Re: Is this the worst GB team in history? : Sat Nov 09, 2019 9:49 am  

JEAN CAPDOUZE wrote:

This is emotional, even hysterical, nonsense.

Wayne Bennett has won six (6) Grand Finals in Australia with two (2) different clubs. He is regarded as one of the greatest rugby league coaches of all time. That is why the RFL asked him to coach England and Great Britain.

Gareth Widdop was close to being the winner of the Dally M award in 2018. He was the captain of St. George-Illawarra Dragons, and highly regarded not only by his coach, Paul McGregor, but also by the NRL pundits.

Joshua Hodgson was the co-captain and lynchpin of the successful Canberra Raiders team. He was rated the number three hooker in the NRL (after Cameron Smith and Damien Cook) in 2019 by the NRL pundits.

All of that is irrelevant. What has Wayne Bennett’s previous successes as a coach got to do with his under performance as England and GB coach now? Anyway he last won a Grand Final in 2010, he isn’t a top coach any more.

As for Widdop, when has he ever played well on the International stage? Never is the answer, overrated, offers no creativity and after watching him during this tour, doesn’t offer a kicking game either. He’s also barely played this season and is only picked because he plays in the NRL. Similar applies to Hodgson, it’s incredible that he’s managed to be such a success in the NRL because he’s dire every tine he plays for England and now GB. Both should never play for England again.

Re: Is this the worst GB team in history? : Sat Nov 09, 2019 9:51 am  

Nobody has come up with convincing evidence that this is not the worst GB team ever. I think it is or is very close to being. No coach can work miracles. He’s at least made the defence reasonable. With a couple of potential retirements before RLWC 2021 things look bleak for that tournament.

Re: Is this the worst GB team in history? : Sat Nov 09, 2019 9:53 am  

Charlie Sheen wrote:

He retired because he's injured, so hardly scraping the barrel.

But he HAS retired, sadly.

Re: Is this the worst GB team in history? : Sat Nov 09, 2019 10:03 am  

Charlie Sheen wrote:

Roby
Makinson
S & G Burgess
Watkins
Hardaker
Hall
Percival all injured, I'm surprised the games were as close as they were.

And we pick a second row to play centre and a HB on the wing, while drafting in a new winger for next week.
Watkins in an interesting inclusion on your list and Hardaker should not have been playing centre, he should have played at FB instead of Coote.
Also, Roby, as good as he's been isn't required, we just have to play Clarke for much longer, maybe the full 80 - Hodgson for some reason just doesn't perform at International level.
It may just be me but, the squad seems unsettled and half of them look like they'd rather be somewhere else.

Re: Is this the worst GB team in history? : Sat Nov 09, 2019 10:49 am  

The early 80's were pretty woefull

Re: Is this the worst GB team in history? : Sat Nov 09, 2019 11:19 am  

JEAN CAPDOUZE wrote:

Rubbish.

Are you familiar with Steven MacNamara?

We played much better than this under MacNamara

Re: Is this the worst GB team in history? : Sat Nov 09, 2019 11:21 am  

Grimmy wrote:

We played much better than this under MacNamara

As much as I didnt rate McNamara, Bennett has been far worse, 6 half back and two wingers, errrm, WHAT!?

Re: Is this the worst GB team in history? : Sat Nov 09, 2019 11:33 am  

Can we beat PNG next week ? Don't know what their recent results have been like, but they must fancy their chances.

Re: Is this the worst GB team in history? : Sat Nov 09, 2019 11:38 am  

Woeful yet bizarrly enough we actually had enough chances to win it. Why does he persevere with widdop when he clearly isnt performing and we have William's sat in the stand. The squad selection was ridiculous and the tactics and skills on show In the games have been terrible. Props stood at first receiver in their 10 metre zone late in the tackle count? We need a coach who watches sl week in, week out

Re: Is this the worst GB team in history? : Sat Nov 09, 2019 11:39 am  

IR80 wrote:

As much as I didnt rate McNamara, Bennett has been far worse, 6 half back and two wingers, errrm, WHAT!?

Yep. We can talk injuries but Ratchford, Charnley and S.Tomkins are all available and sat at home whilst aussies are representing the country (badly!)