Sun 22 Oct: International: England v Tonga (at Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens) KO 2.30pm

[UTK]

22 minutes ago, Bedfordshire Bronco said:

6 players who don't play in England named in our 19 man squad 

A record? 

Not saying it's good or bad

Both games against Samoa last year had 6 NRL-based players in the 17 - Young, Farnworth, Burgess, Whitehead, Radley, Thompson

If you want to get real technical McMeeken and Tomkins were also in those sides and obviously based in France.

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

7 minutes ago, UTK said:

Both games against Samoa last year had 6 NRL-based players in the 17 - Young, Farnworth, Burgess, Whitehead, Radley, Thompson

If you want to get real technical McMeeken and Tomkins were also in those sides and obviously based in France.

Included the Cats players as non England so no it looks like 8 in the 17 is far bigger %

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

23 hours ago, meast said:

Hill, Whitehead, Farrell, Burgess, Bateman? 

Haven't they captained before?

Maybe they think Welsby is a "big name, star player" kind of thing?

Can't say I'm happy about it, he's too emotional for me, all that throwing/kicking the ball into opposition fans etc doesn't sit well with me.

Totally agree that Welsby is too fighty to be captain 

Problem with Burgess is that he may not be on the pitch the whole game 

Bateman for me 

[Jinking Jimmy]

23 hours ago, Exiled Wiganer said:

Welsby would be a better England captain than Farrell. Full back is a great place to have a captain, and maybe the responsibility will concentrate his mind somewhat. 

Sometimes when you put someone with attitude in a responsible position it can change them for the better. Let’s hope.

[dead man inc]

Are tickets for sale on the gate or available online on the day mobile tickets?

Edited October 21, 2023 by dead man inc

[OMEGA]

My only reasoning for Welsby being named Captain is the]at Wane thinks it will mature him.

If so, I’m not sure it’s the best reason to make someone your National Captain.

Personally I don’t think Welsby is Captain material, not yet at least 

[Dunbar]

24 minutes ago, OMEGA said:

My only reasoning for Welsby being named Captain is the]at Wane thinks it will mature him.

If so, I’m not sure it’s the best reason to make someone your National Captain.

Personally I don’t think Welsby is Captain material, not yet at least 

Should have made Newman captain.

[Derwent]

2 hours ago, OMEGA said:

My only reasoning for Welsby being named Captain is the]at Wane thinks it will mature him.

If so, I’m not sure it’s the best reason to make someone your National Captain.

Personally I don’t think Welsby is Captain material, not yet at least 

Not necessarily. There may be an element of forward planning and he sees Welsby as captain material for the 2026 World Cup when he will have matured a bit.

[Lowdesert]

1 hour ago, Derwent said:

Not necessarily. There may be an element of forward planning and he sees Welsby as captain material for the 2026 World Cup when he will have matured a bit.

I don’t think Wane is looking that far ahead!

[Dunbar]

According to this article, Dominic Young is in hospital. 

https://www.nrl.com/news/2023/10/21/young-hospitalised-as-england-name-team-for-first-test/

[Josef K]

I am looking forward to the match now, but yesterday i wasn’t. Storm Babet had put me off and i was going to give it a miss, I was wondering if Peasley Cross Bridge was flooded as well. 
But everything is fine now i am taking four people tomorrow including my Staffordshire granddaughter and her pa. The granddaughter says “she likes Rugby League (i always tell her to say Rugby league ). Her Pa plays the other code for some amateur club in Staffordshire, she always tell’s him now “your sport is so boring whilst Rugby League is far better”. She was asked in school yesterday “what was she doing over the weekend”, she said “i am going watching a Rugby League test match on Sunday. It’s far more exciting than the boring 15-a-side one my daddy plays .

[Hopie]

I've given up on trying to understand Wane, he makes decisions which don't make much sense but he doesn't seem to be one to change his mind. Although in this case, his first choice captain is suspended.

Get down to the game today if you can, should be a good one. I'd say Tonga are favourites with longer to prepare, but playing in England this time of year doesn't come easy to touring sides.

[AB90]

A lot of this game will come down to who has had the better preparation. 

Using last years WC as a guide, generally speaking the Polynesian teams can be slow starters and will and should get stronger as each game goes by. A lot of their players haven’t played a game since late August so match fitness may be lacking especially as they are heavey set, big bodied athletes.

On the flip side, the SL GF was only 7 days ago so I imagine the England team would if only had 3 or 4 days training together so they could be very rusty combination however fitness levels should be alright as majority of the team would of been unloved in the SL play offs in late September/early October.

Slightly leaning toward England however wouldn’t be surprised with a Tonga win. If I was betting, I’d go the +5.5 points with Tonga.

A lot of pressure on England this series as they are essentially playing what is deemed to be 5th ranked team in the world according to the international rankings (England are ranked 4th) and the lowest ranked of the ‘big 5’ nations. I imagine that England losing the series at home would by default bump England down to 5th in the world rankings which I assume would be the first time in the history of the sport they have fallen that low.

A lot to play for so can’t wait!!

 

 

[Mojo]

This is shocking and I'm also not surprised 

[Harry Stottle]

On 20/10/2023 at 12:14, Dunbar said:

I would like to see two specialist props on the bench and I like McMeeken over Knowles as he is cover for front row and the edge in case we have to shift an edge player into the centre following injury.

Most definatley need two specialist props on the bench, neither of your selections of Hill and Burgess are big minute players, Hill understandably so as he is due to recieve his OAP in the next couple of years , serously though he has been a great player but can't help but feel it is time for Wane to give way to younger blood especially with the International programme scheduled in the next couple or three years.

Now I know how much you like your Stats Dunny so for the two players mentioned here they are from last years WC :-

Chris Hill played 5 average time on the field 39.8 minuets.

Tom Burgess played 5 average time on the field 35 .8 minuets.

Edited October 22, 2023 by Harry Stottle

[Harry Stottle]

On 20/10/2023 at 22:41, UTK said:

I think Mr Wolfe has missed a trick and done England a favour by leaving out  Tom Amone and John Asiata from the 17, I will honestly say that I never witnessed an opposition prop better Amone all season, and no other 13 came even close to Asiata for organising, ball distribution and defence, both thoroughly deserved their selection on this years Dream Team.

So being an England fan thanks Mr Wolfe, you have given England much less to contain and think about.

[Harry Stottle]

1 hour ago, Mojo said:

This is shocking and I'm also not surprised 

With the Tongan Population in NZ that is a surprise, maybe because it is on the BBC over here and Sky NZ have no contract with them?

[GUBRATS]

8 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

I think Mr Wolfe has missed a trick and done England a favour by leaving out  Tom Amone and John Asiata from the 17, I will honestly say that I never witnessed an opposition prop better Amone all season, and no other 13 came even close to Asiata for organising, ball distribution and defence, both thoroughly deserved their selection on this years Dream Team.

So being an England fan thanks Mr Wolfe, you have given England much less to contain and think about.

Tom perhaps Harry , but John has played both for Tonga against Samoa and Samoa against Tonga , and given his late season injury I'm fine with him having an extended break to be ready to lead us to next year's GF

[JM2010]

41 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

Most definatley need two specialist props on the bench, neither of your selections of Hill and Burgess are big minute players, Hill understandably so as he is due to recieve his OAP in the next couple of years , serously though he has been a great player but can't help but feel it is time for Wane to give way to younger blood especially with the International programme scheduled in the next couple or three years.

Now I know how much you like your Stats Dunny so for the two players mentioned here they are from last years WC :-

Chris Hill played 5 average time on the field 39.8 minuets.

Tom Burgess played 5 average time on the field 35 .8 minuets.

I would have liked to see how Harvard performed against the Tongans but unfortunately he aggrevated his injury last week

[frank]

Game available on Live Sport Streams.

[Archie Gordon]

We have a game on BBC1 this afternoon but the RFL are advertising it as on BBC Sport. A small thing perhaps but just so amateurish.

[Dunbar]

1 hour ago, Harry Stottle said:

Most definatley need two specialist props on the bench, neither of your selections of Hill and Burgess are big minute players, Hill understandably so as he is due to recieve his OAP in the next couple of years , serously though he has been a great player but can't help but feel it is time for Wane to give way to younger blood especially with the International programme scheduled in the next couple or three years.

Now I know how much you like your Stats Dunny so for the two players mentioned here they are from last years WC :-

Chris Hill played 5 average time on the field 39.8 minuets.

Tom Burgess played 5 average time on the field 35 .8 minuets.

If it were me, I would have one of Hill or Burgess on the bench and try and have one on the pitch at any given point.  I think we will lose a lot of momentum of they are both on the bench.

[The Hallucinating Goose]

Just been out and got my snacks for this game. Got some crisps, some flapjacks, a quiche and a lasagne. Bring on the game! 

[Dunbar]

58 minutes ago, The Hallucinating Goose said:

Just been out and got my snacks for this game. Got some crisps, some flapjacks, a quiche and a lasagne. Bring on the game! 

Is a lasagne is the 'snack' category?

[N2022]

Just hours from the kick off and BBC sport website isn't exactly plugging this live coverage. Even if you go to Rugby League section, the first  Eng article headlines don't mention 'televised' , 4th item down links to how to follow live RL on BBC. Disappointing.