Re: England 19-man squad for RLWC Semi Final : Sun Nov 13, 2022 9:36 am  

Watching from quite low behind the sticks it's sometimes difficult to get an overall perspective but I thought:

- we looked disorganised and lacked composure in attack. Under pressure we really missed an experienced organising half. Lomax would have made a huge difference. In a pressure game it showed Welsby isn't an international 6. Not bagging him as he's a great player, but lack of experience and craft showed.

We criminally underutilised Young on the wing. I can't remember any shape on the right to get that side attacking Samoa. Again, lack of direction from the halves.

We resorted too much to one out forward hit ups and made very few offloads. Made it easy for Samoas big middles to read and defend. This may have been a tactic to tire them but wasn't effective. I think speed and accuracy of passing off the floor was poor today. Again, put Roby in and we are a different team.

All in all very frustrating as we played well below potential and made Samoa look better than they were when it really mattered.

Re: England 19-man squad for RLWC Semi Final : Sun Nov 13, 2022 11:06 am  

Really disappointing but I strongly feel the blame should not be put onto Shaun Wane. Maybe Ackers should have been on the bench as an option. But ultimately we lost because of some really poor decision making/lack of concentration from players you wouldn't expect.

Wane can't control Kallum Watkins having his worst game of the tournament after playing so well early on (the dropped ball on the tryline, two poor defensive reads which led to trys). He can't control the Tomkins forward pass, the Welsby fumble, the Radley intercept pass, the simple dropped ball from Dom Young, the Whitehead brain explosion at the end of the 80.

The players cracked under the pressure and blew it.

Re: England 19-man squad for RLWC Semi Final : Sun Nov 13, 2022 1:01 pm  

moto748 wrote:

All I'd criticise Wane for is sticking with MM. Otherwise, as said, the way we went from looking well-drilled and organised to, that, was very disappointing.

And as I was sat at home on my settee, I'm not going to bitch about the crowd. But if it had been held at the DW or Headingley, we'd have probably won that game. Who else could we play at right centre? Wardle?

Wardle playes Left centre.

Re: England 19-man squad for RLWC Semi Final : Sun Nov 13, 2022 1:19 pm  

The next World Cup is in 2025 and that signals a changing of the guard, out with the old (literally) and in with the new. There's only one problem where do we find the new talent to play at international level? I look around Super League and I am struggling to raise a team, hopefully we will see some players come to the fore. There will be yet another review as to why we have failed and, like all the others, it will just gather dust. We need to embrace meritocracy rather than dumbing down our game. Fundamental change within the game is essential let's hope IMG can deliver it.

Re: England 19-man squad for RLWC Semi Final : Sun Nov 13, 2022 2:08 pm  

[quote="Sweaty Betty's"]The next World Cup is in 2025 and that signals a changing of the guard, out with the old (literally) and in with the new. There's only one problem where do we find the new talent to play at international level? I look around Super League and I am struggling to raise a team, hopefully we will see some players come to the fore./quote]

I couldn't agree with that. Out of the squad that played its likely the end for Tomkins, Cooper, Mcilorum and Hill. Possibly Whitehead but suspect he could go for a couple more years. The rest still have much more in them.

In terms of potential players to come in - Lomax, Walmsley and Farrell all still have mileage to provide that experience. Additional young players could include Newman, KPP, Havard, Dodd, Smithies, Nicholson, Gannon, Lewis, Wardle, Murphy etc.

Re: England 19-man squad for RLWC Semi Final : Sun Nov 13, 2022 3:11 pm  

Looking forward it is 9 that worries me. I think we are in good shape in other positions but I just see at the moment a lack of quality at 9.

Lots of expectation around Bailey Hodgson and hopefully he can break through in the next 2 years at Newcastle.

Re: England 19-man squad for RLWC Semi Final : Sun Nov 13, 2022 3:43 pm  

jonh wrote:

Looking forward it is 9 that worries me. I think we are in good shape in other positions but I just see at the moment a lack of quality at 9.

Lots of expectation around Bailey Hodgson and hopefully he can break through in the next 2 years at Newcastle.

We have no depth and much less quality than the Australians.

Re: England 19-man squad for RLWC Semi Final : Sun Nov 13, 2022 3:50 pm  

[quote="MadDogg"]
Tom Burgess will be 35, Watkins 34, Lomax 35, Walmsley 35, Sneyd 34, Whitehead 35, Farrell 35. Not a chance they could lift the WC in France. We need to find a way of bringing more players through the academy. A starting point would be for all teams to run an academy. Doing the same as we do now and expecting a different result is mental.

Re: England 19-man squad for RLWC Semi Final : Sun Nov 13, 2022 8:16 pm  

From the outset Waney selected Watkins at right centre. Rowley knows he's can't hack it there so plays him second row where he's had a very good season. Trouble for Shaun was that there wasn't an Intl English right centre either in the NRL or SL so he played Watkins there. Didn't take long for him to get found out in the semi.

As for the future it isn't that bad. Welsby can play full back. Young and Makinson will be available. At centre there's Newman, Wardle, King and Percival. Williams will be available as will Dodds and Smith. That's of course if they are all fit!

As for forwards, there do seem to be plenty young big forwards around but we will;l need two ball players probably at 9 and 13.

Re: England 19-man squad for RLWC Semi Final : Sun Nov 13, 2022 9:04 pm  

Father Ted wrote:

From the outset Waney selected Watkins at right centre. Rowley knows he's can't hack it there so plays him second row where he's had a very good season. Trouble for Shaun was that there wasn't an Intl English right centre either in the NRL or SL so he played Watkins there. Didn't take long for him to get found out in the semi.

As for the future it isn't that bad. Welsby can play full back. Young and Makinson will be available. At centre there's Newman, Wardle, King and Percival. Williams will be available as will Dodds and Smith. That's of course if they are all fit!

As for forwards, there do seem to be plenty young big forwards around but we will;l need two ball players probably at 9 and 13.

That backline will not worry the Aussies. Makinson will be 34 and I am not sure that his body can take what he puts it through for another three years.