Hahaha I absolutely love that guy!! That's commitment!

TBF he's not going to say anything else really, is he? I'm sure he's pretty disappointed indeed but keeping that to himself. A prop, in a prop's peak years that was consistent enough to be picked in the Dream Team and with stats that back up that selection, left out for a young lad with a handful of first grade games. Baffling.

should be the other way round really if England ever want to win anything or the international scene be taken seriously

club loyalty's always seem to get in the way, whether it be fans or the players themselves, leeds and wigan players used to be against each other in camp...

hopefully the attendances will be decent for this world cup unlike the last one in the UK!

I don't know whether he's saying it to have a dig at McNamara or he's actually being serious

The rumours over that were Leeds and ST HELENS players divided in the England camp. We were rubbish at the time.

I'm sure this will allow other fans to say that his comments justify him being left out as it shows lack of commitment to England. Wonder who sinfield and Oloughlin would put first...

Morley has stated he's surprised that the 'poster boy' isn't included.

It is probably a stupid comment made in the heat of the moment.
If picked he would have said how worthwhile it was and to represent your country is the massive icing on the cake etc etc.
FWIW I think he should have got in over Tom Burgess.
I hope his comments don`t mean he has to find a grandmother who came from Scotland.

Yes, if that's his attitude to not being picked, enjoy your Autumn by the TV, you deserved it.

Peacock would never have reacted like that.

I have pretty much no interest in the England team any more. Been too many disappointments, too many missed chances and I have no confidence in the squad that's been picked.

Although I'm sure Crabtree's personally disappointed, it gives him a chance to have a proper off season rest and really hit the straps in 2014.

Get off your high horse, what's he said to upset you so much, are you related to Mcbanana







From Hudds Examiner
Crabtree is delighted his Huddersfield teammates are in the frame.
But even though he’s disappointed to miss out himself and fears his England career could be at an end, the popular front-rower remains philosophical.
“You obviously love representing your country, and I do find it a little ironic that after representing England at so many World Cup events this year I’ve been cast aside,” said Crabtree, who is now hoping to be handed a media role during the World Cup. "That makes it particularly disappointing, and it could mean the end of me at international level. A few years ago it would have hit me hard.But I’ve got used to these sort of setbacks, and I’m already seeing there’s a silver lining to all this"
“What I now intend to do is have minor clean-up operations on an elbow and ankle, take a holiday and make sure I’m firing for the start of pre-season. Although playing for England is special, playing for Huddersfield Giants is far more important. I feel I’ve had a great season. It was an honour to get into the Super League Dream Team for the first time to reward that consistency I’ve enjoyed. But we didn’t get to the Grand Final and win it. Hopefully, with a full pre-season under my belt, I can play a big part in getting us there next year.”

It's not the club v country, it's his petulant reaction, therefore, his character is shown for what it is.

Like i said, enjoy your Autumn by the TV Eorl.

You could argue that Leeds players would never have been treated the way Crabtree and other Giants players have been.


It is the idea of picking a relatively unproven player in Burgess (Tom) over and experienced player who i think has had his best ever season in RL, has been the poster boy for publicity campaigns and always puts his heart into any game he plays. He was a given a chance to play RU but stayed with RL.He is at his peak now but has been passed over for a player who 10 months ago was so bad Bradford dropped him.

If Crabtree cannot get into the England squad now under McNamara it seems fairly clear that his international career is over. He will definiately not play in another WC so it seems legit for him to express his dissappointment and think that his future will now be detremined by his club success rather than internationally.

There's nothing petulant about his interview responses.

Perhaps his comments need to be taken in context. He was interviewed by a local journo for the giants section of the huddersfield paper- I'm sure if he said England is more important than the giants the readers would be non too happy. I'm pretty sure peacock would also have said his first loyalties are with his club so don't talk daft!

Can't see anything wrong with Big Eorls response, think he's behaved like anybody else would have done in the circumstances and is facing up to life outside the England set up whilst this idiot is in charge. What's he expected to do bend over and kiss Mcbanana's ass, and then thank him for dumping him on the eve of the WC for reasons best known to the idiot himself. On the bright side he''ll be back fully fit and fired up for the Giants at the start of next season. Who knows he might even get another chance in the England set up when Mcbanana finally gets the axe once the Aussies have whooped our "big game players" asses and we get a decent coach in charge.

Well said!!
And I always thought Wire fans talked a lot of sense, how wrong was I?

Being the poster boy or not if he'd said nothing that could be even remotely construed as sour grapes and if one of the train on squad picked up and injury or god forbid Hill picks one up in the final, he might have been the next name on the sheet, now SM thinks sod it, he's not that committed.

You want to defend your own player, I get that but that said player has, no matter how he's said that message, shot himself in the foot.

if an injury comes along and the manager has to call on others to backfill a gap then it's the managers job to manage the situation, not go crying about a local newspaper report and throw the baby out with the bathwater. He reminds me of Erikson and the England football team, when he picked Walcott as a teenager and never played him, could Tom Burgess end up in a similar vein, as he's very little experience.

Think there will be a few giants fans backing the other "home nations" this year after the omission of eorl and brough!
Have to say I will be backing England but surely there could be a much better side being together for October?
Will be keeping a good eye on all the lads!! May even jump ship to png and be backing chan and menzie yere!