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Fringe Player | 1369 | St. Helens |
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| Kings of Rugby:Stu M:Kings of Rugby:Stu M:Kings of Rugby:
Apart from Farnworth and Wardle, I think the England side is pretty poor. Loads of hype, but they actually just aren't that good.
We have better Aussies, playing in SL than some of the "stars" who'll start for England. French over Williams is a perfect example.
I'd rather see the Wigan lads get a rest.
I’m staggered that you can mention Wardle whilst thinking that Welsby, Knowles, Radley, Lewis, Williams, KPP, Nicholson, Thompson and Nsemba “just aren’t that good Of those above, Knowles and Williams are going to the NRL next year, whilst the others all play in the comp bar Welsby, Lewis and Nsemba yet all have NRL clubs chasing them. Thompson also played in the comp and chose Wigan over other NRL clubs What are we talking about here? Being good enough to play in the NRL, or good enough for that top elite bracket of the sport? I picked those two as, imo, they are the only ones that might push for selection in the Australian 17. That's what I mean by just not actually that good. Yeah they can play, but the ones you've listed aren't realistically making it into the conversation about being the best in the world are they? Firstly let me preface this by saying that I rate Wardle. I think he’s probably the best centre in SL. However there is no way he gets into an Australian 17. Not in front of Mitchell, Lomax, Holmes or the likes of Tommy Turbo (can’t be bothered to try and spell his surname) No way at all. And how do we know how good some of our lads are without them playing over there to properly judge? Are you now switching arguments? My original stance was - the lads ultimately aren't good enough. I'm inclined to agree on Wardle and not just because it strengthens my argument either. One player is getting into the conversation about dislodging his opposite Aussie number. We can speculate on how x,y or z would do over there but that's all it is - speculation. The NRL is an overall better competition imo, so I'm just basing my opinion off that. Lewis is going gun-ho over here. I'm not however going to start saying he's better than Cleary. Until they do it over there, that's just the way it is sadly. I’m not switching arguments. I’m saying that a lot of our lads can match it with theirs even if they wouldn’t get in their 17 Look at Queensland and NSW this series. The vast majority of the Aussie team will come from the NSW side yet they were beaten in the series.
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Club Captain | 374 | Wigan Warriors |
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| NickyKiss:tyr:
I have tickets for Wembley and Everton. Wembley is my 50th, so there are 9 of us going, and I'm doing hospitality with my mate at Everton. In all my years of going to internationals I've never seen Australia lose a game live. Honestly, I'll be fairly happy if we can win one game (just hope it's not the one at Headingley if that is the case!) as I think the gulf between them and us remains very wide indeed. That said, we do potentially have a pretty strong team and if everyone is fit and firing, and Australia are a little off their best because of their haphazard preparation, who knows?
Havard doesn't get in the squad on this year's form for me.It's certainly true that Wane is a loyal coach and is prepared to overlook dips in form for players who have done the business for him in the past, as shown by past selections of Harry Newman, for example. But, if they're both fit, it has to be Farnworth and Wardle in the centres, that's surely not even a discussion.
Talk that Haas, Tino and Tabuai-Fidow are going to defect over to Samoa. If that happens, I think the series becomes closer and with the poor preperation you mention and the atmosphere from home advantage, I think you might just get to see us win a game against them! The series will be a tough ask but I think we'll compete really well. In terms of the squad from Wigan's POV, there are a few lads in real danger now of missing out. If I was picking a team tomorrow, Havard and O'Neill wouldn't be in (and they would've been shoe ins for me previously) and Nsemba and Smith are pushing their luck. I'd say Wardle, Marshall and Thompson are all pretty safe from our POV. Smith is lucky that we don't really have a like-for-like replacement for him. Not having that Lewis is a replacement for Smith, he is a 6 every day of the week and twice on Sundays. I will admit that his kicking game seems to improved this season though but he is not an organiser and general like Smith is and Williams have proved in the past that he is less effective when he is forced to play that role too. I do think Smith will have a bit of money in the bank with Wane too after 2 stellar Series for England, being player of the series vs. Tonga and being close to getting it vs. Samoa too in my opinion. He has also proved countless times that he turns up for the big games. The only other option in my opinion is Sneyd but i would rather go with Smith as he is the 7 most likely to line up for us in the world cup.
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| NickyKiss:tyr:
Havard doesn't get in the squad on this year's form for me. It's certainly true that Wane is a loyal coach and is prepared to overlook dips in form for players who have done the business for him in the past, as shown by past selections of Harry Newman, for example. But, if they're both fit, it has to be Farnworth and Wardle in the centres, that's surely not even a discussion.
In terms of the squad from Wigan's POV, there are a few lads in real danger now of missing out. If I was picking a team tomorrow, Havard and O'Neill wouldn't be in (and they would've been shoe ins for me previously) and Nsemba and Smith are pushing their luck. I'd say Wardle, Marshall and Thompson are all pretty safe from our POV. Agree with the above. Smith, O'Neill, Havard and Nsemba really need to up their game in this next section of games in the run into the play offs. Wane is loyal to those who played well in the past, but he's also said he want to see the intensity raised across the boards - and I think one thing we can agree on is that Wigan have not played with much intensity recently. They do have big game experience which is why players like Thompson will get the benefit of doubt and players like Connor are likely to remain outside. Smith is the perfect foil for Williams or Lewis, but he has to start showing last years form pretty soon or I think far to hard to justify his selection. As I'm based in the south I have 3 tickets for Wembley, son and daughter coming. To date they have never seen Wigan lose when they watch a game - but we saw England go out to Samoa in the WC, behind the sticks when they hit the winning drop goal............. As an aside, my daughter has lots of funny conversations about rugby at school causing confusion with the boys when she talks about RL and they have no idea what she's talking about. Funny yet quite depressing at the same time......
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Player Coach | 461 | Wigan Warriors |
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| Door may be open slightly for Marshall, if Johnstone's injury problems don't get resolved by the end of the season. I think Wane would have gone with Young and one of Johnstone or Ashton (so would I to be fair) but Marshall must surely be the next cab off the rank if Johnstone drops out.
I agree re Smith. It's him and Williams or Lewis in the halves - Williams and Lewis doesn't have the right balance, though it wouldn't necessarily be a disaster if, say, Smith were to be injured. If I were picking right now, I would go with Smith and Lewis but I agree with others, Wane will start with Williams and put Lewis on the bench.
Regarding Connor, I like him as a player and he has been very good this season. But age is against him - would we go into a world cup with him next year? - and I think this is factoring into Wane's thinking as well. It's a pity for Connor, as he has shown up well for England when given the chance but I think the ship sailed some time ago. I am only surprised so many people are surprised that Wane didn't pick him in the last squad. Of course, Connor does give some versatility as well, but halfback is his best position and I don't see how anyone can realistically make the case he goes ahead of Lewis, Smith or Williams. I wouldn't want him to play full back or centre against Australia at this stage of his career.
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| and Welsby is 100% to get the FB spot - assuming he recovers in time which is sounding like he will.
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Club Owner | 30105 | Wigan Warriors |
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| tyr:
Door may be open slightly for Marshall, if Johnstone's injury problems don't get resolved by the end of the season. I think Wane would have gone with Young and one of Johnstone or Ashton (so would I to be fair) but Marshall must surely be the next cab off the rank if Johnstone drops out.
I agree re Smith. It's him and Williams or Lewis in the halves - Williams and Lewis doesn't have the right balance, though it wouldn't necessarily be a disaster if, say, Smith were to be injured. If I were picking right now, I would go with Smith and Lewis but I agree with others, Wane will start with Williams and put Lewis on the bench.
Regarding Connor, I like him as a player and he has been very good this season. But age is against him - would we go into a world cup with him next year? - and I think this is factoring into Wane's thinking as well. It's a pity for Connor, as he has shown up well for England when given the chance but I think the ship sailed some time ago. I am only surprised so many people are surprised that Wane didn't pick him in the last squad. Of course, Connor does give some versatility as well, but halfback is his best position and I don't see how anyone can realistically make the case he goes ahead of Lewis, Smith or Williams. I wouldn't want him to play full back or centre against Australia at this stage of his career.
Personally I think the door is borderline off its hinges on Marshall and his chances. Not many Wigan players can be happy with the quality and consistency of their performances this season but I think he's one. Wane usually picks three wingers in his squad and he wants lads who can get your set rolling, with tough carries from your end and Marshall has just got better and better at that as the years have gone by, to the point where now he's just about the best in the league (certainly statistically he's making the most metres, is right up there on an average gain per carry basis). People worry about his lack of height and the potential worry of him facing Lomax or Coates but that would be there with any of our options against those two, even the taller ones. Joe Burgess gets mentioned but he's poor under a high ball and his work rate is nowhere near as high and his average gain is well down on Marshall, Johnstone and Ashton (before his injury).
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