I thought it was a useful game for the England team and as a concept it worked well. What was important about the game is that it was reffed very similarly to internationals – i.e. a lot of latitude at the ruck so slower play the balls and teams having to engineer breaks rather than get a ‘roll on’ – that lesson will serve us well come the 4 Nations

People are saying that Bridge and Shenton were quiet but for me that comes from the half backs not being at all dominant – Sinfield toiled hard but was ineffective and Myler showed he is a year or two away from this level (if he ever gets there)

In the 4 Nations, we should have a combination of Brough, Lomax and Widdop – at they offer something new and exciting at international level

The only one I can think of is Soliola playing on the wing in parts. Though arguably you could also say T. Leuluai.

Don't think they did but for that matter, most of the England team were in their correct positions, except for and crucially this, Sinfield. Felt sorry for him as it should have been Brown or even Briers at 6.

Just looking at the player balance

Wigan 4 England 3 Exiles - 7 players
Wire 5 England 2 Exiles - 7 players
Saints 3 England 3 Exiles - 6 players
Leeds 3 England 2 Exiles - 5 players
Hull 1 England 3 Exiles - 4 players
Hudds 1 England 2 Exiles - 3 players
Cas 1 Exile - 1 player
Wakey 1 Exile - 1 player (and brought in last minute)

I think they need to address the balance so fans of all teams can have a feeling of being involved.

No representation at all from Bradford, Hull KR, Quins, Salford,Catalans or Crusaders.

That rules out nearly 50% of fans.

Maybe have to look at how the Exiles squad is picked, without diluting it too much player quality wise

free up the weekend, have it on a saturday early evening and I will go. Couldnt go this year as couldnt get off work and have to travel up from london.

There were some very encouraging signs from certain individuals in that game. In Luke Robinson and James Roby I think we have two excellent hookers - for the first time in years. Add Brough, Widdop, Ellis and Burgess to that team and we have the makings of a good squad. Westwood was excellent and I thought Kevin Sinfield's kicking game was awesome. I'm a huge Sean O'loughlin fan, but I don't think his game is suited to the international scene or the way we currently play. Having an extra kicking option in Sinfield might be the way to go. The props need shaping up a bit. Jamie Peacock is past it now. Eorl Crabtree should be given a shot. Morley, Graham, Crabtree and Burgess would be my front row. Westwood, Ellis and Tomkins in the back row.

In the backs Sam Tomkins put in some excellent tackles close to the line. He's the best English fullback in the competition. Tom Briscoe and Ryan Hall dealt with the kicks put to them well I thought. Both will keep their places. Chris Bridge and Michael Shenton? I thought Shenton looked exposed a few times. Chris Bridge didn't do an awful lot for me, but what options do we have? Kirk Yeaman is playing well I suppose. Kris Welham is doing well, but misses a lot of tackles. Leroy Cudjoe and Michael Lawrence? It's one area we really struggle with. Centre I have no answer.

We're a team though that needs all our best players to be fit to stand a chance. Not likely to happen, but we can hope. If everyone was fit I would lineup with:

1. Sam Tomkins
2. Tom Briscoe
3. 'Anyone that can defend'
4. Chris Bridge?
5. Ryan Hall
6. Gareth Widdop
7. Danny Brough
8. Adrian Morley
9. James Roby
10. James Graham (c)
11. Gareth Ellis
12. Ben Westwood
13. Kevin Sinfield

-----------------------------
14. Luke Robinson
15. Sam Burgess
16. Eorl Crabtree
17. Joel Tomkins (possibly Gareth Hock?)

Macnamara is way out of his depth, but, I think we'll struggle to get a good England coach as long as it's seen as a full time job. I'm not convinced the international coach needs to be full time, what does he do day to day?
Don't know if it would work to try and get one of the better coaches working with them part time and leave macnamara full time in a more scouting and co-ordinating role, but knowing the part timer would be the man in charge when it comes to coaching and selection.

I do think they should try at least a 2 game series next year, I think it could turn out to be very popular with players and supporters.

This is ok if you're playing an exhibition game, but this game is set up as a way of the England players playing together in a competitive game.

Shenton has no pace!!!

In fact has anyone on the England team who played last night, and by that I mean pace that leaves defenders getting futher away trying to catch them?

Well, I'm pretty sure that if one of the Exiles back rowers had scored a length of the field try we would be bemoaning the lack of pace in the England side

When an England back rower goes the length of the field we still bemoan the lack of pace in the England side - kinda sums up the English RL fan mentality

so 47% of RL fans support bradford?

I think we're in for a real spanking in the 4 nations if that was anything to go by. We have no cutting edge or pace in attack to speak off and the lack of structure with the ball was alarming. If we try and play 5 drives and a kick rugby against the Aussies/NZ for 80 minutes then we might as well not bother. We're desperate need of some pace in the midfield, centres, and from full back. We weren't too bad in defense at times but it seemed that everytime the Exiles gave the ball some air England were all over the place and looked like conceding everytime.

this is correct!!

The squad at the end of the year will be much different though.

Brough will no doubt replace Myler who is a good support player but rubbish at this level, even wire fans can see that. Brough has an awesome kicking game and will control the play as well as being creative.

Roby will play instead of McIlorum. McIlorum does the job and will never let anyone down but he is not ready for this level YET. Roby is one of the top hookers in the world and is always superb at international level.

Burgess and Ellis will play. An argument could be made that these are Englands two best players, they play with the worlds best week in week out and are now two of the best back rowers in the NRL while Burgess can also play prop.

Widdop will probably play at 6 or FB... he should play 6 IMO. He has looked quality for Melbourne this year, he could easily hide behind Cronk, Slater and Smith but he never does.

Adding these 5 players to that starting 13 improves the team by a long way IMO.

Finally you also have Hock who will no doubt put his hand up with the amount of talent he has... maybe if we are lucky he has found half a brain cell in his two years out. You also have Crabtree who didn't play in this game and has always performed for England.

On an extra note I thought Joel Tomkins had a good game and has looked awesome for Wigan at centre IMO. He should be in contention there, he reads the game well and has loads of pace for a big guy, nobody got near him. Shenton looked like he was running in treacle.

After these players have been added we could end up with something like this....

Tomkins
Hall
Shenton/J Tomkins/Bridge
Shenton/J Tomkins/Bridge
Briscoe
Widdop
Brough
Morley
Roby
Peacock
Ellis
Burgess
Lockers

Westwood - Englands MOM made for internationals.
Robinson

Both should be on the bench IMO they deserve it. Then we have a list of players in the running for the final bench spot after Crabtree who also deserves it.

Mossop
Hock
Griffin
LMS
J Tomkins - if he doesn't make the centre position.

Players like Myler, Sinfield and Wilkin should not be in the team. Sinfield could play 9 if needed but not if we are at full strength.

I don't think it is correct. In the game I watched, England defended well, and had gone ahead until the very last play of the game. How you work out it was some sort of a mauling I just don't get. Tackle Carmont and we win.

I disagree on your four nations point although i understand where you are coming from. Its actually irrelevant that is wales or in fact that the exiles would be more competitive. We have at last one part of the international structure correct and that is if you are at the correct level of european or pacific rugby league you can qualify for the four nations if you win the relevant comp. That gives us so much in terms of international development its not funny. The european cup, every two years is suddenly a wonderful, competitive and meaningful competition. We've never had that and to throw it away would be suicide.
I enjoyed the exiles game and think we should co-ordinate it with the free weekend that the nrl is proposing for the mid seaon anzac test. That whole weekend should be midseason international weekend. Aus v kiwi, france v wales, ireland vs scotland, canada v yanks, lebanon vs serbia and england versus exiles. That would be a cracker of a weekend imo.

Love this idea!

England Knights need a game as well though IMO.

McNamara needs to go now. No attacking structure whatsoever. One-out rugby will not win International Test matches. Englands tries came from a missed tackle and an interception. Not one genuine try-scoring chance created in the whole 80 minutes

England have talented attacking players. We've seen evidence of this in Super league on a weekly basis. We just don't have a coach that knows how to use them

I personally thought England were woeful and i feel extremely sorry for the RFL - they have made a huge effort to market the backside off this game and despite no national media coverage - pulled in a very respecitable crowd.

The product however was aweful - the idea was great, the concept was great but the England team looked pathetic.

I'm afraid after tonights showing, those down under who call our competition amateur have a point. The standard of our players across the board is shameful.

They lack skill, speed, intelligence + I thought the effort, passiona and agression was non-existant. I think there was the odd player who looked relatively useful and that was Sam Tomkins and Ben Westwood.

The England crowd booed Tomkins probably because they were bored of a totally unimaginative and talentless England team. Peacock needs to concentrate on his own game before critiscing a healthy crowd who spent their own hard earned money to come and watch a bunch of amatuers.

Tomkins - the best we have by a mile but had no opportunities
Briscoe - I dont care what you say - he is average
Shenton - average
Bridge - I continue to ask why on earth he is plays representative football - embarrassing
Hall - not bad but aint great
Sinfield - not good enough and never has been at this level. Not only is he not big enough, fast enough or agressive enough but his tactiacl kicking is dire
Myler - non existant. Brough is miles better and we desperately need him for the 4 nations
Peacock - good enough at Leeds but thought he was too old for this level 2 years ago... international retirement pls
Robinson - actually stood out but should have been coming off the bench behind a dominant pack
Graham - not bad but not great either - think he will find it very tough down under
Wilkin - no where near good enough
Westwood - thick as too planks but at least gave his all
O'Loughlin - not good enough at this level and is miles behind a Farrell or Sculthorpe

McIlorum - sounded like a typical English RL player when interviewed pre-match. 1 brain cell might be hard to find. Average
Morley - embarrassingly stands out compared to our inempt forwards - class act
Carvell - not good enough at this level
Tomkins - not bad i guess

I think the RFL will have to change the venue if they have any chance of getting a 1/2 decent crowd to turn up next year. I was gutted I couldnt go and when I watched it I'm glad I didnt.

The exiles were exciting and energetic - not bad for a bunch of old men.

They wanted to send a message down under - I'm sure Billy Salter and Benji Marshall & Co are having sleepless nights!

England were awful and its better they lost as a win would of really put the blinkers on. The exiles looked dangerous every time they were in the attacking final 3rd. There was a lot more flair and creativity with they did and just look at the huge difference with the number of clean breaks. England just played 1 out football trying to grind the exiles down which is just not good enough. Its all I ever saw Bradford do when McNamara was there was it isnt a surprise this is his plan with England.

If the 4 nations is on dry ground England are in for some heavy defeats. If the Exiles would of been more clinical when they needed to be the scoreline would of been worse. The final result flattered england as there was only 1 side who really looked like winning.

I love the irony

agree completely. also if we throw players like larne patrick, lee mossop and paul wood into the mix (all form players) it looks a very different and much more robust team. Brough, Burgess, Ellis, Roby, robinson, wood, crabtree, westwood, widdop, both tomkins etc. thats the core of a 17 that can do the business anyday if properly organised.
i would also like to make special mention of ben westwood who was a true warrior last night.
i would also like to add that i really enjoyed the game. its certainly much more entertaining to watch and no doubt much more useful to the players and coaching staff than handing the french their s would be.

I think it should the game should defiently happen again and hopefully will become a regular thing.

Do England have a player like Manu? I dont think they have ball carrier like him who can break tackles and keep making yards even when his in contact.

What is happening with Jack Reed at Brisbane?

Potential Rookie of the Year in the NRL - surely the answer to England's prayers at centre?

Born and bred is Castleford isn't he?

carvell, thats what he's been doing excellently this year, making metres after contact, his leg drive has been amazing.