GB & I Lions tour discussion. : Tue Oct 22, 2019 9:32 am  

Perhaps a daft question, but I don't know the answer....
Why is Tonga an 'invitational' squad and not particularly national?...is the Tongan RL team not nationally recognised along with the Union code in their own country?

Re: GB & I Lions tour discussion. : Tue Oct 22, 2019 11:56 am  

rubber duckie wrote: Perhaps a daft question, but I don't know the answer.... Why is Tonga an 'invitational' squad and not particularly national?...is the Tongan RL team not nationally recognised along with the Union code in their own country? It's because of the fallout the players had with the Tongan RL authorities. They sacked new Saints coach Woolf for a few things including misdirecting and misusing Tonga RL cash. But then the players revolted and refused to play if he wasn't reinstated. He was reinstated by the Rugby League International Federation and the invitational bit was tagged on as it's not an official Tonga RL team. https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/sport/league/tonga-coach-denies-financial-wrongdoing-accusations-tongan-league-saga-rumbles

rubber duckie wrote: Perhaps a daft question, but I don't know the answer.... Why is Tonga an 'invitational' squad and not particularly national?...is the Tongan RL team not nationally recognised along with the Union code in their own country? It's because of the fallout the players had with the Tongan RL authorities. They sacked new Saints coach Woolf for a few things including misdirecting and misusing Tonga RL cash. But then the players revolted and refused to play if he wasn't reinstated. He was reinstated by the Rugby League International Federation and the invitational bit was tagged on as it's not an official Tonga RL team. https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/sport/league/tonga-coach-denies-financial-wrongdoing-accusations-tongan-league-saga-rumbles

Re: GB & I Lions tour discussion. : Tue Oct 22, 2019 12:21 pm  

Ty Sad.

Austin dropped for Hastings....I've no issues. Hastings is currently better.

Re: GB & I Lions tour discussion. : Tue Oct 22, 2019 12:22 pm  

Tonga squad: Will Hopoate; David Fusitu’a, Michael Jennings, Kotoni Staggs, Daniel Tupou; Tui Lolohea, Ata Hingano; Andrew Hingano; Andrew Fifita, Siliva Havili, Sio Siua Taukeiaho, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Manu Ma’u, Jason Taumalolo. Subs: Sione Katoa, Addin Fonua-Blake, John Asiata, Sitili Tupouniua. Reserves: Tevita Tatola, Konrad Hurrell, Fanitesi Niu.

Great Britain squad: Lachlan Coote; Jermaine McGillvary, Zak Hardaker, Oliver Gildart, Ryan Hall; Gareth Widdop, Jackson Hastings; Chris Hill, Josh Hodgson, Luke Thompson, John Bateman, Elliott Whitehead, James Graham. Subs: Josh Jones, Tom Burgess, Jonny Lomax, Alex Walmsley. Reserves: Jake Connor, Jack Hughes, George Williams, Daryl Clark.

Shame for Clark to miss out, looks like Wayne wants to give Hodgson the full 80.

Re: GB & I Lions tour discussion. : Tue Oct 22, 2019 12:39 pm  

Hodgson does 80 mins in the tougher league, so no complaints there either.
Still only a warm up, so Wayne rightly considering options.

Re: GB & I Lions tour discussion. : Tue Oct 22, 2019 12:45 pm  

The wingers stand out for me, neither have done anything to warrant being selected. I get that Makinson and Johnstone are injured, but there are still much better options.

Re: GB & I Lions tour discussion. : Tue Oct 22, 2019 12:56 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

The wingers stand out for me, neither have done anything to warrant being selected. I get that Makinson and Johnstone are injured, but there are still much better options.

Exactly personally I would of given Grace or Charnley a go, Hall has only played a handful of games this year he’s obviously been picked based upon past reputation rather than form and try scoring ability.

Re: GB & I Lions tour discussion. : Tue Oct 22, 2019 1:44 pm  

Mighty_Wires88 wrote:

Exactly personally I would of given Grace or Charnley a go, Hall has only played a handful of games this year he’s obviously been picked based upon past reputation rather than form and try scoring ability.

Not a chance either of those 2 would be ideal...too light framed. Lineham is a much better fit as an international level winger vs NRL standard opposition... (NZ)

Re: GB & I Lions tour discussion. : Tue Oct 22, 2019 2:51 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

The wingers stand out for me, neither have done anything to warrant being selected. I get that Makinson and Johnstone are injured, but there are still much better options.

This is just like how the England football team used to be picked, once you got in no matter how bad or not played you still got picked, best example I’ve got is John Barnes had one great game against Brazil and was never dropped, he was always good for club but crappy for country. As what has already been said I’m confused as to how Hall and Mcgilvary get picked ahead of others, Grace for me should of been in the squad.

Re: GB & I Lions tour discussion. : Tue Oct 22, 2019 3:46 pm  

Grace would get snapped in two...and if he avoided that...he'd be a revolving door.