It's easy to say Percival should have played but WB wanted a good defence and no mistakes. The sad thing is he didn't feel Percival or anyone else offered that.

Same with Brown. He didn't have the ball in the right places to do his work. We should have had better options but Williams wasn't up to it so we are left with Brown.



The players that played did their best. Widdop was brilliant at full back. He made mistakes at 6 too.



So close. I thought Burgess had a better game at 13 so it's arguable whether SOL missing made a difference but our attack is better when he is on.

Tom Burgess didn't play as good



I'm no lover of anything Castleford however I think Shenton should have been in the squad

Said he should have been picked before we went. Ateotd if Bennet thinks Percival is undersized at this level and not a great tackler. I think that's where Shenton would have proved the difference, he's a decent sized , good defense and can put his winger away.



Anyway, result apart that was an immense effort from the boys especially the forwards and in defense. But we just failed to convert pressure into points and a few too many silly errors.

I think Sam would have got up and played his best game wherever he played tbh. People have picked him out as not being near his best this WC but fail to mention he was injured minutes into the first game, so it was always going to be a gradual return to form I thought. Like you say, SOL could have potentially created a bit more with his ball-handling skills for the side.



Makes you wonder what a Bennet coached side with Powell as his assistant could have done instead of Betts.

That's a fair comment about Sam B.



Agent in also a good call. Plays left and I think would have done well on that side.

Problem is that was probably his last chance. They need to be grooming a younger one for NZ

I don't think Brown added anything to the attack at all and that was surely his last game in an England shirt.

I thought Gale's kicking game was generally good and he didn't let anybody down.

Bateman at centre didn't work for me. Not once did I seem him make a break and if he had done he is not fast enough. I'm faster then him.

Good effort though.

Awesome game of rugby league that! Whatever the selection opinions people have made the fact is we would have beat the Aussies without the error count. Not one player left that pitch without giving his all and Cameron Smith summed it up at the end when he said that was probably the hardest game he's ever played in.

Agree with this.

Gale improved as the tournament went on and seemed finally to get over playing for the National side, especially his kicking game which had been bang average before the final.

Our left side attack was slow and predictable and Bateman, although he went ok, is just not a centre and Ryan Hall must be hacked off at having to play outside him.

McGillvery was superb and Widdop, although spilling one easy ball, was pure class at FB.

Tom Burgess, although a beast of a prop, spills his load too often or, give away cheap penalties.



Overall though, what an effort.

Everything left on the pitch and the Aussies were rocking at the end, they were knackered but, just managed to hang on.

Never really been a big fan of international rugby league, particularly in the McNamara years, but WC2017 has really caught my imagination. i'll never forget the Samoa vTonga, Tonga v England and final games. I was also impressed with Finn and the Ireland performance, but there must be something wrong with a system that allows a side to advance without winning a game, but denies a side that wins two. I'm looking forawrd to the next WC already. McGilvray and Widdop were the best backs for me and I was greatly impressed with Grahame in the forwards.

Sorry but Gale was a let down for me. His kicking from deep was very good but short kicking game was awful, putting that daft grubber in on tackle 2 with 2 mins left was unforgiveable and didn't really create much ball in hand.

You couldn't knock Widdop, who was outstanding throughout, but the man of the tournament for England for me was Elliot Whitehead.

gale was a let down for Castleford as well in the final series - especially in grand final was no where to be seen - and on Saturday night all England needed was a a little bit of quality in the halfs and they would of won- we were there for the taking-



his big game qualities are now under question. PS why did he kick on the 3rd tackle with a couple of mins to go with England on the attack - that was the game there and then,