Exactly. A reasonable finisher when given a big open space to run into, but otherwise the definition of average.

Awww, you can't think of any reasonable counter arguments so resort to the laughing smilies to try and defend your beloved Briscoe, oh dear

While the NRL is a stronger competition overall, I don’t understand why that therefore excludes any SL players from being world class

Was Ellery Hanley only world class when he was playing in Australia – what about Offiah and Jason Robinson, were they average players and only world class after they crossed the equator?

These players were playing in the English league when the standard was even further behind the Australian comp and yet they were world class

I think the OP should watch a few episodes of NRL Fulltime on Sky before posting! Ha ha ha

The NRL players do look good when you see those 60 seconds of highlights from each game don’t they?

Indeed.., and compare and contrast the Exiles team , the one that included 11 over 30's , to the Australia and NZ sides we shall be meeting...

As you say hardly Oz or Kiwi squad, only one or two may get a look in in the Kiwi test squad.

I’m not saying it excludes SL players from been world class, it’s just that they can’t be labelled as that until they have proved it on the big stage. I agree we do have a few players that have the potential to be world class but have yet to be tested on the big stage.

In what way is Tom Briscoe overrated by the way? what part of his game would you say has been overhyped?

He's fast, makes breaks out of nothing, has a great fend (which we've seen over the last few weeks when he's one-on-one), is an amazing cover tackler, has pace and has a knack for getting over the try line. All this in a poor team. And he's only 21.

That would be around 58 seconds more quality than Super League then!

roby is not in the same class as cam smith lol

I tend to agree with the doom merchants on here.

Let's just cancel the whole pointless thing.

I personally always look forward to the internationals as a major highlight (in fact "the" highlight) , and this year is no different , however in response to the OP's question then the answer is clearly no based on our last game....

The evidence may well change after the 5th and 12th of November, and indeed it should if the coach is worth his position.., a full strength team (upto now) aside from Burgess and home advantage...the Aussies and Kiwis already missing players..

Indeed, apparently he scoffs that people think Aussies 3rd team could beat us, well they don't need to as the Overseas retirement brigade saved them a job.

Long term solution, why is Briscoe close to retirement???

We're still not good enough man for man and we have 5hite coach. We may be more competetive but we'll still come up short. Hopefully this generation of young players will do what the previous generations could not do and become more than just a decent athlete, and actually develop into world class RL players.

S Tomkins,
Hall, Shenton, Reed, Briscoe,
Widdop, Lomax,
Graham, Roby, Peacock,
Westwood, Ellis,
O'Loughlin. Bench - Brough, Heighington, Crabtree, Carvell.

Shenton has to go in as right centre as Reed & Yeaman are both left centres.
Yeaman & Briscoe are too small together to face the Aussies.
Widdop is a shoe in and Lomax the form scrum half in the league.
Not sure about who's better for the pack or bench than the ones I've mentioned. Any Thoughts?

Exactly.
People forget Briscoe's age simply because he's been around a little while now and the size of the bloke. He's only 21 this season.

Yeah that is it.







Your the type of person who even when proved wrong will still believe your first opinion, therefore no point debating with you.

He's not my "beloved" briscoe either, but out of all the players you could have slagged it had to be a Hull one. There is a surprise.

We need a kicking game, though. Perhaps give both Lomax and Brough a half each against Wales? That way we can see if Widdop can supply a kicking game that Lomax can't, or whether Brough with his kicking gmae and perhaps superior organisation is a better bet.

Got the France game as a warm up too, agree with this sentiment though. Broughs got the kicking game we strive to have, but has lost form. Lomax is in red hot form, yet hasn't got a kicking game.

Fortunately there aren't any other sets of supporters with such overinflated opinions of their own players.

Look, you stick to your Tom Briscoe fanclub, leave it to us grownups to discuss the Rugby League

If we get our strongest team out {whatever that is}, get the tactics right, Aussie are a bit depleted {I know they have Inglis missing} then we have a chance.

On the subject of Tom Briscoe, he's decent but no world beater at the moment.

do any of you so called fans wonder why we're "so bad"...

give them a bloody chance...everyone thought we'd get hammered by the exiles but ended up losing in the last minute!! yet you'd have thought by the response we'd have lost by a 100!!

how do we expect these players to fulfil their potential and give us a side capable of beating the aussies if we're ripping them to pieces before a ball is kicked!! win, lose or draw come november...seems it still won't be good enough for some of you!! stop been so pessimistic and get behind them!!

No. The England national side often gains a sheen of impressiveness following a Super League season. Those players look almost super human for their SL sides and when put together as a list of names appear wonderful.

BUT then they are exposed to the Australians in a meaningful match and swept aside with consumate ease. Those named are then consigned to the bin, no longer to be thought of as competitive with Australia.