s. Grace or Handley should have been in the squad as we have absolutely no cover on the wing, Hardaker will never be a centre, look at the no try near the end Hardaker should have commited the outside defender before passing but he is not a centre

The fact Grace and Handley were already in Australia, it was a no brainer to at least keep one as cover.

[Davo5]

We can blame Bennett all we want but until Superleague clubs stop filling their pivotal/creative positions with average Southern Hemisphere players we will never consistantly beat the best international teams,a good pack can only take you so far.

[OMEGA]

Just now, Scubby said:

The fact Grace and Handley were already in Australia, it was a no brainer to at least keep one as cover.

But this is Wayne Bennett we’re talking about, he won’t have a clue who Grace is and would rather tempt Kerry Bousted out of retirement than pick a SL player!

[OMEGA]

2 minutes ago, Davo5 said:

We can blame Bennett all we want but until Superleague clubs stop filling their pivotal/creative positions with average Southern Hemisphere players we will never consistantly beat the best international teams,a good pack can only take you so far.

I set a challenge earlier,

Name me a home grown GB available, Half Back, other than Williams, who has cemented his place in a Super League starting line up.

with all respect to them Danny Brough and Richard Myler don’t count anymore

[EastLondonMike]

Think our biggest problem is just the quality of the players we have.

we all know it's not the strongest squad it could have been, but even 100% fully fit we still have a skill defecit. We also lack the same level of mobility and agility as our opposition.

For instance watching Ryan Hall turn, chase, and collect a kick, was like watching a tank do a three point turn. 

[Sir Kevin Sinfield]

Handley isn’t good enough, Grace is too lightweight 

[jim_57]

Hall and McGillvary have had their time at this level. GB lack any sort of speed and it really showed.

They should have used this tour to give some young players a go, it's hardly like much is at stake really. Haven't seen much Super League this year, any young quality backs with a bit of speed?

[jim_57]

Just now, Sir Kevin Sinfield said:

Handley isn’t good enough, Grace is too lightweight 

Not every winger is a tank, there is still a place for light/fast players if they're good enough. Every team needs a bit of speed, GB has zero.

[Chrispmartha]

7 minutes ago, Sir Kevin Sinfield said:

Handley isn’t good enough, Grace is too lightweight 

Maybe, but name me a better winger in the squad if Hall is injured for next week?.

And I actually disagree both Grace and Handley offer something we are lacking, speed.

[Chrispmartha]

I don’t usually moan about this but, why is there an Aussie ref reffing an Aus game when we have just had a British ref in the GB Game, it doesn’t make sense.

[Tommygilf]

Hall has dislocated his knee

[EastLondonMike]

16 minutes ago, Chrispmartha said:

I don’t usually moan about this but, why is there an Aussie ref reffing an Aus game when we have just had a British ref in the GB Game, it doesn’t make sense.

Assume the Aussies wanted one of their own. And you can't blame them.

and as we don't have any rules in place that insist on neutral refs, it will continue.

im not one for knocking refs, but the speed around the ruck of the Aus v Tonga game is vastly different to that of the GB game.

[OMEGA]

2 minutes ago, Tommygilf said:

Hall has dislocated his knee

Which will probably see him leaving Sydney Roosters after a disappointing time there.

[graveyard johnny]

Just now, OMEGA said:

Which will probably see him leaving Sydney Roosters after a disappointing time there.

as predicted when he went there

[graveyard johnny]

mcillorum somewhere in the pack? joe burgess for a bit of speed? struggling for options here

[Gibbo]

1 hour ago, Davo5 said:

We can blame Bennett all we want but until Superleague clubs stop filling their pivotal/creative positions with average Southern Hemisphere players we will never consistantly beat the best international teams,a good pack can only take you so far.

The lack of creative, dominant halfbacks and standoffs in the Northern Hemisphere is exactly why the National teams have performed so badly it is that simple.

The fact that most of the outside backs are not really top shelf is another factor.

Picking Hall after his time out of the game at his age says it all.

 

[snapski]

1 hour ago, OMEGA said:

Whatever happens next week there needs to be major changes to both Coaching setup and selections.

Bennetts got to go!

Look for some new blood at Full Back where Nial Evalds has to be a consideration

Hall & McGilvary haven’t done anything wrong but don’t offer any kind of threat anymore, I appreciate the hard yards they make but that should be a bonus not a main attribute.

Makinson (obviously) and maybe a fit Tom Johnstone. At least we’d have threatening pace and proven finishers

Hardaker isn’t an international centre and Conner is a half or nothing at Test level.

Percival has to play and a fit Gildart with him

Half Back is a real issue, we just don’t have any other than Williams. Here’s a challenge, name a home produced half back who has nailed down a starting place in the SL (other than Williams)?

Graham isn’t the force he was, maybe this should be his swan song. Hill has been OK but is also past his best. George & Tom are still effective. Luke Thompson is the future  & Walmsley has some mileage left in him. Watts could come in but I’m not sure about any others.

Clarke needs to replace Hodgeson 

Bateman & Whitehead are still at the top of the game but outside those two we are a bit skinny. Greenwood, McMeekin, Ashurst, Curry

O’Loughlins done so we need to look for a replacement if we don’t want to play a 3rd prop at Loose 

BIG rebuilding job to do.

 

Trueman, but he's not going to get a game as hes not Australian.

[snapski]

Didn’t even bother watching it. No intention of watching highlights.  Bennett has killed our International sides. So pragmatic, and negative. Let the players play for gods sake. 

Apparently Clark injected some life into the side.  Well he would, hes not just a static bad passer of the ball. The thing is nothing will change for the next test. Will start with the same side.