This guy is a real handful. Reminds me a bit of Neil Cowie. Barrel chested and a very difficult to tackle running style. Could be a good shout for GB. Somebody like him is exactly what we need coming off the bench and roughing the Aussie forwards up a bit although i imagine he will be overlooked for the big show pony Walmsley or the darling of SKY Luke Thompson.

Hands off!

If there were an award for passion this lad would win it all day long.

When we played Wire Philbin nearly changed the game, he was making breaks and causing the defence real problems. I thought maybe there is something as an opposing fan that we dont see. Does he have defensive or stamina problems that stop him getting more game time. When you think they gave Akaulo a new deal and he was a waste of a bench place for Wire on Saturday commentators talking about how strong he was yet he offers very little. Philbin changed the game again.

You’re saying hands off to international honours? That’s all the OP referenced.

I think he’s a cracking impact player. He has a decent shout for GB but a lot of competition in his position.

Do people really think he's ahead of the Burgesses, Walmsley, Thompson, Graham, Hill, Sutton, Flower?

Just making sure that IL doesn't get any ideas!

Some of them id have him ahead of yes.

Walmsley - a giant show pony with a soft underbelly

Thompson - Different player to Philbin. Philbin offers mongrel and real impact.

Graham - Well past his best

Hill - Another past his best

Sutton - Not seen much of him since he left Wigan but he would of had to of improved massively if i was to pick him over Philbin

Flower - Another one past his best days. Still a vital member of the Wigan team and the best prop at the club when fully fit but come on, if you wanted something a bit different and some impact from the bench, you wouldnt bring Flower on. Flower is a starting prop and sadly hes not big enough to start for GB.

He has. Philbin is good, though, and was good again yesterday.

He’s played great for 2 weeks. Really great. Nice to see Warrington produce their own player rather than just sign ours.

GB though? Come off it

And which of those look like they can make an.impact of the bench?...none of them for me. They're more or less all starting props.

Ironically most of his family are from Wigan! The Philbin family had a farm off Bickershaw lane for years but moved to Glazebury/Culcheth in the late 90s

I think he’s definitely in with a shout if he keeps up his recent form.

Luke Thompson is a shoe in IMO. He has to be a starting prop. Then you have the Burgess brothers to choose from as well as Graham and Walmsley. I don’t think Chris Hill’s form has been good enough personally.

I don’t think Sutton brings anywhere near enough for a GB shirt yet, he’s a grafter and has aggression but the likes of Flower IMO would be better suited if they’re looking for someone to fill that sort of role. Philbin is more dynamic and adds impact going forward.

How the back row is set up will also dictate the front row a little too. If you have O’loughlin at 13, Sam Burgess is going to push up to SR or Prop.

I’d like to see something like ...

Thompson - Hodgson - T Burgess
Whitehead - Bateman
S Burgess

Bench - D Clarke, Graham, G Burgess, O’Loughlin

Quality player. come on leaps and bounds. Walks all over Flower and Sutton. Flower isnt good enough for Wigan let alone GB. He has a poor attitude too. Philbin has earned his shot. Better than Taylor and Hill and is in better form than Walmsley and Thompson and the whole idea is picking the form players not reputation.

I'd always pick the most talented four, then from those determine who is most suited to the bench role. If they're all similar and we keep up a high standard of play without any eye catching drives that's OK by me. For impact - I've always thought Taylor has been hard done by not to get more international game time

You should be more worried about Canberra getting ideas.

Nobody mentioned Liam Watts, sadly the best prop.in SL, has to be in the England 17.

Penalty machine, I wouldn't have him in

You are slating some of the best props in the league yet you were stating how good Greg Burke is !

No i didn't. Don't make bull up. I said Burke had good hands, So what?

Ben Flower made a comment to somebody in earshot of me about the coach Adrian Lam that was in very bad taste and completely un-professional trying to raise a laugh. So you and bigredwarrior can get down off your high horses.

What exactly does he do that is so good on the pitch? very, very average. There are about 30 Ben Flower's knocking about. Barely plays either. Not enough contribution. You rate him if you want. I don't. That is my opinion and nobody can tell me otherwise.

Typical of the hysteria that goes in our sport in my opinion you say a couple of good games and hes a cert for GB?



Good,solid workmanlike player is philbin nothing more, still time for him of course but as you say GB nowhere near yet.