Victor the Inflictor

[Davo5]

6 minutes ago, Wascally_Wabbit said:

I don’t think you know what you’re talking about, who is this Knowles bloke? Never heard of him, he’s never played in the NRL

That says more about your obvious lack of RL knowledge than the abilities of Knowles.

[StandOffHalf]

2 hours ago, Wascally_Wabbit said:

He was a bit of an unfortunate situation, although he had residency & it was thought he’d genuinely migrated like many, many Fijians have over the years, I can see him still coming back to Australia when he’s made enough money to rival the Fijian GDP 

Hes obviously got smart advisors, switching him to RU where he can laze about on the wing & preserve his body, hence playing until he’s 43

He plays in the centre and is probably one of the best centres in RU.

I dearly hope he comes back to RL, but who can blame him for going to cash-rich clubs in England and France.

[EastLondonMike]

I think the beauty of it is we don't really have to pick one over the other.

We have more variety, and Wane can get creative with how and when he uses his back row.

I think Knowles will be a bit of a secret weapon at the World Cup.

 

[dkw]

3 hours ago, Tommygilf said:

Given Knowles hasn't played either in the NRL or at test level for England against top nations, I think that is impossible to suggest with any certainty.

Hence me saying I dont think. Its my opinion that Knowles is better based on the games I've seen them play.

[MrPosh]

2 hours ago, Harry Stottle said:

Yes but when have two wrongs made it right?

Easy.

Half a right, isn't right. If something isn't right, it's also wrong.

So, two half-rights (or two wrongs) do make a right.

[Wascally_Wabbit]

23 minutes ago, Davo5 said:

That says more about your obvious lack of RL knowledge than the abilities of Knowles.

I know everything I need to know about the NRL & really don’t need to follow any UK footy 

[Wascally_Wabbit]

16 minutes ago, StandOffHalf said:

He plays in the centre and is probably one of the best centres in RU.

I dearly hope he comes back to RL, but who can blame him for going to cash-rich clubs in England and France.

nobody even mentions him any more in Australia, he’s gone, he’s making a good quid, if he’s playing in the centres in rugby thsts the same as playing on the wing given the ball rarely goes wider than the stand offs hands anyway 

There’s always big, fast, solid Fijians to come in.  & do the same job as he did 

the NRl never gets sour like Rugby & Super League when certain players leave, they always get replaced, there’s always a new batch  

[northamptoncougar]

Didn't both start out at hooker before moving to loose?

Also why can the Aussies have a back line of fulllbacks and it's ok but we can't fit these two into the side and be effective?

[RP London]

23 minutes ago, Wascally_Wabbit said:

There’s always big, fast, solid Fijians to come in.  & play for australia 

fixed it for you... no need to thank me  

Edited July 19, 2022 by RP London

[Tommygilf]

3 minutes ago, northamptoncougar said:

Didn't both start out at hooker before moving to loose?

Also why can the Aussies have a back line of fulllbacks and it's ok but we can't fit these two into the side and be effective?

On the FB point, I think it comes down to specialisation. FB is seen as a marquee position in Australia, but to play there you usually have to do a few years on the wing, in the centres or in the halves beforehand.

So usually the FBs are the best backs at any given team, but they have top rate experience at at least 1 other position in the backline. Given that, Australia can often select 5 or 6 week to week fullbacks and have a superb team.

We're just getting to that mindset in England, Hardaker plays Centre and FB, Tomkins also goes in the Halves, Connor is another example. Welsby is perhaps the best example of a modern "FB" who plays FB because he can actually pop up anywhere to do a great job and that position facilitates him doing so. 

[Dunbar]

10 minutes ago, northamptoncougar said:

Didn't both start out at hooker before moving to loose?

Also why can the Aussies have a back line of fulllbacks and it's ok but we can't fit these two into the side and be effective?

I think it is a really a simple question.  Is this player playing in this position the best option for the team and make it stronger. 

With Tom Trbojevic and Latrell Mitchell the answer was yes according to the Aussie selectors.

With Radley and Knowles.  I would like to see Radley start at 9 as I think that will work well with his defensive strength. 

But the team will not be stronger with one of these on the edge as I think we have better options in those positions. 

[northamptoncougar]

i actually think the SR is our weakest position across the side right now, I really can't name anyone who's that X factor player in that position.

[Dunbar]

1 minute ago, northamptoncougar said:

i actually think the SR is our weakest position across the side right now, I really can't name anyone who's that X factor player in that position.

With the size of some of the forwards they will be facing I would suggest McMeeken and Batchelor would be best.

But I expect Wane to go with Bateman and Whitehead. 

[Davo5]

18 minutes ago, northamptoncougar said:

i actually think the SR is our weakest position across the side right now, I really can't name anyone who's that X factor player in that position.

Bateman is still nowhere near his best,although he’s been pretty good in his last 2 England games & the applies to Whitehead,so I’d have no problem putting either Radley or Knowles in the backrow,both are clever footballers & IMO would still be as good as the other contenders.

[Harry Stottle]

1 hour ago, Dunbar said:

But I expect Wane to go with Bateman and Whitehead. 

I expect that Wane will go with Bateman if he has a patch over one eye and a brace on one leg, the last player that had permanent selection and was accommodated in a variety of positions was Kevin Sinfield despite hardly ever turning up against the better international teams.

Edited July 19, 2022 by Harry Stottle

[Dunbar]

7 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

I expect that Wane will go with Bateman if he has a patch over one eye and a brace on one leg, the last player that had permanent selection and was accommodated in a variety of positions was Kevin Sinfield despite hardly ever turning up against the better international teams.

Bateman in the team offers more than just his performance. He offers an attitude that we need as well... as well as a bit of an edge to his play.

But don't play him in the middle. Especially now that Radley is available as well.

 

[Harry Stottle]

6 minutes ago, Dunbar said:

Bateman in the team offers more than just his performance. He offers an attitude that we need as well... as well as a bit of an edge to his play.

But don't play him in the middle. Especially now that Radley is available as well.

Don't tell me you ain't going to suggest in the centre?

But all those attributes you have given Bateman, I have yet to see them since his return from Aus, yes they are in there somewhere he just needs to put them on show to convince me at least he warrants international selection.

 

[DavidM]

I can see Wane going with Bateman and Whitehead on experience and knowing what he’s gonna get . Whitehead has been a standout internationally and although he’s off his peak you know what he brings . He’s a leader and been there done it . Bateman as an edge forward again has done it , is a threat and has a bit of mongrel about him that’s not bad thing . I’m not saying it’s right or wrong and other candidates are strong and going well ( which is good ) , I’m just saying it wouldn’t be any kind of surprise and I wouldn’t really mind to begin with 

[Dunbar]

Here is what I would look at as a 24 man squad and my 17 (assuming those able to be fit for the end of the year will be).  Things to possibly change given form etc (and me changing my mind).

1/ Sam Tomkins

2/ Tommy Makinson

3/ Harry Newman

4/ Herbie Farnworth

5/ Dominic Young 

6/ Jonny Lomax

7/ Jack Welsby

8/ Alex Walmsley

9/ Victor Radley

10/ MIkolaj Oledzki

11/ Joe Batchelor 

12/ Mike McMeeken

13/ Morgan Knowles

 

14/ Daryl Clark

15/ John Bateman

16/ Luke Thompson

17/ Tom Burgess

 

Matty Lees

Elliot Whitehead

Kruise Leeming

Mark Percival

George Williams

Ryan Sutton

Kai Pearce-Paul

[JM2010]

33 minutes ago, Dunbar said:

Here is what I would look at as a 24 man squad and my 17 (assuming those able to be fit for the end of the year will be).  Things to possibly change given form etc (and me changing my mind).

1/ Sam Tomkins

2/ Tommy Makinson

3/ Harry Newman

4/ Herbie Farnworth

5/ Dominic Young 

6/ Jonny Lomax

7/ Jack Welsby

8/ Alex Walmsley

9/ Victor Radley

10/ MIkolaj Oledzki

11/ Joe Batchelor 

12/ Mike McMeeken

13/ Morgan Knowles

 

14/ Daryl Clark

15/ John Bateman

16/ Luke Thompson

17/ Tom Burgess

 

Matty Lees

Elliot Whitehead

Kruise Leeming

Mark Percival

George Williams

Ryan Sutton

Kai Pearce-Paul

That's a strong 17. I'm undecided on Welsby at FB with Williams at 7 or what you have suggested. I'd also consider starting with Thompson. I'd definitely have Young in the team but think he's sticking with Jamaica isn't he?

[graveyard johnny]

44 minutes ago, Dunbar said:

Here is what I would look at as a 24 man squad and my 17 (assuming those able to be fit for the end of the year will be).  Things to possibly change given form etc (and me changing my mind).

1/ Sam Tomkins

2/ Tommy Makinson

3/ Harry Newman

4/ Herbie Farnworth

5/ Dominic Young 

6/ Jonny Lomax

7/ Jack Welsby

8/ Alex Walmsley

9/ Victor Radley

10/ MIkolaj Oledzki

11/ Joe Batchelor 

12/ Mike McMeeken

13/ Morgan Knowles

 

14/ Daryl Clark

15/ John Bateman

16/ Luke Thompson

17/ Tom Burgess

 

Matty Lees

Elliot Whitehead

Kruise Leeming

Mark Percival

George Williams

Ryan Sutton

Kai Pearce-Paul

dom young would get targeted  to oblivion by the oz halves to the point where a crucial blunder costs us any chance of WC sucess - then we will we all feel sorry for him and say how he is still inexperienced and learning the game and he has a bright future- and so the story goes on and on and on and on 

[DavidM]

It’s a big ask to have Welsby steering the ship at 7 in the WC . It’s a brave call and maybe right , but I can see Wane going with Williams 

[Dunbar]

6 minutes ago, graveyard johnny said:

dom young would get targeted  to oblivion by the oz halves to the point where a crucial blunder costs us any chance of WC sucess - then we will we all feel sorry for him and say how he is still inexperienced and learning the game and he has a bright future- and so the story goes on and on and on and on 

Do you mean the same Aussies that just pick the best players, whatever their age... like 19 year old Jeremiah Nanai and 20 year old Selwyn Cobbo who have just helped Queensland to win Origin after 39 NRL appearances between them?

Just pick the best players.

Edited July 19, 2022 by Dunbar

[graveyard johnny]

with paddypower currently offering odds of aus 4/11 and eng 7/1 does anyone really think in reality the green and golds are even taking us seriously? or are they just coming for a jolly outing and to give us a right royal pasting 

[graveyard johnny]

1 minute ago, Dunbar said:

Do you mean the same Aussies that just pick the best players, whatever their age... like 19 year old Jeremiah Nanai and 20 year old Selwyn Cobbo who have just helped Queensland to win Origin after 39 NRL appearances between them?

Just pick the best players.

how can you compare cobbo to young? its like tyson compared to bruno