Changed this year.

The players vote for their top three on a 5pts, 3pts, 1pt basis, but that vote is not binding.

It then goes to a panel consisting of two current players (Wilkin and Jon Clarke this year), one former player (Paul Sculthorpe) one member of the written RL press and one member of the broadcast RL press.

They have the final say on the shortlist and eventual winner, so in effect it is decided by the opinions of those five people.

But based on the opinions of the voters? If it was shown that the lead voter was, shall we say, Ben Westwood and he was leading by a country mile then I am sure the panel would have been swayed by this.

Mind you looking at the panel make up and the way we English go out of our way to show no bias, to the point of being negatively biased, no way was it going to be a Saints player!!!

Seems to have a lot of bulls**t stored up in his system, yet he doesn't seem to want to do anything about it. If he cares that much about how the RFL are being mismanaged, then why doesn't he apply for a job there and try to change things for the better.

You know, the same way he has a hissy fit everytime someone mentions a referee and challenges posters to do better.

Gareth Widdop just hasn't played in the NRL, he's been a stand-out performer in a very good Melbourne side that has secured major honours.

Don't blame me for your lack of comprehension skills or stupidity.

It's funny, as the World Cup has progressed quite a few fans of other SL teams have turned around and said they think Sinfield is playing well after worrying about him previously.........all except Hudds fans who are still bitter about Brough not being there. We've had them come over to the Leeds board all year knocking Sinfield and gushing over Danny boy, one unsurprisingly rushed over to the Leeds board today to tell us about Brough's nomination for best player. Some of them really do want England to mess up this week just so they can slate Sinfield and proclaim Brough would've beaten the Kiwis.

I was provably was one of the bitter giants fans before the World Cup kicked up off, but as the I tournaments has unfolded I have warmed to Sinfield greatly. He has been a steady influence on the England team and the team are better for him. Nothing to say I wouldn't of enjoyed watching a Brough and Sinfield half back pairing, Just get behind the team and hopefully look forward to and great match tomorrow!

Smokey, with statements like that, you lose all credibility in the debate. Seriously how can you say Broughs form was good "early season" he was excellent throughout the WHOLE season. He wasn't even that bad in the play-offs, did you miss the try against Wigan? Remind me, how good was Sinfield in the play-offs?

Brough is a better stand-off than Sinfield. Brough was by far in the best form to warrant the half back shirt. I would have had Sinfield in the squad and made him captain, but at 13. Putting hin 7, I think it's like putting Tomkins at prop. He's not got the natural qualities and skills to perform that position to its full potential and your wasting his other skills.

If England lose tomorrow, The board will go into meltdown. Those sayin "I told you so. Sinfield wasn't good enough etc" and those saying "well Sinfield got a rating of 8 by the Aussie press"

Sinfield hasn't done bad in the tournament. But think England's attack had been average.

Don't argue with idiots mate. Danny Brough is and was the best scrum-half in Super League last season. He was consistent all the way through. It's such a shame Steve McNamara doesn't think so, he could have been gold in the England side.

In the opta team of the QF there was some bloke called sinfield picked at 7 ahead of the Aussies and NZ, and even the mighty Scotland. One of 3 England players (graham & Burgess) and the only player from SL...

If you're comparing Brough to Sinfield in respect of the Opta team of the quarter-finals, you need to look at the respective opposition each man played.

Not comparing anyone just pointing out the player who appears to be the scapegoat for many managed to make the team of the week

I'd like to see the opta points Sinfield actually scored. He does far more tackling than any other half back so I'd presume it would boost his score over other. Not saying that's the only reason he's in as I don't know the scoring system, but you get my point.

If I think back to the France game, I can't remember too much Sinfield did apart from that one awesome kick he did in the second half.

Te fact he is in the opta team of the week shows he isn't playing badly, but is he producing quality and taking the game by the scruff of the neck.

With statements like "putting him (Sinfield) at 7 is like putting Tomkins at prop" loses you way more credibility.

CAnnot agree with that at all. McNamara has proved to be a terrible coach.

When he was appointed as coach i said he should not have got it and it was a disaster waiting to happen.

At Bradford he was poor.

Two separate bradford players said they found him impossible,
THey said he made the game too complicated, that hsi team talks were so boring and technical they stopped listening.
They had no respect for him as they had no idea what he was on about.


McNamara got the job because there was no one able to do it full time.
There would have been plenty of coaches who would have done it part time.

IT would have been better getting a compenetnt part time coach rather than an incompetent full time coach.

I would like to see us go back to a part time coach but with a commitment by the SL cubs to allow their players time offf for regular GB training.

A full time assistant coach can do the scouting etc.

HAS he resigned yet.


That England team today would have beaten Australia in the first game.

WE would then be looking forward to a game against Fiji and contemplating which of NZ or Australia we would be playing in the final,

DO THE DECENT THINK McBANANA AND GO NOW

dG your posts are verging on absolute nonsense

You criticise my posts BUT NEVER answer them.

Would Widdop have been a better half than Chase. YES OR NO.

Who picked the wrong half and the Wrong forwards against Australia.

Me OR the England coach ?

I have to agree, sounds more like a vendetta than a reasoned argument.

It's a results business, but jez give the man some credit where it's due. His time maybe up, but he made some good coaching calls for this tournament.

Your posts can't be answered who knows what would have happened in the first game ?

Widdop was outstanding today he could have had a shocker in the first game (he did play in that game BTW)

You are a typical whinging RL fan who has to find negatives in everything

It is a vendetta.

He is trying to compare two different games against two different teams, one a group match, and one a semi final.

Complete foolish.

Which forwards are you referring to?

Still yopu cannot answer.

I am not whinging i complained about this when McNamara was appointed and every time he has picked a squad or team over the last few years.

You are a typical RL fan who just accepts what shiite you get served up by the RFL and the England team.

No wonder some of the SL's chairman say it is time to stop sitting back and acting like cheerleaders and try to change things,

I have no love for the coach. I thought it was the wrong call when he was appointed. But for me he was right to be strong with the players over drinking. He was right to drop his favoured man Chase for Widdop a tough call when you have backed the other fella for 3 years.

That team today was about as right as it gets.

It's results that count so Yes Steve Mac may go, if England can find another willing coach. Maybe Baloo is willing to drop his team for England? But in the end I'll give credit were it is due even if I thought differently 4 years and 4 weeks ago.

Same with Sinfield. Pre tournement I was not a fan. This tournement he has had some real class about him.

But then Oldham do produce some stars.

We've seen a great game, as good as anything I've seen in any sport. And you're response is to bitch about individual players.