Sat 28th Oct: International: England v Tonga KO 14:30 @ Huddersfield (BBC)

[Dunbar]

I was just having a browse through the game stats on NRL.com.

Pretty even in most areas but three things stand out.

England were ahead in possession, completion and kick metres.

Despite Tonga picking up more run metres, post contact metres and tackle breaks, it was our discipline and game management that came out on top.

As such, I would agree with a few comments earlier that Harry Smith could easily have picked up the player of the match award.

[UTK]

4 hours ago, OMEGA said:

Let’s not forget that England are missing Farnworth, Williams, Young, Warmsley & Wardle

Absolutey. Tonga are missing Taumalolo, Taukeiaho, Tupou, Talakai, Katoa, Fifita, and Luke so the relative omissions are quite comparable between the teams.  

4 hours ago, Dunbar said:

A game plan well executed by the spine and a disciplined and hungry defence is the difference.  Those things travel well in Rugby League.

It's not as if New Zealand don't see a drop of rain every now and again.

Sure, but they've won by 4 and 10 at home. As Australia have experienced (and GB) that playing Tonga in Auckland is quite a different beast and I don't think the gap that has been established is enough to guarantee a win there. While I would be unsurprised if results were reversed, England could well take a game and would be different prospects with their injured cohort involved - as would Tonga.

Edited October 28, 2023 by UTK

[StandOffHalf]

I think Taumalolo's absence has been immeasurable for MMT. His role as a figurehead and a leader provides a nexus of experience, trust and inspiration that pulls the team together.

[Ragingbull]

The town of Huddersfield have proved week after week, year after year they  have no desire for RL. 

11k today was nothing short of pathetic for international sport. 

One only hopes thats the last time we play an international in  the town .

[Hopie]

3 hours ago, The Future is League said:

England will improve next week and so will Tonga

Shaun Wane knows England can improve and he will make sure they do

I'm not sure they will, I think they were no better this week than last.

Nothing I have seen from Wane shows that he can improve the tactics of the England team, he is good at motivating the team but we need to be better than the sum of our parts and he is yet to help provide that.

[The Masked Poster]

My views on the day. ###### weather, better than expected crowd, great enthusiasm and blowing annoying trumpets from the kids (honourable mention to Dewsbury Celtic here ) Decent game and an England win. 

This group of players deserve more respect, they are young -  and while I've said this before at least 200 times, they look like they could develop into a decent outfit.

Maybe in 2053 when their kids/grandkids get to play Australia on English soil, they will enjoy it. 

[moorside roughyed]

Enjoyed the game today,we got the win. Now onto next week at Headingley. There could've been more in attendance today to cheer the lads. We topped it off with a lovely meal at a pub in Huddersfield so a good day we had .

[Dunbar]

11 hours ago, Hopie said:

I'm not sure they will, I think they were no better this week than last.

Nothing I have seen from Wane shows that he can improve the tactics of the England team, he is good at motivating the team but we need to be better than the sum of our parts and he is yet to help provide that.

I'm not sure I agree with the lack of tactics from England.  While a fast defensive line or good slide is not a tactic, it was clearly well coached.

Where the game plan was obvious was an aggressive kick chase with the catcher under pressure from a bomb and a very committed chase to a long kick to limit the first carry.  For a big team, this means the middles have to work hard to retreat behind the ball.

In attack, I thought we had a clear plan to attack the short side and we created a 3 on 2 and 4 on 3 situation and only poor execution let us down.

In summary, I think there was some evidence of tactical coaching.

Edited October 29, 2023 by Dunbar

[The Masked Poster]

3 minutes ago, moorside roughyed said:

Enjoyed the game today,we got the win. Now onto next week at Headingley. There could've been more in attendance today to cheer the lads. We topped it off with a lovely meal at a pub in Huddersfield so a good day we had .

Fair play on finding a decent meal in Huddersfield

[meast]

4 hours ago, Damien said:

I don't really understand why it went pair shaped for him at Huddersfield but I was delighted when we signed him. It was a position we were desperately weak in and he has everything you want in a centre.

It went pear shaped because he lost his place through injury, couldn't get back in the side and wasn't prepared to fight for his place, his prerogative entirely, had he been patient, he would have got his place back within 2 weeks as Leutele picked up an injury and we brought Toby King in to cover, Jake had already been sent out on loan.

I was verry disappointed to see him leave having watched his rise from the academy and how the Giants stuck by him with his injury setbacks at a young age.

[meast]

It wasn't a great game to be fair but England did what they needed to do, they had far too much for Tonga, I have to say I was a bit disappointed with Tonga, I thought they were pretty poor, maybe that was because England were far too good for them on the day?

Had we not bombed 3/4 good chances it would have been an even more impressive win.

I thought Smith was MOM, he controlled everything, Hill, Burgess and Bateman impressed in the pack, job done for England.

Atmosphere was poor but always is at England games, doesn't help with that racket from the south stand parping away to themselves though.

[meast]

As for the crowd/empty seats, I thought it was quote vibrant, plenty of kids and families seemingly enjoying themselves.

Not sure how Huddersfield as a town can be held responsible for RL fans not filling a ground, but I guess it's just another stick to beat Huddersfield with?

I presume if there isn't a full house at Leeds next week then the same tedious criticism will be levelled at the city of Leeds?

I suppose we could always play test matches at a hole in the ground?

[moorside roughyed]

1 hour ago, The Masked Poster said:

Fair play on finding a decent meal in Huddersfield

[RigbyLuger]

2 hours ago, East Hull Robins said:

Jordan Abdul & Jez Litten would be above those options mentioned for me, accept there’s some slight bias there.

honourable mentions to Jake Connor, Will Pryce, Ryan Sutton, Elliot Minchella

Connor is never going to play for England under Wane.

[The Masked Poster]

9 hours ago, meast said:

As for the crowd/empty seats, I thought it was quote vibrant, plenty of kids and families seemingly enjoying themselves.

Not sure how Huddersfield as a town can be held responsible for RL fans not filling a ground, but I guess it's just another stick to beat Huddersfield with?

I presume if there isn't a full house at Leeds next week then the same tedious criticism will be levelled at the city of Leeds?

I suppose we could always play test matches at a hole in the ground?

Dave T is right, you really do have a persecution complex. 

[Phil]

11 hours ago, Ragingbull said:

The town of Huddersfield have proved week after week, year after year they  have no desire for RL. 

11k today was nothing short of pathetic for international sport. 

One only hopes thats the last time we play an international in  the town .

It’s not a Huddersfield problem it’s an RL problem.

We can’t blame Huddersfield fans alone for not turning out, where was everyone else? Huddersfield has excellent transport links to the rest of the north so where was everyone? 

[daz39]

12 hours ago, Bedfordshire Bronco said:

Agree on all of it but next time have that burger van outside the ground like for Giants games ...the chips from there are nice 

I asked our club about this and they told me they've had no communication at all from the RFL so had no idea if they'd put anything on, clearly they hadn't which is a shame as i'm sure the fanzone bit would have been well used today.

[GeordieSaint]

1 minute ago, daz39 said:

I asked our club about this and they told me they've had no communication at all from the RFL so had no idea if they'd put anything on, clearly they hadn't which is a shame as i'm sure the fanzone bit would have been well used today.

Pretty criminal. Sounds awful behind the scenes. Why are the RFL running the actual event experience? They are supposed to be a strategic HQ. Delegate to the clubs/partners to run on their behalf… 

[daz39]

12 hours ago, Ragingbull said:

The town of Huddersfield have proved week after week, year after year they  have no desire for RL. 

11k today was nothing short of pathetic for international sport. 

One only hopes thats the last time we play an international in  the town .

While ignoring all the great crowds that have attended games there in the past?

Year after Year, are you sure?

[dkw]

10 hours ago, RigbyLuger said:

Connor is never going to play for England under Wane.

Rightly so.

[daz39]

12 hours ago, The Masked Poster said:

Fair play on finding a decent meal in Huddersfield

Why, are the many great restaurants and eateries usually closed when you try?

[doc]

36 minutes ago, Phil said:

It’s not a Huddersfield problem it’s an RL problem.

We can’t blame Huddersfield fans alone for not turning out, where was everyone else? Huddersfield has excellent transport links to the rest of the north so where was everyone? 

Could it be that Tonga are not a great draw?

I thinking that the Samoa series will be held at  Batley, Dewsbury and Wakefield.

[Guest]

10 hours ago, meast said:

As for the crowd/empty seats, I thought it was quote vibrant, plenty of kids and families seemingly enjoying themselves.

Not sure how Huddersfield as a town can be held responsible for RL fans not filling a ground, but I guess it's just another stick to beat Huddersfield with?

I presume if there isn't a full house at Leeds next week then the same tedious criticism will be levelled at the city of Leeds?

I suppose we could always play test matches at a hole in the ground?

Odsal?

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

24 minutes ago, daz39 said:

I asked our club about this and they told me they've had no communication at all from the RFL so had no idea if they'd put anything on, clearly they hadn't which is a shame as i'm sure the fanzone bit would have been well used today.

It would have been 

Have to say I am not an RFL basher but yesterday was appalling with absolutely zero apart from a small van selling England shirts 

What would it cost / take to bulk buy 300 little plastic England flags to give out to kids and maybe have Rugbee mascot about? Maybe £150 for the flags and a couple of volunteers? 

Or like you say ring Giants and tell them to book thier normal burger van....a five minute call 

Not bashing Huddy by the way...I like the ground 

Like I say I am not an RFL basher but along with most RL fans not caring I am frankly done with travelling 340 miles in total and paying for hotels to be met with apathy for England games 

Put a game in driving distance of me and I'll go again but I won't be bringing my kids or dragging mates/wives with me (or mate's wives)

Edited October 29, 2023 by Bedfordshire Bronco

[The Masked Poster]

2 minutes ago, daz39 said:

Why, are the many great restaurants and eateries usually closed when you try?

Calm down son, it was a joke. I spent several of my hard earned in your city yesterday. I also love the McAlpine, it's a great stadium.