The biggest problem I have with this is not the selection of players for a train on squad that in reality is not going to beat Australia any way.

It's the blatant abuse of powers as the national head coach in appearing to be picking players for the squad becuase they play for him. ATEOTD and IMO neither Harrison (yet) or Bridge would be any where near the squad if Smith wasn't in charge.

I like Smith as a coach and the effect he has had on the domestic teams he has coached cannot be argued with, however at international level he just has not cut it (not had the cattle perhaps).

I just don't like the advantage this gives him/Warrington when it comes to delivering a message of 'come play for me and the national setup awaits', nor do I feel to comfortable in having some of the leagues best youngsters in the presence of someone who is appears to not be bothered about abusing his position.

This squad would of had 8 Warrington players in it if Atkins hadn't pulled out, thats more than both Leeds and Saints are likely to have and don't tell me that Smith didn't play the I'm the England head coach card when trying to sign Myler/Atkins

I don't particularly blame Smith more the RFL/system, it was the same whilst Noble was in charge it just didn't seem as 'in your face' as it does right now.

I like the idea of train on squads and bringing players who are on the fringe into the setup for the experience but as far as I am concerned the coaching setup should be headed by a full time coach (no idea who) who is not linked to any club and is therefore not providing any unfair advantage to any team in the league.

So we agree then



By their standards, absolutely. Do you think most Aussies view their world cup a succcess?



Since 2008, although we have played no tournaments and indeed beaten the French since

, we have moved backwars IMO because we have gone from a full time coaching setup to a part time one.



Seeing as the one that we were poor in (and let's face it we weren't poor, we were e) was the most recent one, many people would say YES.

Of course.
What were you expecting? A World Cup win?


but yet they are not all "woe is me" "we might as well not bother"


So not related to results or performance at all?



If you're going to claim we were poop in 2008, I'm going to claim we were awesome in 2007. In which case on your measurement basis we have a two year result of being OK.

On my measurement basis one great year + one bad year = another year to see what happens next but you aren't deemed a failure yet.

I think Welham was very unlucky to miss out. Played every game for a top four team and scored 13 tries in the process. Not too shabby for his first full season.

Don't talk wet man. Kris is a decent kid but is a million miles away from being good enough to pull on an international shirt.

That's as maybe, but since this is the [uEngland train on[/u squad he might consider himself unlucky not to be involved.