Re: Bennett must be sacked now! : Mon Nov 11, 2019 9:53 am  

Grimmy wrote:

There's not a chance that this would stop anyone going to the NRL IMO. We would have the same players leaving and the GB/England team would fall further behind.

Can we fall any further back? As I said earlier if you want to play for England/GB then you have to play in our domestic competition... no exceptions. The players then have the choice, after all it works in Aus.

Re: Bennett must be sacked now! : Mon Nov 11, 2019 10:28 am  

Grimmy wrote:

There's not a chance that this would stop anyone going to the NRL IMO. We would have the same players leaving and the GB/England team would fall further behind.

Yet the same thing stopped top Aussies coming over here when the NRL come up with the idea

Re: Bennett must be sacked now! : Mon Nov 11, 2019 10:47 am  

hatty wrote:

Can we fall any further back? As I said earlier if you want to play for England/GB then you have to play in our domestic competition... no exceptions. The players then have the choice, after all it works in Aus.

Yes, take out out all NRL players from our squad and we would definitely fall further back, and potentially end up level with Lebanon, Samoa etc depending on injuries, form etc.

The aussies aren't giving up a ton of money to play in the NRL rather than SL, that's a big factor in why it works there. They also have so many quality players that they don't really take a big hit when Barrett or Lyon goes to SL because the player behind him is of a similar calibre. If we could pay our players the same wages as NRL clubs then it could potentially work, but not as it stands with the massive salary cap disparity and how weak the £ is.

Re: Bennett must be sacked now! : Tue Nov 12, 2019 1:40 am  

I made the point that the NRL exodus would not help us at international level several years ago and, by and large, was told I was wrong. My argument then, as it still is now, was that the weakening of our domestic league would negate, and then some, any 'improvement'* in the individual players playing over there. I was right then. I'm still right now.

*As a side note, I'm not sure that the 'improvement' in players playing over there is anything but a myth anyway. Sure, they learn to play well within the confines of NRL structures but that has little to do with being able to perform for England /GB at international level. We have never... and never will... be able to beat the Aussies by playing them at their own game. Again, I said it then and I say it still. A few forwards being able to trundle it up more efficiently is not the answer.

Re: Bennett must be sacked now! : Tue Nov 12, 2019 7:55 am  

Phuzzy wrote:

I made the point that the NRL exodus would not help us at international level several years ago and, by and large, was told I was wrong. My argument then, as it still is now, was that the weakening of our domestic league would negate, and then some, any 'improvement'* in the individual players playing over there. I was right then. I'm still right now.

*As a side note, I'm not sure that the 'improvement' in players playing over there is anything but a myth anyway. Sure, they learn to play well within the confines of NRL structures but that has little to do with being able to perform for England /GB at international level. We have never... and never will... be able to beat the Aussies by playing them at their own game. Again, I said it then and I say it still. A few forwards being able to trundle it up more efficiently is not the answer.

Me too, Totally agree with everything you say
(In this thread )

Re: Bennett must be sacked now! : Tue Nov 12, 2019 10:39 am  

Given his team selection for PNG, same as the game vs The Kiwis, then for me he needs to go.

Can’t believe the likes of Williams isn’t getting a game and also that Austin isn’t getting a run at 6.

Even more bizarre why call a lad up late, fly him halfway round the planet and then not pick him despite only having 1 fit winger in the squad.

I really really think he is taking the mic now to be honest.

Re: Bennett must be sacked now! : Tue Nov 12, 2019 11:59 am  

Its a complete disgrace if Handley has been asked to fly all the way put there only for him not to play.

Re: Bennett must be sacked now! : Tue Nov 12, 2019 12:14 pm  

https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/reports- ... ole-24326/ Bye bye Wayne

https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/reports- ... ole-24326/ Bye bye Wayne

Re: Bennett must be sacked now! : Tue Nov 12, 2019 12:52 pm  

I think he’s doing it on purpose. Blake Austin had a bit of a mare last week but the effort was there, I’d rather play him that Widdop or Hastings alongside Williams for the last test.

I thought the whole point of a last read rubber test match was to play players who hadn’t featured? He needs to go, he’s taking the Mick.

Re: Bennett must be sacked now! : Tue Nov 12, 2019 1:05 pm  

I have defended Bennett, quite recently in fact and still maintain he took England forward from McNamara. However this GB tour has been an absolute shambolic showing from start to finish. Team selections, tactical output, interviews with the media. All that lays at Bennett’s door and for me it’s been that bad that it warrants a parting of the ways for GB and England. I still maintain he’s a good coach but for whatever reason it just hasn’t worked here and it’s really tainted his reputation. His position is untenable and there’s no way around that.

The aspects out of his control is the marketing, advertisement, social media presence, fixtures, venues, crowds and I’m sure someone could add a few more to that list, and that responsibility lies with the IRFL. It’s looked more like a Community GB tour than an actual GB Lions tour which is an absolute disgrace. There was an open door to walk through, an easy win and once again RL has managed to walk into the bloody wall to the left of it.

We keep saying changes we could make to SL to make RL more popular but it counts for absolutely nothing if, internationally we don’t pull our fingers out our ears and stop whistling pretending all is well.

As for the next England coach there should only be one name on the candidate list and that for me is Shaun Wane.