Re: English Fringe Players. : Sun May 01, 2016 2:11 pm  

I'd like us to give first shot to the majority of the successful squad of last November with maybe a couple of exceptions. Smith springs to mind first, despite his decent performance in the last Test I think we have better players who are more deserving of a run. Wouldn't surprise me to see Brown selected considering Betts' involvement and would like Williams to remain in the squad.

Before considering 'fringe' players we have Sam Tomkins, Jack Reed and Sam Burgess to come back in, all of whom are certain starters if they are playing to their capabilities. That said I think Manfredi, Currie and Scott Taylor should be seriously considered for squad selection at this stage. Long season to come though.

Re: English Fringe Players. : Sun May 01, 2016 2:39 pm  

Wigg'n wrote:

Well done Wakefield on producing 3 decent players (plus possible 2 more) in 20-odd years.

Re: English Fringe Players. : Sun May 01, 2016 4:40 pm  

As much as i agree that the likes of Johnstone and Jowett at Wakefield have shown lots of potential, i think it's a poor do when we talk up 18/19 year old kids up as internationals, we are all guilty of it, as fans, let's leave the kids to develop and not throw them straight into an international team on the back of a few good games for their clubs.
If they are good enough then they will still be good enough in 2/3 years time, and despite how good they are they are not bound to have developed mentally or physically by 18.
They have potential yes, but let them develop before talking them up.

Re: English Fringe Players. : Sun May 01, 2016 4:42 pm  

And can Wakefield really claim to have "produced" Danny Brough? yes he was at their academy, but developed in the national leagues at Dewsbury, York and Cas,and also played a major role for Hull before signing for wakey, i wouldn't say that was "producing" a player as such.

Re: English Fringe Players. : Sun May 01, 2016 7:04 pm  

And to answer the question upthread, no, of course Sam Tomkins shouldn't have an automatic place; no-one should. Obviously, it's contingent on him showing full fitness and decent form for his club first, as it would be for any player. As a Wigan fan, I am frankly a bit worried about him after such a long injury, some players are never quite the same after such a lengthy lay-off. But if he is playing OK, it's hard to imagine he won't be in the starting 13.

My original comment was about Widdop, and the assumption that on his current form (and I haven't seen his last couple of games, where I gather he was pretty good) merits an automatic place.

Re: English Fringe Players. : Sun May 01, 2016 7:19 pm  

Wigg'n wrote:

Well done Wakefield on producing 3 decent players (plus possible 2 more) in 20-odd years.

Very funny, almost 62 - 0 funny.

Re: English Fringe Players. : Sun May 01, 2016 7:24 pm  

vastman wrote:

Very funny, almost 62 - 0 funny.

nothing is THAT funny

Re: English Fringe Players. : Sun May 01, 2016 7:27 pm  

moto748 wrote:

My original comment was about Widdop, and the assumption that on his current form (and I haven't seen his last couple of games, where I gather he was pretty good) merits an automatic place.

I haven't watched Widdop but as others have said, Bennett will hold the NRL based contingent in higher regard from the start so we best get used to that.Its more a matter of who will partner Widdop as to whether he will be selected imo, not saying thats right, just the way it is likely to be.Just as others are coming up with names in the front row who are playing well when the Burgess brothers are not in best form, they are nailed on too in the Bennett regime.

Re: English Fringe Players. : Sun May 01, 2016 7:41 pm  

morleys_deckchair wrote:

nothing is THAT funny

61 is funnier. That's how many years it's been since Warrington won a league title

But anyway back to England fringe players...

Re: English Fringe Players. : Sun May 01, 2016 8:02 pm  

meast wrote:

And can Wakefield really claim to have "produced" Danny Brough? yes he was at their academy, but developed in the national leagues at Dewsbury, York and Cas,and also played a major role for Hull before signing for wakey, i wouldn't say that was "producing" a player as such.

Does playing for a teams academy side not count then now? It was obvious in that season when they ran that great Leeds team so close and lost out in the grand final that he was a player with a massive future...he's obviously had issues right the way through his career which is why he took a bit longer to break in at the top level...I watched that academy side home and away and it was pretty obvious then Broughs ability...