Re: INT | England RL v Combined Nations RL : Tue Jun 22, 2021 4:58 pm  

I'm quite looking forward to this game. Two relatively evenly balanced teams with lots of players on both sides with something to prove. Lack of preparation could haunt the Combos but I think the addition of unselected English players has given it a bit of edge that wouldn't otherwise be there.

Re: INT | England RL v Combined Nations RL : Tue Jun 22, 2021 5:00 pm  

How come no Saints players in the combined team??

Re: INT | England RL v Combined Nations RL : Tue Jun 22, 2021 5:14 pm  

cheekydiddles wrote:

How come no Saints players in the combined team??

Refused to release by all accounts even though they have no game this weekend.
Would we expect any less of them? Wigan also only three playing rather than the max. five is a bit suspicious.

Re: INT | England RL v Combined Nations RL : Tue Jun 22, 2021 6:10 pm  

The Ghost of '99 wrote:

I'm quite looking forward to this game. Two relatively evenly balanced teams with lots of players on both sides with something to prove. Lack of preparation could haunt the Combos but I think the addition of unselected English players has given it a bit of edge that wouldn't otherwise be there.

I keep harping on about a probables vs a possibles England team something they used to do in Union many years back.
That for me would be very tasty with those not picked by Wane trying to prove themselves such as Connor and Hill.

Re: INT | England RL v Combined Nations RL : Tue Jun 22, 2021 6:49 pm  

The Ghost of '99 wrote:

Refused to release by all accounts even though they have no game this weekend.
Would we expect any less of them? Wigan also only three playing rather than the max. five is a bit suspicious.

We wouldn't have had anyone else picked.

French - injured
Gildart - basically still injured
Hardaker - banned
Manfredi - injured again
Isa - basically still injured

Re: INT | England RL v Combined Nations RL : Fri Jun 25, 2021 6:19 pm  

The Ghost of '99 wrote:

Refused to release by all accounts even though they have no game this weekend.
Would we expect any less of them? Wigan also only three playing rather than the max. five is a bit suspicious.

And now Walmsley and Lomax withdraw on medical grounds.

Re: INT | England RL v Combined Nations RL : Fri Jun 25, 2021 6:50 pm  

What a throughly uninspiring line up.

Re: INT | England RL v Combined Nations RL : Fri Jun 25, 2021 9:03 pm  

Gale gone well

Re: INT | England RL v Combined Nations RL : Fri Jun 25, 2021 10:01 pm  

I actually enjoyed that game.
Not sure what we learned that we didn`t already know as far as England selection goes.
Thought Westerman did ok along with Knowles.
Was disappointed with Ratchford and McShane.
Thought Savelio and Connor went well along with Yates.
Looks like Handley will miss the Salford and Leigh game too.

Re: INT | England RL v Combined Nations RL : Fri Jun 25, 2021 10:06 pm  

I’ve never rated Ratchford. Decent club player but not up to this level for me.

Mik went well I thought, didn’t look out of place. Enjoyable game. Not too bothered about the result, the team will be different at the end of the year if the WC goes ahead.

Shame about Handley, he’s not having any luck this season.

In the end the combined nations selection was quite interesting.