England vs Samoa Series

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

14 hours ago, Dave T said:

Nah, forget charity. Give em a hiding.

Yep you are right let's batter them and send a nice clear message to our Australian overlords 

[JohnM]

Hmmmm. Just about to buy some tickets from the RFL site for the first game at the Brick. It looks like the whole of the west stand is unavailable - hashed out and not selectable. Info, Binky?

[Just Browny]

20 minutes ago, JohnM said:

Hmmmm. Just about to buy some tickets from the RFL site for the first game at the Brick. It looks like the whole of the west stand is unavailable - hashed out and not selectable. Info, Binky?

Wedding scheduled in the function room?

[Archie Gordon]

22 minutes ago, JohnM said:

Hmmmm. Just about to buy some tickets from the RFL site for the first game at the Brick. It looks like the whole of the west stand is unavailable - hashed out and not selectable. Info, Binky?

Not much interest up that way?

[Just Browny]

When is the proper England squad announced?

[sam4731]

On 14/10/2024 at 18:39, Just Browny said:

Wedding scheduled in the function room?

I know we're on a budget but even that would be lazy for pre match entertainment.

[Archie Gordon]

25 minutes ago, Just Browny said:

When is the proper England squad announced?

Was supposed to be today.

[Archie Gordon]

14 hours ago, Archie Gordon said:

Was supposed to be today.

https://www.rugby-league.com/article/63206/england-squad-named-for-samoa-series

No Wardle. Otherwise predictable.

Ticket sales: South Stand at Wigan closed for futher sales - all sold or some cunning wheeze?

[NRLandSL]

13 minutes ago, Archie Gordon said:

https://www.rugby-league.com/article/63206/england-squad-named-for-samoa-series

No Wardle. Otherwise predictable.

Ticket sales: South Stand at Wigan closed for futher sales - all sold or some cunning wheeze?

Minchella is deserving of the spot over Smithies. Also Chris Hall should be no where near the squad. Harrison, Oledzki, Mulhern or Delaney are all far better options.

[Gav Wilson]

I think I'm just going to watch this series on TV. 

[Just Browny]

Wardle must have got one of those Saints type injuries that only got noticed the day after a big match.

It seems an odd squad and I'm glad we aren't going into a World Cup or series against Aus/NZ (don't laugh). Some real quality and depth in some areas, but unconvincing (prop) and lacking in depth (centre, hooker) in others.

[WN83]

A real shame Wardle is injured again for international duty. Echo what's already been said in that Minchella should be in for Smithies and it was probably the time to move on from Chris Hill. The rest of the squad is fine. 

[Dunbar]

I think it is a strong looking squad.

Matty Ashton (Warrington Wolves)

John Bateman (Warrington Wolves)

Tom Burgess (South Sydney Rabbitohs)

Daryl Clark (St Helens)

Ben Currie (Warrington Wolves)

Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins)

Ethan Havard (Wigan Warriors)

Chris Hill (Huddersfield Giants)

Morgan Knowles (St Helens)

Matty Lees (St Helens)

Mikey Lewis (Hull KR)

Liam Marshall (Wigan Warriors)

Mike McMeeken (Catalans Dragons)

Harry Newman (Leeds Rhinos)

Junior Nsemba (Wigan Warriors)

Kai Pearce-Paul (Newcastle Knights)

Victor Radley (Sydney Roosters)

Harry Smith (Wigan Warriors)

Morgan Smithies (Canberra Raiders)

Luke Thompson (Wigan Warriors)

Danny Walker (Warrington Wolves)

Jack Welsby (St Helens)

George Williams (Warrington Wolves)

Dom Young (Sydney Roosters)

[JM2010]

32 minutes ago, WN83 said:

A real shame Wardle is injured again for international duty. Echo what's already been said in that Minchella should be in for Smithies and it was probably the time to move on from Chris Hill. The rest of the squad is fine. 

I agree that Minchella should be in the squad over Smithies on this season’s form. Radley will be 13 anyway so it probably won’t matter

[StandOffHalf]

I'd have moved on from Hill, and Lees is just a tackler. He lacks yards and size internationally. I'd have had Harrison and Mulhern over those two. Both had really good years and deserve the nod.

Newman is fortunate IMO. He'll be starting alongside Farnworth, which is exciting on paper. He has a lot to do to deliver on his potential though.

Smithies is there because of the Wigan link. Minchella was great for KR in 2024, and probably deserved the nod over the Raiders man. A toss-up though.

[WN83]

3 minutes ago, JM2010 said:

I agree that Minchella should be in the squad over Smithies on this season’s form. Radley will be 13 anyway so it probably won’t matter

Full credit to Radley, there is no doubting this lads commitment to the shirt. He can't be 100% right after that injury he suffered and you'd imagine he's playing through the pain barrier to take his part in the squad. 

Minchella is so unlucky that we have 4 or 5 really good loose forwards. Radley is obviously class, Knowles was back to his best towards the end of the season and Smithies has had a good season for Canberra. I'm a huge Smithies fan and stuck up for him on here many times but I do feel Minchella warranted a spot and it would've been Smithies place I'd have given him. In truth, I don't think Smithies will get a game and the same probably would've stood for Minchella, so it likely matters very little. 

[Exiled Wiganer]

Like many others, the conspicuous absentees for me are Wardle and Minichella (sp?), whereas surely we have a better option than Hill. I see someone made an unsubstantiated accusation against Wardle feigning injury. On err zero evidence. 

[bratman]

Very surprised no Minchella 

[WN83]

9 minutes ago, Exiled Wiganer said:

Like many others, the conspicuous absentees for me are Wardle and Minichella (sp?), whereas surely we have a better option than Hill. I see someone made an unsubstantiated accusation against Wardle feigning injury. On err zero evidence. 

I can't remember exactly what area he grabbed (think it may have been his shoulder) but I commented to a mate at the GF that Wardle looked to have hurt himself and I said I hoped that didn't mean another international absence. It might not be related but there was something wrong at that point. 

 

[Agbrigg]

Chris 'chuffin' Hill. On this seasons form I would pick Liam Watts before him , plus many others.

[EastLondonMike]

Disappointing for Wardle. He's progressed nicely this season and would have been nice to see him in and England jersey (albeit a poorly designed one  ).

We seem to lack those stand out front row forwards we've always been blessed with, but still, the starting 13 will be strong enough.

[Dunbar]

From the squad, I would go with the following:

1. Jack Welsby

2. Dom Young

3. Harry Newman

4. Herbie Farnworth

5. Matty Ashton

6. George Williams

7. Harry Smith

8. Ethan Havard

9. Daryl Clark

10. Luke Thompson (suspended for the first game)

11. Junior Nsemba

12. Kai Pearce-Paul

13. Victor Radley
 

14. Danny Walker

15. Tom Burgess

16. Mike McMeeken

17. Morgan Knowles

Obviously Mikey Lewis is the one that is difficult to leave out.  If Lewis had dominated the Grand Final then I would have him in but Smith was excellent and the man of the series last time so keeps his spot for me.  I can’t find a bench spot for Lewis as I would rather have a specialist 9 on there alongside 2 middles and a back row option.

Havard and Thompson were immense in the Grand final while the back row is big and mobile and Radley offers a link play.  Burgess plays off the bench most the time these days and adds impact while McMeeken has been good for England and versatile.  I plumped for Knowles over Lees as he can cover 13 as well as the front row and Radley can shift to an edge.

I suspect that Wane will have Hill, Lees and Bateman in his pack though.

[JM2010]

2 minutes ago, EastLondonMike said:

Disappointing for Wardle. He's progressed nicely this season and would have been nice to see him in and England jersey (albeit a poorly designed one  ).

We seem to lack those stand out front row forwards we've always been blessed with, but still, the starting 13 will be strong enough.

Was thinking the same thing about the front row. T. Burgess and Chris Hill are past their prime now and the young props coming through like Delaney and Stephens are still a bit young with not too much in between 

[DavidM]

I’m sure this has been covered and I’ve missed it but why just two tests ?

[Archie Gordon]

Just as we see huge rises in digital engagement and great crowds/viewing figures for SL, we now seem to be presented with the lowest key England Test series ever.