England Selection : Fri Apr 14, 2023 12:09 pm  

Some interesting selections in there - certainly a freshining up of the squad. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/65267187 Be interesting to see who makes the team, a really good chance for some to stake a claim going forward.

Some interesting selections in there - certainly a freshining up of the squad. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/65267187 Be interesting to see who makes the team, a really good chance for some to stake a claim going forward.

Re: England Selection : Fri Apr 14, 2023 12:18 pm  

Looks like the end for guys like Hall, McIlorum and Watkins, which is probably the right call. I’m surprised on that score, that Hill is in but you do want to win games in the here and now I guess and there are some young props in there.

From our perspective I really hope we see our lads push their cases tonight and going forward. They’re not very far off at all guys like Marshall, Smith, Havard and Smithies and just need to really push hard now for that next step. It feels like they’re getting towards that point now.

Re: England Selection : Fri Apr 14, 2023 4:05 pm  

i just love all the facebook international coaches

he favours Wigan and only picks his favourites, then on a post about Saints players being selected, why have they been selected as they arent good enough / not playing well etc etc

i'm so glad i dont have that job and hope SW doesnt read any of the rubbish spouted

Re: England Selection : Mon Apr 24, 2023 12:25 pm  

7 out of 8 Saints players have dropped out and are 'unavailable'. What a surprise.

Re: England Selection : Mon Apr 24, 2023 12:48 pm  

Jack Burton wrote:

7 out of 8 Saints players have dropped out and are 'unavailable'. What a surprise.

Knowles, Makinson, Percy and Walmsley have also dropped out of playing for Saints recently, the lazy so-and-sos.

Dodd hasn't been kicking goals as he's clearly playing injured.

So that leaves two questionable actual drop-outs in Lees and Lomax. Haven't seen why they're not in there but wouldn't have thought Lomax would play anyway given this season's form - expect it would be Williams and Smith on form. Similarly Dodd is miiiiiles off being an international player on this season's form and would not have been in there even if he wasn't injured.

Which leaves Matty Lees - not sure what the rationale is there but suspect it's manufactured given he's about our only prop left.

Fully agreed it's not a good look and, as a big international RL fan, one or two manufacturd drop outs is one or two too many (if that's what it is). But let's not give it the 7 out of 8 nonsense.

As an aside, I was suprirised not to see Lomax retire from international rugby as can't see him being the pick for the next WC and the calendar other than that is a farce.

Re: England Selection : Mon Apr 24, 2023 1:00 pm  

It’s 3 from 4 drop outs from Saints in all honesty and however Saints fans try and defend it, it’s poor form yet again. The Lomax one disappoints me most and I think it’s time for Wane to retire him officially. The commitment isn’t there and that’s fine but just move on.

On the flip side, we’ve got 8 players still left available and that’s something to be proud of. Guys like Marshall and Farrell have not looked 100% at times but will put their hand up. It should be a good opportunity for guys like Havard, Smith and Smithies to show their commitment and hopefully lay a marker.

Re: England Selection : Mon Apr 24, 2023 1:01 pm  

Reckon Lees is the only questionable one, can't see Lomax/Makinson being around for the next WC so not much point picking them anyway and the rest either injured or not ripping up any trees, move along, nothing to see here.

Re: England Selection : Mon Apr 24, 2023 1:03 pm  

7 out of 8 is a disgrace, as is losing 1/4 of the entire squad. I know some are genuine, particularly the ones that didn’t play at the weekend but there’s no way all are.

This is exactly what is wrong with the sport. Our only real chance of growth is the international game.

Re: England Selection : Mon Apr 24, 2023 1:13 pm  

Trainman wrote:

7 out of 8 is a disgrace, as is losing 1/4 of the entire squad. I know some are genuine, particularly the ones that didn’t play at the weekend but there’s no way all are.

This is exactly what is wrong with the sport. Our only real chance of growth is the international game.

It’s 3 from 4 available in reality. Walmsley ruled out weeks ago, Percival is injured for a few weeks, Knowles suspended and if Makinson wasn’t fit enough to play against Wire with so many out, we can take that on face value.

It’s still a 75% pull out rate though, with no obvious issues for any of them in the last game. This has been the Saints way since Woolf came in. They see this as a rest weekend and a way of gaining an advantage over the competition. It’s extremely self serving and is a poor look but when they keep lifting trophies, it won’t bother them.

Re: England Selection : Mon Apr 24, 2023 1:35 pm  

Really disappointing from Saints, Catalan and Toulouse. Particularly with Wellens being involved in the England set up recently.

Any player “injured” for these weeks should be forced to miss the following weeks SL games.

Glad Peet’s approach that he wants our players playing for England.