I fear he is doing it out of embarassment at not picking a player. He doesn't want to turn up to Warrington training with the players he didn't pick thinking he doesn't rate them.

I haven't got a problem with Harrison being involved, he's impressed me this season and although he's never ready yet, he is a potential star of the future so it's good for him to be there.

The inclusions of Bridge and Higham though are a complete joke and make a mockery of it all. Neither are good enough for Super League let alone an international series against the World champions, and Australia.

I think the train on squad is a good idea. It's all very well picking 13 of who are considered the best english players and claim its a team. its very different in practice. It's far better to pick 13 players who can play to the coach's system and play as part of a team. too often in the past we've had 13 individuals on the field and they've had their collective backsides handed to them. noble was accused of similar bias, however he saw the bradford players every day, knew what they were capabile of and that they would play well to his system.

smith is doing nothing different to that or what all successful managers do
ie pick players to fit a system, not fiddle with a system to try and accomodate players

At the end of the day, does it really matter what Smith does?


You don't have the cattle.

Harrison has impressed me but for me, Bridge probably doesn't deserve to be there. Average personified.

I don't understand why people are questioning Tony Smith's credentials when he has delivered at all three clubs he has coached at over here. Add into that the fact that all three were big underachievers and that's an even bigger feather in his cap. Right now he is the right man for the job given that we can't attract Wayne Bennett or someone similar.

I think it shows the compleate lack of centres we have in this country at the moment, to be fair though, Bridge has been excellent since big time charlie left for Wigan. I know people on here don't belive it what the stats say but Bridge's stats at centre are quite decent, 15 clean breaks, 12 try assists, 8 tries, 65 tackle busts, and nearly 1600 metres made.

In which case why no call-up for Kirk Yeaman of Hull who has done marginally better in the majority of those stats despite playing less games?

Yeah and Bridge has only played around 15-16 of his 20 odd games this season at centre.

So basically, why bother discussing the pro’s / cons of having a club coach being in charged of the national side, because, the Aussies will destroy us

.




Serious question, do Warrington fans really believe that if Smith wasn’t their coach they would still have the same number of players in the squad?

So as a stand-off, you'd expect him to be more creative in attack and also make more metres as he's part of the attacking process more?

Remind me again how many times he's played stand off this season?

8 of his 23 appearances have been at stand-off.

Well there you go then, he aint a stand off.

But half of those other appearances are being made off the bench too, so who knows where he plays when he comes on. My guess would be 50/50 split which perhaps indicates he's played more of a stand off role than centre.

Put it this way, Bridge's figures should be higher than Yeaman's considering he's played more games, 8 of which have been in a much more prominent position on the field.

Which stats are you looking at?
The official super league stats show Bridge has
-3 times as many try assists (12 v 4)
-50% more tackles (330 v209)
- twice as many tackle busts (65 v 37)
- 6 times as many marker tackles (47 v


- 50% more clean breaks (15 v 9)

Yeaman has made more metres, however he has more carries so this is unsurprising, (Bridge has played in the halfback positions at times during the season).

Bridge's stats are pretty impressive but I don't expect you to agree on that.

Should be but then again I dont think Yeamans as bad as some make out. I reckon Bridges decision making is a lot better and he's sure as hell quicker. Bridge aint a finished article but he's pretty nifty. Simply put, potential but been hampered with injuries for a few years in his development. IIRC he was centre for England youths when they turned over the aussies that time Just to compare; www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2009

Should be but then again I dont think Yeamans as bad as some make out. I reckon Bridges decision making is a lot better and he's sure as hell quicker. Bridge aint a finished article but he's pretty nifty. Simply put, potential but been hampered with injuries for a few years in his development. IIRC he was centre for England youths when they turned over the aussies that time Just to compare; www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2009

He's played more at centre than stand off this season, basically filling in at 6 whenever Briers or Monaghan were injured, hence he's a better centre than stand off.

People!!!

Enough!!!!

Who REALLY cares that much who is in the squad/team???

We ain't gonna beat the aussies so why waste your time.

I think Bridge's stats are good, and he does seem to have kicked on this season.


Try assists mean nothing in comparison because he's played stand-off - Yeaman doesn't. Therefore one would naturally expect his figures to be higher.

The other stats you have to remember that Yeaman has played less games so his figures are going to worse in that respect. OK, had he played the same amount of games they may still be worse, but all it means is that you can pick the stats you want and ignore the others. For me, Bridge and Yeaman are pretty similar and one has the advantage because he plays for the national coach and can be judged week in week out on training etc.

About 90% of Bridge's assists have been at centre. I've lost count of the time he's put Hicks over this season.

From difficult positions too.
Look this is all irrelavant because the centres will be Gleeson and Shenton unless Senior has a change of heart or Smith decides to do whats right and puts Pryce there.

I'm not sure if playing pryce in a position he hasnt played regularly in a long time, after a poor world cup and a season that was far from his best, is doing whats right.

Can't agree more with the OP.

Tony Smith is a closest Rugby Unioner.

Do remember this is a train on squad.

Barry

Hayne's played fullback all year but will be playing on the wing for Aus.
Inglis used to play 6 all year then move to the centres. Not that big a deal imo