If I was coach we would win, as it is I expect a 28 - 12 defeat and a bit of pride for at least having a dig.

Don't mistake Ramrod and Serge as a lot of us or even class them as representative of the sane amongst us.

Having said that whilst I personally wouldn't select Diskin over Roby I'd select him over many others. The argument for selecting him over Roby being that Roby has always enjoyed the luxury of coming off the bench and running at fatigued players and his game was stifled somewhat this year with Saints slower PTBs.

That said I think Roby has always shown up well against the Antipodeans and I would select him.

At the moment I probably wouldn't.

However, from the games I've seen Roby hasn't really stood out for Saints this year. He's obviously making less of an impact with the new rule interpretations making it harder for him to win easy yards by scooting off the back of fast PTBs.

By contrast Diskin was in top form at the end of the season once he was no longer being spelled with Buderus.

IMO both players have recently shown that they are better when played for most of the game. In this respect the continued presence of Cunningham and Buderus at both clubs is stunting their respective development. But ultimately, it would be highly risky for both clubs to only have one hooker. It will be interesting to see how Roby gets on with Moore and Cunningham to battle it out with.

He's picked mainly on form (Myler over Burrow aside). Who do you think is in the squad that shouldn't be and who would you say isn't in the squad who deserves to be?

England as a collective were poor and Smith has to take a large propotion of the blame, but the year before that he coached England to their first series win in 20 years and as a club coach has helped Warrington to their first trophy in an age. Now I'm not saying he's perfect but he's probably the best coach England could have at this point in time.

Senior,burrow,Gilmour,Mccarthy Scarsbrook and Owen Should be in imo.
Sykes,Bridge,Myler,Westwood and wilkin out.

Senior retired. Burrow i agree. Gilmour I don't. LMS I would've had had over Carvell tbh. Owen is not ready yet.

Those are all debatable and not one is an obvious no-brainer that Smith has gotten wrong.

I didn't say they were no-brainers i was asked who i thought should/shouldn't be in and that's just my opinion.
Re-Owen he's got to be a better option than Sykes surely!!!
Senior did say he'd play if contacted and then TS said he hadn't been contacted by Senior i'm sure if either had picked up a phone he would be in.
As for debating his commitment you could say the same about L.Smith!!
It's all opinion and in mine i don't think TS has selected the best available.
Like i said though hopefully i'm proved wrong and will happily take the flack and banter if it proves to be the case.
P.s With Gilmour in the team it would enable us to get the best out of JP at prop whereas at the moment i don't think playing in the SR he'll be as effective.

I'm not so sure about that. The Aussies are pretty big all over the park, and I think having 3 big forwards of that kind to biff the ball up, whether they do it out wide or up the middle, could be very useful, particularly in the early exchanges. It also adds a bit of muscle in our wide defence, albeit at the expense of a bit of agility.

The selection issues you raise, some of which i agree with, are all very debatable so, IMO, its' hard to criticise a coach for not making what is at best an [iarguably[/i better selection.

If it were an obviously dumb selection then, yes, criticism is valid.

Which of course leads to the valid questions you raise about Paul Sykes.

I personally think Roby has gone backwards as a player - he needs to the major force at 9 for Saints but he will have yet another season playing a part time second fiddle role to Kieron - if they can find some shorts big enough for KC



Diskin has had a very good end to the season and if the team were picked on form Diskin was the form 9 at the end of the season

Owen is as ready as Briscoe and a better player now.

As you say these are semmantics - Smith hasn't made any major gaffs IMO his team is as strong as squad will allow

Peacock will be used as a third starting prop. It's going to be a bash it up, one-out-a-thon with hopefully a good kick chase (possibly after the fourth drive) by England to try and get a territorial advantage.

Keeping it tight is their only hope.

Good points well put and like i said i hope i'm proved totally wrong.

Keith told Jason Davidson to tell Smith that he was available for selection. Smith told Jason that Keith wasn't in his plans.

Keith CBAd to even call the coach himself?

No wonder his un-retirement wasn't taken seriously.

Keith was prepared to delay an operation in order to play for England. Unlike Ryan Atkins, who coincidentally has just signed for Smith's club.

Meninga was a monster and quick with it for a big man but Inglis has even more than Meninga had IMO. McGaw was nothing that special (at the very highest level) and Hodges edges there again for me.

Powell and Gibson V Shenton and Smith - where do you start?

What's Ryan Atkins got to do with Senior's apathy to international RL?

Pace.
My money is on the newbies.

Senior's apathy to international RL??? He's one of the most capped players in British RL history you ****ing retard.

What has Atkins got to do with Keith? As I wrote, Atkins decided not to play for England so he could have an operation instead. Keith would have delayed his operation if he was selected for England.

What's Ryan Atkins got to do with Senior's current apathy to international RL?

Does my insertion of the word "current" help this?

He sent a message to Tony Smith that he wanted to be considered for selection. He was willing to delay an operation to make him available to play, against the wishes of his club. He has given a few interviews where he said he wanted to be selected for England.

How TF does this equate to apathy for international RL?

He asked someone else to tell the coach he might be available.
FFS it's a test series!
I wouldn't call up a player to Northampton RL on the basis of a player telling someone else he might come out of retirement.

We want players banging down the door, desperate to play for their country, not sending messages via third parties.

Jason Davidson is obviously close with Tony Smith. He worked for him at Hudds, he followed him to Leeds and there have been suggestions that he's going to follow him to Wire.

He obviously has access to Tony Smith.

Do the England squad have access to Tony Smith during the season? As he is the full time Warrington coach, I'd suggest they don't.

Keith sent a message to Smith that he was available for selection for England. Smith replied that he wasn't in his plans. Are you suggesting that if Keith had personally called Smith then the decision would have been different?

Jason Davidson as well as being the conditioner at Leeds also has a role in the backroom staff for the current England squad.