The Avenger wrote:
Watkins hasn't played well in an England shirt either in the recent NZ Test series or before it!
He's been no better than Ryan Atkins was but has had far more opportunities as opposed to being written off by the coach like Atkins has been.
I'm not suggesting that Atkins is better than Watkins or that he's international class but Watkins needs to start justifying his status outside of a Leeds Rhinos game.
He scored a fine try in the WC semi i recall so its harsh to say he's done nothing in an England shirt and lets not forget that ripping it up against NZ and OZ, the two finest sides in the world, is not easy.Its also unfair to criticise any of the backs really in this past series, the service was awful throughout.I agree he needs to start showing more in the next few years but he remains the best centre we have by a distance imo.
Oh, and im sure Atkins was cast aside due to snubbing an England call in years gone by, but surely you can't be serious that he has been a contender anyway these last couple of years? even Wire fans were questioning his place in their side last year!