Sat 2nd Nov: Men's International: England v Samoa KO 2.30pm (BBC One)

[Hopie]

Just now, Chrispmartha said:

He hasn’t been ‘gash’ all season at all, to say he’s borderline SL shows a lack of understanding IMO.

It seems some just have a weird irrational dislike of him

To be fair, he has done some unlikable things. I just hope he builds his talents rather than his unlikable sides as some others have done in the past. I don't think he is at international level yet but he could get there, and if he doesn't I hope there is someone better to fill the slot on the team sheet, I don't want to see an England team going into an international season with one centre again.

[Dunbar]

3 minutes ago, WN83 said:

He was a handful as he always is. We always need to keep reminding ourselves that he's 20 and hasn't had a full year as a first choice club player yet. You look at him and it's easy to forget that. 

Him and KPP will be a cracking partnership. I'm not one whose when on Bateman, I still think there's plenty for him to offer. I also rate Matty Nicholson very highly and the move to Oz will be good for him. It's looking good in that second row going forward. 

I hope that the Raiders play Nicholson on an edge, I think it was a mistake moving him to 13.

[Chrispmartha]

2 minutes ago, Hopie said:

To be fair, he has done some unlikable things. I just hope he builds his talents rather than his unlikable sides as some others have done in the past. I don't think he is at international level yet but he could get there, and if he doesn't I hope there is someone better to fill the slot on the team sheet, I don't want to see an England team going into an international season with one centre again.

We didn’t with one centre did we.

Hes been a lot better in controlling himself since Brad Arthur came in i think he’ll benefit from his coaching style as he wont take any nonsense 

[Curly perm]

4 minutes ago, MrIzzard said:

Newman has been gash all season he's borderline sl level would be a stand out in the championship but Wane rates him and that's that.

Na, that’s too far but he didn't look international level to me today. Almost found ourselves another try down in the first half when he got handed off and ego / ill discipline meant he chased his opposition number into the middle of the pitch, leaving gaps on the edge.

I haven’t seen much of him this season but, from today, seems the old tag of being too much of an individual still applies. 

[WN83]

5 minutes ago, Chrispmartha said:

The coaching at Leeds has been pretty shambolic at Leeds for a while with quite a few of the talented younger players underachieving- hence the total lack of international representation for a fair few years.

Harry seems to be getting a lot of stick on here for some reason but he has been solid in all his last international appearances (this year and last year) his defence was not as bad as being made out IMO.

Threatening with the ball but work to do without it is how I saw it. I've been happy enough with Newman overall this last two years for England. He won't take a backwards step and Wane will rate that and we'll need to have aggressive intent against the Aussies but they'll burn him if he doesn't tighten up in defence. Working under Brad Arthur won't hurt him. 

[WN83]

3 minutes ago, Dunbar said:

I hope that the Raiders play Nicholson on an edge, I think it was a mistake moving him to 13.

 

You'd imagine they will. Smithies hasn't got the pace to play in the second row, so you'd think Nicholson fights it out to replace Whitehead. 

[Just Browny]

13 minutes ago, Dunbar said:

I hope that the Raiders play Nicholson on an edge, I think it was a mistake moving him to 13.

He wore the no. 13 shirt for Warrington but hasn't played there this season. Currie has been loose all year; Nicholson played down the right hand side with Tai and Thewlis until Fitzgibbon got injured, then switched to the left when Bateman came in.

Edited November 2, 2024 by Just Browny

[StandOffHalf]

26 minutes ago, MrIzzard said:

Newman has been gash all season he's borderline sl level would be a stand out in the championship but Wane rates him and that's that.

I'm not really a fan of Newman's conduct in many instances - Wardle and Farnworth are also miles better centres at the moment - but this is over-the-top.

Newman is a good player, but one who needs to focus on his defence and his temperament.

Edited November 2, 2024 by StandOffHalf

[Chrispmartha]

Just now, StandOffHalf said:

I'm not really a fan of Newman's conduct in many instances - Wardle and Farnworth are simply miles better centresa at the moment - but this is over-the-top.

Newman is a good player, but one who needs to focus on his defence and his temperament.

As I say his temperament has been vastly improved since Arthur came in, he’s also been pretty levelheaded under Wane.

Harry wants to win, he’s been unfortunate that he’s been in a Leeds side not doing much of that since he broke through on top of the injuries he’s had.

 

[StandOffHalf]

2 minutes ago, Chrispmartha said:

As I say his temperament has been vastly improved since Arthur came in, he’s also been pretty levelheaded under Wane.

Harry wants to win, he’s been unfortunate that he’s been in a Leeds side not doing much of that since he broke through on top of the injuries he’s had.

 

That's good to hear.

I hope he can channel that competitive spirit in the right direction in 2025 and beyond, because he is certainly a dangerous player when on form and in the zone.

[northamptoncougar]

That’s a fair point, I remember watching a few games where it was even money that Newman would actually finish the 80 such were his injury issues.

[Exiled Wiganer]

I thought that Newman was fine in both games. Wardle is a different level altogether, but he did fine. None of our players looked out of place. Oddly enough, I was reflecting on how certain I was a few years ago that Gildart and Percival would be nailed on as our centres. On Farnworth, I thought he moved to the Dolphins to play full back. I think that could work, especially as Wardle is also a natural left centre. There are some excellent young centres aside from Newman, so some day one day he may displace Welsby. The future is bright. 

[Mojo]

Even tho I support the Samoan team I think the English deserved to win both tests. They played well, and it's good for RL that England won because if they lost to "that" Samoan team it wouldn't be a good look for England. When the samoan boys comes back next year, I can only name 4 or 5 players in the current team that would make the squad. I thought Farnworth was outstanding. The samoan front rows did a better job then the first game but I don't see any of them making the samoan team next year except for maybe May. I don't see the hype in Newman tbh I saw a post in here saying he's close to Farnworth which is outrageous! Farnworth might be the best center in the world next to Critchon and Holmes. Nanai defence was terrible, especially for someone that gets picked in Origin every year. The samoan right side got exposed quite a bit thanks to Farnworth. Overall I'm glad there's no game 3

[Mojo]

England sure ain't helping with the growing of the international game especially after begging samoa to come on this tour. This is crazy

 

 

[George Watt]

13 hours ago, DavidM said:

Wests so he won’t be getting 5 in a row 

West Tigers have the last 3 wooden spoon awards in the NRL and are hoping Luai can help them avoid the Four-peat. Early betting markets predict he should do that.

[NRLandSL]

3 hours ago, Mojo said:

England sure ain't helping with the growing of the international game especially after begging samoa to come on this tour. This is crazy

 

 

Pretty stupid thing for Shaun Wane to say. England need a competitive rival in Europe. France are not far off being that. They must play France as much as possible in order to help them grow. Not sure why they couldn’t play them this post season given the Samoa series was only 2 matches.

[NRLandSL]

7 hours ago, Mojo said:

Even tho I support the Samoan team I think the English deserved to win both tests. They played well, and it's good for RL that England won because if they lost to "that" Samoan team it wouldn't be a good look for England. When the samoan boys comes back next year, I can only name 4 or 5 players in the current team that would make the squad. I thought Farnworth was outstanding. The samoan front rows did a better job then the first game but I don't see any of them making the samoan team next year except for maybe May. I don't see the hype in Newman tbh I saw a post in here saying he's close to Farnworth which is outrageous! Farnworth might be the best center in the world next to Critchon and Holmes. Nanai defence was terrible, especially for someone that gets picked in Origin every year. The samoan right side got exposed quite a bit thanks to Farnworth. Overall I'm glad there's no game 3

4-5 ? Tuivasa-Shock, Mariner, Talagi, Luai, Tago, May, Nanai, Blore, Leilua, Chan Kum Tong, and maybe Skelton, Tevaga and Molo. Majority of this side will play next year and in the future.

Edited November 3, 2024 by NRLandSL

[Harry Stottle]

13 hours ago, WN83 said:

Farnworth was unplayable. Early days in an England shirt but he looks like he could end up being spoken of as one of the best backs we've had. His career path in the NRL will be interesting. Talk of him wanting to play at fullback and watching how he drifts around and causes problems every time he touches the ball, I'd like to see how it would work out. 

I'll have to watch the game back but I was pretty happy with Welsby watching it live. He's not going to rip through teams himself but he takes some nice options with the ball and tests defences. He's not had his best season but he's a class act. 

Young Jack has not been the same in my opinion since he suffered that injury in the opening minutes in the game at Leigh at the end of July which sidelined him for a few weeks, he seemingly does not favour putting himself in positions he did prior to his injury like taking on those tight gaps and using his pace and footwork to get through which was a big part of his game and made him a 'standout', maybe the off-season will do him some good with his offensive work, saying that he does not fill me with confidence as a defensive full back, really looking forward to see how he plays in the Ashes next year that will either boost him as World Class or otherwise for his reputation.

[Just Browny]

30 minutes ago, NRLandSL said:

4-5 ? Tuivasa-Shock, Mariner, Talagi, Luai, Tago, May, Nanai, Blore, Leilua, Chan Kum Tong, and maybe Skelton, Tevaga and Molo. Majority of this side will play next year and in the future.

It is a standard TRL trick to claim you've got 12+ first teamers out in a game you've lost, only to dig down a bit and find out the list comprises Joe Bretherton and a few randoms.

[MattSantos]

I've had time to reflect and i still think they played just ok. A good foundation, but a lot to work on. A lot. 

The back three were decent, though maybe lacked a bit of punch starting our sets. Forwards were definetly in the collision and laterally ok in defense, though lacking that desperation at times. My grudge is the halves and whilst their were obvious examples of skill, I wasn't impressed with their control or how little they squared their hips and ran the ball. Everything a bit too out the back which is nice when it's quick, but just needs a better balance. 

Context. Samoa weren't great at all and you could tell they were missing at least 4 starters. We should have been dominant in every facet as Australia will be next week. I expect them to absolutely pump Tonga, especially if Tonga play like they did yesterday.

 

[Harry Stottle]

1 hour ago, NRLandSL said:

Pretty stupid thing for Shaun Wane to say. England need a competitive rival in Europe. France are not far off being that. They must play France as much as possible in order to help them grow. Not sure why they couldn’t play them this post season given the Samoa series was only 2 matches.

Sorry don't agree, England need to look after themselves and play the best teams they can, playing the French regularly is no preparation for meeting those SH teams, in any team sport you have to play the better teams or have more competitive fixtures to better yourself, with the best will in the world France don't offer that, completely agree with Mr Wane a Roses series could provide that but it all depends on how our clubs would react to it.

[dkw]

18 minutes ago, MattSantos said:

I've had time to reflect and i still think they played just ok. A good foundation, but a lot to work on. A lot. 

The back three were decent, though maybe lacked a bit of punch starting our sets. Forwards were definetly in the collision and laterally ok in defense, though lacking that desperation at times. My grudge is the halves and whilst their were obvious examples of skill, I wasn't impressed with their control or how little they squared their hips and ran the ball. Everything a bit too out the back which is nice when it's quick, but just needs a better balance. 

Context. Samoa weren't great at all and you could tell they were missing at least 4 starters. We should have been dominant in every facet as Australia will be next week. I expect them to absolutely pump Tonga, especially if Tonga play like they did yesterday.

 

We keep hearing about missing players for Samoa, but Englamd had some missing too.

[Harry Stottle]

14 minutes ago, Wakefield Ram said:

He's of Cameroonian parents so his parents are African. 

.

Edited November 3, 2024 by Harry Stottle

[Harry Stottle]

15 minutes ago, Wakefield Ram said:

He's of Cameroonian parents so his parents are African. 

.

Edited November 3, 2024 by Harry Stottle

[Harry Stottle]

13 minutes ago, Wakefield Ram said:

He's of Cameroonian parents so his parents are African. 

Yes and those American and Caribbean are from the same African decent. What point are you trying to make Rammy.