England finally get a consistent NRL stand off who could be part of the setup for the next decade, but instead choose to start a converted loose forward in Kevin Sinfield. Gareth Widdop is twice the player Kevin Sinfield/Rangi Chase are!



One prop on the bench? Gaz Carvell not used?



It's so frustrating because we actually do have a decent side IMO. Swap Widdop for Sinfield, swap JJB for Gaz Carvell and we have a real shot.

Chase > Widdop

but

Widdop > Sinfield, by a substantial margin.

1 Billy Slater

2 Akuila Uate

3 Willie Tonga

4 Chris Lawrence

5 Darius Boyd

6 Darren Lockyer ©

7 Johnathan Thurston

8 Paul Gallen

9 Cameron Smith

10 Matt Scott

11 Luke Lewis

12 Sam Thaiday

13 Anthony Watmough



Interchange

14 Cooper Cronk

15 Keith Galloway

16 David Shillington

17 Tony Williams

18 Beau Scott

19 Greg Inglis

20 Corey Parker



Is this backline as fearsome as some in the past? Still very good, but one we could get at imo.

No Carvell, and Sinfield still at 6, McNamara is gonna step on a huge McBanana skin soon if this is genuinely what he sees his best team to be. And even if it isnt, and hes still experimenting with this team because he thinks we will walk over Wales, then hes an even bigger fool, because the game after Wales we play Australia and by then we need a team that has a bit of experience playing together (what little you can at international level).



Back on the matter of Carvell for a moment, what does the lad really have to do?? Hes been the best prop behind Graham ALL season pretty much.

Its awful mate!!



What would be wrong with just a simple red v in similar fashion to the old GB jerseys?



Actually, whats wrong with just going back to GB full stop!! I fail to get anywhere near as excited about England v Australia/New Zealand as i ever did GB v Australia/New Zealand. It just isnt the same!

spot on. You forgot to mention swapping McBanana for .. well anyone

uate and tonga have been pretty good every time i saw them last season, boyd is solid but they are lacking morris who would be first choice on one of the wings. think its a pretty good 3 quarter line though and thats without even mentioning the chap at 1

99% of people want Widdop at 6 and Carvell on the bench but I think Macca doesn't want to go with the masses as he needs to try and put his own mark on things.



Sadly his mark is going to lead to us getting walloped at Wembley and follow that up by crashing out against the Kiwi's.



We're finding some handy players by hook or by crook at the moment but we're in desperate need of a good coach.

ahh a clever clogs. Even if sinfield had have scored fifty tries and 50 goals against France it would tell us absolutely shiit all. He has never even shown enough in his natural position internationally never mind at 6. But if you think seeing him against Frnace tells us anything then you've obviously got shiit for brains

.



I would add for what it's worth that Sinfield is a good leader of men and I have a lot of admiration for him at SL level. But an international 6? I don't think so

Correct.



I have no problem with Sinfield being in the 17 but just not as a starting 6 or 13. He could start at 9 or play as cover for 6,7,9 or 13 off the bench but he isn't quick enough to play as a first choice international 6 or big enough to play as a first choice 13.

I agree, said on the Saints board ironically the best thing we can do is promote McBanana, he seems to do some stuff well , like finding players and pushing for the exiles thing, make him manager and find a proper coach who knows how to get the best out of a group of players and is up to date with current tactics

Gareth Widdop - a halfback who is consistent for the team that finished top of the NRL, who is coached by one of the best coaches in the world, who plays alongside some of the best players in the world and faces the worlds best in high intensity clashes every week.



Rangi Chase - plays for Castleford, whose biggest game of the year is against Wakefield.



Ask ANY NRL club who they would have - Rangi Chase or Gareth Widdop - they'd take Widdop every time.



It's a shocking selection to put Sinfield over Gareth Widdop. The bloke faces Darren Lockyer, Jonathan Thurston, Keiron Foran, Benji Marshall every week - get him starting!