Re: Who justified their selection? : Tue Nov 15, 2016 3:03 pm  

Brenio wrote:

Ignore him.. He's anti anything Widnes. Probably was hoping he'd get smashed by the Ausies everything he had the ball, and could imagine him throwing his can of mild at the telly if they so happen to show Betts in the frame.

In all fairness Brown does lack the long kicking game but his passing skills and dummies are second to none in SL. He showed this against Aus when he sent Hall down the wing and when he nearly broke through after his dummy, plus his dummy against France where he scored. He does lack pace also but I thought when he had the ball he looked dangerous, a lot more so than Gale who doesn't lack effort, he lacks a rugby brain.

Re: Who justified their selection? : Tue Nov 15, 2016 3:16 pm  

Lomax was good.
Hall and McGilvary were very good with the small amount of ball they had.
Percival and Watkins were fairly bobbins when they actually got the ball passed to them but most of the time they weren't passed to.
Widdop was boring but fine for me, Williams should partner him but Bennett doesn't seem to think two Stand-offs should be playing together, Gale and Brown were poor.

Hodgson was extremely underwhelming, Clark was criminally underused and when used against the Kiwis was used at the wrong time.
Graham and Hill were fine.
Bateman and Whitehead were very good, Cooper was good, the Burgess twins looked like they were playing with lead weights strapped to their legs, Sam Burgess was rubbish.

None of them, to a man, were aggressive enough though.

Going off that showing i'd have Clark and McIlorum as the two hookers next year but Hodgson will probably dance around the tidy NRL rucks again next year and get himself picked again and will then do nowt in the WC with the untidy rucks that only having one ref allows.
I reckon Hardaker will be in contention (although i think Lomax is a really good player) again.
If Taylor and Watts have a good season there's no reason why they should push for the squad and Currie and Ward (who are far far more mobile and more skillful than the Burgess twins will be in contention.
I've got a feeling Sam Tomkins legs have gone but if he manages to get himself fit he'd be a good shout for the squad.
Farrell is a penalty machine in SL but he's very very effective with ball in hand.
Manfredi is a very impressive player too.
Hopefully Dec Patton can push on next year too.

Re: Who justified their selection? : Tue Nov 15, 2016 3:24 pm  

Watching Brown at club level it is quite obvious that kicking is not is strong suit so I wasn't surprised by the lack of decent kicks from him. He is a "take the line on" type of halfback. His best kicking game is when we are well inside the opposition half and he can look up and find a runner in space. He also is quite dependable in defence as he doesn't go hiding like alot of halves do. It was no coincidence that the Ausies targeted Williams when Brown went off and subsequently the floodgates opened. Not Williams fault but they were having no luck with Brown on cause he was better and more vocal at organising the defence on our left.

Re: Who justified their selection? : Tue Nov 15, 2016 5:49 pm  

Brenio wrote:

Ignore him.. He's anti anything Widnes. Probably was hoping he'd get smashed by the Ausies everything he had the ball, and could imagine him throwing his can of mild at the telly if they so happen to show Betts in the frame.

Oh look, another poster who gets too sensitive when their player gets criticised.

Re: Who justified their selection? : Tue Nov 15, 2016 5:50 pm  

Brenio wrote:

Watching Brown at club level it is quite obvious that kicking is not is strong suit so I wasn't surprised by the lack of decent kicks from him. He is a "take the line on" type of halfback. His best kicking game is when we are well inside the opposition half and he can look up and find a runner in space. He also is quite dependable in defence as he doesn't go hiding like alot of halves do. It was no coincidence that the Ausies targeted Williams when Brown went off and subsequently the floodgates opened. Not Williams fault but they were having no luck with Brown on cause he was better and more vocal at organising the defence on our left.

Id also add that in Williams defence, it is hard to defend in that part of the pitch, let alone when thrown on at halfback, next to another rookie, trying to get up to speed with the Aussies seizing the game.

Re: Who justified their selection? : Tue Nov 15, 2016 5:54 pm  

Barrie's Glass Eye wrote:

Id also add that in Williams defence, it is hard to defend in that part of the pitch, let alone when thrown on at halfback, next to another rookie, trying to get up to speed with the Aussies seizing the game.

It was very bizarre of Bennet to bench Williams for most of the game, then bring him on when the game was pretty much lost and the floodgates had already opened.

Re: Who justified their selection? : Tue Nov 15, 2016 6:21 pm  

Who was good

Lomax
Mcgillvary
Hall
Williams
Hill
Graham
The Bugesses (though not their best still good)
Hodgson. Tried too hard maybe but good

Percival was ok, just
Bateman was ok, just
Widdop was ok, he isn't flashy but he is very steady

Watkins never been good enough. Looks great being put into a gap. Knows nothing about centre play

Whitehead. Mediocre and anonymous. Half a dozen better choices

Gale. Out of his depth
Brown. Should have been in the England camp 5 years ago. Too slow now

Watching the Aussies game back again we weren't terrible, just dumb mistakes those players don't make usually

Re: Who justified their selection? : Tue Nov 15, 2016 6:34 pm  

McGillvary, Hall, Williams, Lomax, Graham, rest were garbage IMO.

Re: Who justified their selection? : Tue Nov 15, 2016 7:21 pm  

I think all justified their selection, some are clearly the best option we have and didn't disgrace themselves, the rest played to their potential. Only possible exceptions are Gale who didn't impress and Brown who didn't take an unexpected chance.

Lomax did well but might struggle to keep out Tomkins and Hardaker if they can get anywhere near their best. Percival will probably keep the shirt because their isn't anyone else.

Re: Who justified their selection? : Tue Nov 15, 2016 7:46 pm  

Willzay wrote:

Oh look, another poster who gets too sensitive when their player gets criticised.

Not being too sensitive at all. there were 17 players with England shirts on who were not good enough and the only one you could single out and name call was Brown. Grow up

Its been 37 years since Widnes beat Wakefield at Wembley, time to move on and let it go.