[Durham Giant]

: Mon Nov 02, 2009 5:51 pm  

G1 wrote:

Thanks Mark.

There are two issues.

Firstly, too many clubs play non qualified players in the centres, not to mention other positions.

Secondly, the alternatives being suggested simply didn't play as good as Smith during the course of the season and if they're really the big secret to out playing Inglis then they need to up their game.

What I am trying to do is get some recognition that, in all probability, Tony Smith picked and played the best team he could and whilst you can slate player X or Player Z until the teams you support follow the lead set by Leeds and St Helens and start playing and producing young English players then nothing is going to change.

Unless of course people seriously think that if Darryl Goulding had played right centre we'd have beaten Australia.

Well i will raise you LEE GILMOUR and look forward to you trumping that

: Mon Nov 02, 2009 5:59 pm  

Smith didn't pick the best team he could. The likes of Pryce, Burrow, Gilmour and Senior are all better players than those who have replaced them.

He would justify his decision to leave them out on form, yet picked Myler who didn't play much at all past May and Morley whose side limped out of SL without even reaching the playoffs.

: Mon Nov 02, 2009 6:31 pm  

I think the points and issues you raise G1 are spot on, my only other point on the matter is that i really don`t think Lee Smith should of been in there in the first place, having signed for union, once the Grand Final was over it should of been thanks very much Mr Smith go and collect your 30 pieces. I just can`t get my head round why he was selected.

: Mon Nov 02, 2009 6:41 pm  

back to back to back wrote:

All the suggestions are awful and none of them play for leeds.

: Mon Nov 02, 2009 6:43 pm  

Guiseley_Rhino wrote:

We were done on the fringes because they shipped the ball quickly and our middle didn't push hard enough so players like Smith, Mcguire, Briscoe were left against 5 men consistently. Any team would struggle man on man (5 on 5) against Lockyer, Watmough, Inglis, Slater and Hayne, never mind 3 on 5.

Peacock in the right centre was a major error, slow and flat footed. For all his plus points he is not a second rower anymore.

: Mon Nov 02, 2009 6:51 pm  

IMO it's a very very poor backline. It's worst I've ever seen for a GB or England side.

The centre postion is going to be big problem for England over the next few years.

Lee smith has had good season and should be centre IMO if the team is being picked on form which I believe tony smith has said. Lee smith was poor on Saturday which could happen to any player as even the best players have shockers.

If I was in smith shoes I would have picked senior and gleeson as my centres because I think they are best all round English centres.

I would have also played pryce on the wing.

Re: Potential English Centres : Mon Nov 02, 2009 7:11 pm  

G1 wrote:

Lots of complaining about Lee Smith not being up to the task.

How could your club have helped?

We can't really. Smith would have been the first choice if he wasn't going to union. Could Gleeson have done a job? I've seen nothing from him to suggest he can and also Smith shipped him out of Warrington which also suggests he doesn't rate him or regards his inclusion as being detrimental to the squad. Not an unreasonable assumption given he was shipped out of Saints too.

Re: Potential English Centres : Mon Nov 02, 2009 7:14 pm  

McClennan wrote:

We can't really. Smith would have been the first choice if he wasn't going to union. Could Gleeson have done a job? I've seen nothing from him to suggest he can and also Smith shipped him out of Warrington which also suggests he doesn't rate him or regards his inclusion as being detrimental to the squad. Not an unreasonable assumption given he was shipped out of Saints too.

Didn't gleeson captain England while tony smith was in charge?

: Mon Nov 02, 2009 7:28 pm  

Its already been mentioned, I would have had Leon Pyrce at centre and Ellis the other one, two big centres.

Can,t understand Tony Smiths selection policy, particularly Lee Smith one more game and ceases to be a rugby league player, what long term objective is that.

rl : Mon Nov 02, 2009 7:41 pm  

Smith has selcted Chris Bridge into the squad so why doesn't he use him at centre?
Smith and McGuire got found out defensivly but not as much as Peacock who was too far inside, then too slow to cover where he should have been.
Smith and McGuire were left stranded by Peacock's absence.
Next week we need two backrowers who are big enough and fast enough to do the job. Ellis was great, so who should the other backrower be who can provide that defensive cover that's needed?
Find a good one and put Bridge at centre with Fox on the wing.
Bridge can beat a man and Fox is a mile faster than anything the Kiwis have.