Re: England Squad : Tue Oct 17, 2023 12:14 pm  

CobraCraig wrote:

As much as I love Marshall he’s behind Johnstone, Makinson and Young, he’s probably 4/5th choice winger with Handley. Smithies again I don’t think is a travesty he hasn’t got ahead of Knowles and Radley although he can’t be far behind Knowles in the pecking order and Smith and Minchella not a million miles back. KPP I presume is injured or not available, no way would he not get in, especially with Currie in the squad or even at prop ahead of Hill.

Marshall ahead of Johnstone and Makinson for me. I get people have different opinions, but Marshall is better imo. Makinson had been injured for the majority of the season and has he really been that good when he's played? Johnstone has had a great season, but Marshall has had a great couple of seasons. He deserves it.

Brad O'Neill is another. He's just started 9 for the champs in the GF, but he's missed out to Clarke who's hardly set the league on fire. Didn't he get dropped at one point for Wire?

Seems like Wane has his favourites really and weirdly they aren't players who currently play for Wigan.

Re: England Squad : Tue Oct 17, 2023 12:15 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

Who is injured Stu? Batchelor and Percival are 2 I presume and then are we talking Walmsley? I guess Lomax has got better things to do as is usually the case.

Yeah those two and its clear to see from his end of season performances that Walmsley was nowhere near 100% fit so its probably been decided that he'll have a full off season to recover. And to be honest if Wane is indeed using this series as building for the future then Walmsley is not the answer long-term.

I don't know the full ins and outs but I'm led to believe that there is a bit of beef between Lomax and England so I'm not even sure he would've been selected anyway. Its been confirmed though that he had been playing with broken ribs.

Re: England Squad : Tue Oct 17, 2023 12:16 pm  

sergeant pepper wrote:

Marshall ahead of Johnstone and Makinson for me. I get people have different opinions, but Marshall is better imo. Makinson had been injured for the majority of the season and has he really been that good when he's played? Johnstone has had a great season, but Marshall has had a great couple of seasons. He deserves it.

Brad O'Neill is another. He's just started 9 for the champs in the GF, but he's missed out to Clarke who's hardly set the league on fire. Didn't he get dropped at one point for Wire?

Seems like Wane has his favourites really and weirdly they aren't players who currently play for Wigan.

Have to say I think Marshall has been unlucky. He's been superb this season.

Re: England Squad : Tue Oct 17, 2023 12:25 pm  

sergeant pepper wrote:

Marshall ahead of Johnstone and Makinson for me. I get people have different opinions, but Marshall is better imo. Makinson had been injured for the majority of the season and has he really been that good when he's played? Johnstone has had a great season, but Marshall has had a great couple of seasons. He deserves it.

Brad O'Neill is another. He's just started 9 for the champs in the GF, but he's missed out to Clarke who's hardly set the league on fire. Didn't he get dropped at one point for Wire?

Seems like Wane has his favourites really and weirdly they aren't players who currently play for Wigan.

Come on, seriously?

Re: England Squad : Tue Oct 17, 2023 12:33 pm  

nathan_rugby wrote:

Come on, seriously?

Quite serious and easily done too.

I don't want to paint Johnstone as a flash in the pan, but what's he actually done before this season? I can give you a list of at least 5 to 10 times Marshall has delivered in BIG games over the last 3 years.

Re: England Squad : Tue Oct 17, 2023 12:44 pm  

nathan_rugby wrote:

Come on, seriously?

Maybe not, but he's certainly been better than Makinson, particularly at the back end of the season. That's nothing against Tommy who probably deserves his place as the incumbent rather than on form. He's never let us down internationally either and we know that Wane often errs on the side of reputation and loyalty. Marshall can count himself unlucky though.

There are a few strange choices in that squad even given Wane's idiosyncrasies. Has Currie had a good season? His own fans seem to think not. Danny Walker too has come in for lots of criticism.

I suppose at the end of the day Waney will always do things his own way. I don't always agree; his penchant for 1 dimensional grafters in the forwards (in his own image if you will) has always been a bit of a bone of contention with me. However, the proof of the pudding and all that...

Re: England Squad : Tue Oct 17, 2023 1:02 pm  

I would also add Newman to the list of surprises and he certainly has not got in on this seasons form.
Minchella would have been a good shout.

Re: England Squad : Tue Oct 17, 2023 1:07 pm  

chapylad wrote:

I would also add Newman to the list of surprises and he certainly has not got in on this seasons form.
Minchella would have been a good shout.

I was going to mention Newman. Given that Waney was very critical of his attitude just a couple of weeks ago it does seem a strange turn around. Possibly Wardle and Farnsworth's injuries have forced his hand somewhat.

Re: England Squad : Tue Oct 17, 2023 1:53 pm  

sergeant pepper wrote:

Marshall ahead of Johnstone and Makinson for me. I get people have different opinions, but Marshall is better imo. Makinson had been injured for the majority of the season and has he really been that good when he's played? Johnstone has had a great season, but Marshall has had a great couple of seasons. He deserves it.

Brad O'Neill is another. He's just started 9 for the champs in the GF, but he's missed out to Clarke who's hardly set the league on fire. Didn't he get dropped at one point for Wire?

Seems like Wane has his favourites really and weirdly they aren't players who currently play for Wigan.

Marshall has certainly been better than Makinson this season but I think Makinson has enough credit in the bank to keep his place.

Re: England Squad : Tue Oct 17, 2023 2:23 pm  

sergeant pepper wrote:

Quite serious and easily done too.

I don't want to paint Johnstone as a flash in the pan, but what's he actually done before this season? I can give you a list of at least 5 to 10 times Marshall has delivered in BIG games over the last 3 years.

Come on, I like Marshall but Johnstone is a better player and more suited to international rugby league take the blinkers off