Thats not far from the team i chose



I think O'loughlin would be wasted big time in the centres, we wouldnt get the best of his passing game be it short or long. Despite being a forward he has the best passing range of anyone in the squad imo at Wigan hes used really well as a first or second reciever at times and creating space for Sam out at 3rd man . Whereas if Ellis is playing centre you could quite easily utilize his best attributes, get him to come inside and make the hard yards that he does early in the sets but then later keep him outwide running the great lines he does on the outside of S.Tomkins chiming into the line from fullback. At the other side he'd have his older brother outside of him and at times Westwood and Burgess.

Plus dont forget O'loughlin was the top tackler last week with 40 whilst playing at loose forward.

I can’t believe how many people are suggesting we play back rowers in the centres – Ellis, O’loughlin and Tomkins have all been muted. They may all be pretty mobile for back rowers but they haven’t got the pace to play in the backline in an international test. We may not blessed with the best backs in world rugby (and injuries has exposed this further) but the best chance we have on Saturday is to select forwards in the forwards and backs in the backs. I hope McNamara sees this

Joel Tomkins at centre?

Tomkins
Hall
Widdop
Atkins
Briscoe
Brown
Robinson
Graham
Roby
Fielden
Burgess
Ellis
O'Loughlin

Westwood
Crabtree
Griffin
Harrison

Hes played there quite a few times for Wigan when needed and done well. Joel is a very versatile player he played quite a few games at stand off at reserve team level. I think Joel is quicker than widdop myself from what ive seen of Widdop recently.

May i also ask why you would drop Goulding after he outperformed Briscoe last week ?

How about this team:

1. S Tomkins
2. Hall
3. Widdop
4. Goulding
5. Briscoe
6. Brown
7. Robinson
8. Graham
9. Roby
10. Burgess
11. Ellis
12. Westwood
13. O Loughlin

14. Fielden
15. J Tomkins
16. Crabtree
17. Carvell

According to Sky Sports it's either going to be Cudjoe or Clubb in the vacant position.

Cudjoe would get killed, at least the Clubb has got some meat to him. I'd stick Brown and Robinson in the halves, just for the continuity of knowing each others games.

1 S.Tomkins
2 Hall
3 Widdop
4 Atkins
5 Briscoe
6 Brown
7 Robinson
8 Graham
9 Roby
10 Fielden
11 Ellis
12 Burgess
13 O'Loughlin
I Westwood
I Crabtree
I Lunt
I Carvell (get a scrap going, dish it out big time)

Looking like poor Widdles might not even make the side now

Briscoe is a far better player than Goulding and has been all season.

Why is a guy with three first grade games playing in the england setup anyway?

Potential, maybe... But you cant honestly be up to international standard (of the big 3) playing Queensland cup.

Not that I'm arguing against Briscoe being better, but who scored more tries again?

Ah Gareth Widdop, this generation's Kris Radlinski.

Maybe . Thats your opinion far from a fact look at the stats from bothe of them this year ....

[urlhttp://www.superleague.co.uk/statistics_player.php?hs1=2010&hp1=1806&hs2=2010&hp2=3197&stat=tries&season=2010[/url

You can say he was playing in a better team and thats why he scored so many tries. But what about the other stats that matter which noone can say coincide with playing in a good team.

----------------------DG---------TB--
Games ------------20----------25
Metres made ---1926 ----- 2274
Carries-------------232--------278
Avg -----------------8.30-----8.17
Runs fm ptb -----100-------83
Missed tackles---7----------14
Errors--------------17---------15
Penaltys-----------1-----------6

Errors stat is in Briscoe's favour but Goulding is targeted virtually every kick at Wigan as no team seems to want to kick to either Richards, Roberts or Sam Tomkins for obvious reasons. Going from them stats Darrell is much more willing to do the hard work helping the forwards early in the tackle count he isnt just looking to finish off trys.

But each to there own i geuss.

Anyone suggesting playing a forward in the backs needs their brain removing for starters.

And anyone thinking Widdop should go to standoff needs their brain removing. Brown did ok in the second half, once he started playing his natural game and not pandering to Tomkins

Widdop Started poorly, stayed playing poorly and finished out of position. Poorly. He might have backed up for a try, but so would any fullback in SL.

Oh yeah because no forwards can play at centre. Pritchard didnt do to bad last week. Steve Menzies often plays well there either, how about Lee Gilmour, Flannery ?

In most defensive setups anyway the halfbacks are out in the centres, so in reality the likes of Tomkins would have fellow second rowers running at him.

Why is Widdop at 6 such a bad option? Hes been playing most of this year at 6 in preperation to replace Finch next year and to me he seems to have a touch more class than brown with his footwork and agility.

He's not, his game has suffered from poor coaching, from being shunted between centre, wing and second-row and also from being exposed by weak defence inside and outside when playing centre this season. Once he had the potential to be a very good centre, now I think he still retains the potential to be a very good second-row, unfortunately we (Quins) need a centre so he can move to second-row, and the balls to play the sort of attacking game that would suit him.

If Clubb doesn't play then he shouldn't of been taken, why have a specialist centre if the better option is to shift others around from their favoured position

I’m assuming (but not sure why) that you are saying that as a derisory comment but that would be a result for England

I'm gonna be devils advocate here;







Put Cudjoe as Centre?

I would be delighted if that were the case – it proves that McNamara is intent on picking players in their positions and playing the best team at his disposal rather than try and get the best 13 players on the pitch irrelevant of natural position

Given the limited options (Club being pants imo - Gleeson should have gone) I'd put Cudjoe at centre.

I said all along that Gleeson should have gone, but on what we've got, i'd go Clubb over Cudjoe at centre.

For a centre, Clubb is a wrecking ball in attack. I have witnessed him smashing defences.

Well Cudjoe is in at centre and Widdop had taken the position he should have had from the start of the tournament...left off.