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10 hours ago, Dunbar said:

Yes, he steps up for England.

I think it is also telling that he was the top metre maker and only try scorer for Great Britain against Tonga in the first tour game.  He is capable of big international performances. 

Hold on a mo Dunny, I have already stated on these pages - the other thread I think - that Bateman was our best player by far on that GB tour and deserved every accolade he was given, I will always give credit where credit is due and visa versa, and if he does reach the heights and plays in the manner that you champion him and replicates the form of that tour then I will concede, but if he does and I was a Wigan fan I would be very angry with the performance's he has served up in the last couple of season's for the money I expect he is being payed.

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5 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

Hold on a mo Dunny, I have already stated on these pages - the other thread I think - that Bateman was our best player by far on that GB tour and deserved every accolade he was given, I will always give credit where credit is due and visa versa, and if he does reach the heights and plays in the manner that you champion him and replicates the form of that tour then I will concede, but if he does and I was a Wigan fan I would be very angry with the performance's he has served up in the last couple of season's for the money I expect he is being payed.

I just want him to play well for England.  I will worry about being angry at his club form at a later date.

Both our incumbant edge forwards are down on form, Bateman and (even more so) Whitehead.  But they both have credit in the bank for England as they have been two of our best for some time.  I think they get a chance to show they are still world class and if not they lose out to the other players in the squad.

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"The history of the world is the history of the triumph of the heartless over the mindless." — Sir Humphrey Appleby.

"If someone doesn't value evidence, what evidence are you going to provide to prove that they should value it? If someone doesn't value logic, what logical argument could you provide to show the importance of logic?" — Sam Harris

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8 hours ago, Damien said:

KPP has played most of this season at centre.

Yes he may have and so did Hardacre for a good while at Wigan but neither will ever be top class center's, Hardacre never did it playing centre internationally and neither will KPP, it is one of the most specialised positions on the pitch they may get away with it domestically in SL, I doubt they would in the NRL and most definitely not against the best internationals.

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6 hours ago, Tex Evans Thigh said:

He’s a winner, a competitor. 

SL and NRL grand finals, World Cup final, challenge cups etc etc. what other big games that he’s qualified for could he have possibly played in? He has the experience to handle these games.

Agreed, but even his mother would concede he is not doing that now. The trouble is we are so bereft of top performers that there are those fans who hold onto any shread that someone may be capable of doing something because they did perform well once, and that is not just Bateman, the fact is there are player's in this squad who should be sat at home with their feet up watching these games on the telly, but our system of producing top class player's is so wanting that we have no option but to wheel these player's out, it is not that they are good it is all we have got, that is a terrible position to be in.

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6 hours ago, SydneyRoosters said:

Well there not. Oledzki is Englands best front rower in the squad, he will dominate against Samoa.

That he may be and I sincerely hope you are right, but it is going to be a big learning curve for him, one I hope he can walk away from this tournament with his head held high.

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3 hours ago, SydneyRoosters said:

He’s has the potential to finish his career as the greatest English prop ever

How old are you that is a massive statement, just asking so I can gauge how many English props you have ever seen.

Have you always been up for exaggeration, it does come out loud and clear in some of the statements you make.

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1 minute ago, Harry Stottle said:

How old are you that is a massive statement, just asking so I can gauge how many English props you have ever seen.

Have you always been up for exaggeration, it does come out loud and clear in some of the statements you make.

I’ve watched James Graham. And he is easily the all time best English prop. I’m not saying Oledzki is near him but I’m saying he could be by the end of his career. It’s Just like saying Suaalii has the potential to become the greatest wingers. I’m not saying he will be or anything outlandish I’m just saying he could from what I’ve seen from i’ve seen at such a young age.

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6 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

How old are you that is a massive statement, just asking so I can gauge how many English props you have ever seen.

Have you always been up for exaggeration, it does come out loud and clear in some of the statements you make.

It’s a bit of an exaggeration but he is a true talent and could become something special.

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5 minutes ago, SydneyRoosters said:

@Davo5 If you have a problem with me saying Oledzki is a good player tell me why.

I have no problem with posters saying Oledzki is a good player,he is but your ridiculous statements making out he’s the new Artie Beetson/Sam Burgess is quite frankly embarrassing.

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1 minute ago, Davo5 said:

I have no problem with posters saying Oledzki is a good player,he is but your ridiculous statements making out he’s the new Artie Beetson/Sam Burgess is quite frankly embarrassing.

When did I say he was the new Artie Beetson or Sam burgess I don’t recall writing that. I said he has a lot of potential and is doing exceptionally well at a young age.

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5 minutes ago, Davo5 said:

I have no problem with posters saying Oledzki is a good player,he is but your ridiculous statements making out he’s the new Artie Beetson/Sam Burgess is quite frankly embarrassing.

to be honest I didn't even notice he was playing last week in the gf- there's going to be some scary monsters lining up against him, so this is really gonna test his mettle so good luck to the lad

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see you later undertaker - in a while necrophile 

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1 minute ago, graveyard johnny said:

to be honest I didn't even notice he was playing last week in the gf- there's going to be some scary monsters lining up against him, so this is really gonna test his mettle so good luck to the lad

I thought he looked tired at times towards the end of the season & can’t recall him really dominating at any time,good young player but the crazy chooks statements about him dominating the Samoa pack or being better than a host of current Test props is laughable.

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13 hours ago, Harry Stottle said:

Correction, he used to be one of those, not anymore, if ever someone has been selected for what he once could do it's John Bateman.

Pity he got sent off in the semi against Leeds so early, of the two enforcers Bateman and Bentley the latter seemed like the seasoned been there done that professional who got on with his job, a newbie to the game watching that match would not have noticed Bateman by his performance if they didn't know his name, just as they wouldn't in countless other games this season and last he has been bang average, he should be nowhere near the England team.

Totally agree 

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41 minutes ago, graveyard johnny said:

to be honest I didn't even notice he was playing last week in the gf- there's going to be some scary monsters lining up against him, so this is really gonna test his mettle so good luck to the lad

You didn't notice he was playing?

He ran for 113 metres and made the most metres per carry of any player on the field bar Joey Lussick who only ran the ball twice.

The fact you didn't notice this says far more about your understanding of the role of a prop than it does about Oledzki's performance.

Edited by Dunbar
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"The history of the world is the history of the triumph of the heartless over the mindless." — Sir Humphrey Appleby.

"If someone doesn't value evidence, what evidence are you going to provide to prove that they should value it? If someone doesn't value logic, what logical argument could you provide to show the importance of logic?" — Sam Harris

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A success for Oledzski would be a strong, dependable, injury-free WC.

He seems to be less than 100%. I hope he goes well and stays clear of injury.

Burgess, for me, is the forward dominator in this England prop rotation - both physically and experience-wise.

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9 hours ago, Davo5 said:

And was pretty average there at times,especially defensively.

I'd argue the opposite with KPP. His defence has usually been spot on and it's pretty rare that anyone gets past him. Even positionally he's been better than most makeshift centres we've had. In attack he's had one or two games where he's caused teams problems but otherwise produced absolutely nothing.

I have a feeling Wane has him there because he's got size and has been defensively pretty sound. Wane's approach has always been defence first and safety first. It's a big ask to be facing the athletes that the NRL produces in an unfamiliar position though.

Of all the selections in the team I'd say Pearce-Paul is the most surprising.

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1 hour ago, Harry Stottle said:

our system of producing top class player's is so wanting that we have no option but to wheel these player's out, it is not that they are good it is all we have got, that is a terrible position to be in.

Personally I think this is linked to P&R, and the fact that clubs have had to prioritise short term survival over longer term player development. It's probably not the only factor, but I think it's likely to be related. IMO the 2013 squad had far more world class players than the current squad.

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16 minutes ago, EagleEyePie said:

I'd argue the opposite with KPP. His defence has usually been spot on and it's pretty rare that anyone gets past him. Even positionally he's been better than most makeshift centres we've had. In attack he's had one or two games where he's caused teams problems but otherwise produced absolutely nothing.

I have a feeling Wane has him there because he's got size and has been defensively pretty sound. Wane's approach has always been defence first and safety first. It's a big ask to be facing the athletes that the NRL produces in an unfamiliar position though.

Of all the selections in the team I'd say Pearce-Paul is the most surprising.

Oh dear, do I detect a possible resurgence of the Nobby Noble, David Waite and Wayne Bennett defence attitudes from Shaun Wane by playing people out of position to try to shore up defences, I have a little secret for him it hasn't worked in the past and it won't work now.

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I am a huge fan of Oledzki.  I think he is a fantastic prop.

For me, he carries the ball really well (as his stats for the Grand Final show) but it is his defence where he is way above average.

His mobility and technique in defence for a big man is outstanding.  In the Grand Final he missed just one tackle.  Compare that to Lees (9) and Paasi (5) and his quality becomes really obvious.

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"The history of the world is the history of the triumph of the heartless over the mindless." — Sir Humphrey Appleby.

"If someone doesn't value evidence, what evidence are you going to provide to prove that they should value it? If someone doesn't value logic, what logical argument could you provide to show the importance of logic?" — Sam Harris

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16 minutes ago, RugbyLeagueGeek said:

Personally I think this is linked to P&R, and the fact that clubs have had to prioritise short term survival over longer term player development. It's probably not the only factor, but I think it's likely to be related. IMO the 2013 squad had far more world class players than the current squad.

Exactly so with the '13 squad, and those player's were brought through and learned their trade in the pre Licencing day's before '09, fast forward and most of the players who will representing England will be from the 6 years licenced period of '09 to '14, possibly Jack Welsby is from '15 onwards back in the P&R system.

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