Love the name

There was complaints about them, but also the company who owned Gilbert and Steeden (Grays, I think) dicided to split manufacturers and use one for Rugby Union (Gilbert) and one for Rugby League (Steeden), therefore brining in the Australian-style ball from the NRL.

To be fair, have re-read the article and it appears he's in there as "role model" - if that's re: professionalism and attitude there are few better, he was a terrific pro.

If you're looking at performances in a GB shirt, I'd go to the likes of Scully, Farrell, Offiah, Lydon, Hanley, Clarke, Barrie Mac, Kev Ward, Goodway etc. Guess it depends how far you want to go back. I appreciate not all of these players may be available/interested.

Even the article mentions a good reason for his inclusion is his debut where he dropped a ball that led to a try but didn't let it bother him. Dropped balls and missed tackles wouldn't inspire me too much on the playing side (not that he's in any way alone in that respect, sadly enough).

Of the recent past only Scully and Farrell have the aura to pull of this sort of role in any meaningful way IMO, but there are lots on a par with Radlinski who for me falls into the excellent club player, average international player bracket.

All just my opinion of course.

So you base international performances on ''How many tries somebody scored''?

If he does then Connolly was dreadful too



To be fair, 2 tries between Connolly and Radlinski in their international careers (if he's right about KR, I haven't checked) is woeful for a full back and centre and shows that some of the best players of their generation in England struggle to step up against the Aussies. You can throw the likes of Newlove, KC, Pryce etc in there too.

Depressing really.

Great player that he was I honestly have to admit to feeling disappointed with his international performances most of the time. My only crumb of comfort is that KFC was an even bigger international disappointment!!

Wouldn't argue with that unfortunately.

In no order

Hanly
Offiah
Clarke
Scully P
Crooks
Robinson
Davies
Carney
Harris (only just retired, but he was still better than Radlinski for GB, and he's a good young coach)
Even Farrell would have been a better apointment.

I'd definitely say that this appointment was to be a role model. Maybe his international career wasn't fantastic, but that fact that in the last 10-15 years there have only been two influential players for GB says more about our set up then it does for Radlinski.

Radlinski was a fantastic fullback and was the ultimate professional. Considering England's last performance in Oz a little bit of professionalism and guidance wouldn't go a miss in the side.

Nope, but I thought I'd atleast give one example of his gash-ness at test level.

Ok, give another....

His defense was found very wanting at times for GB, as was his kick-returns along with his most of his play in attack, and his positioning was poor aswell. All of this is opinion of course, and unlike his try scoring record isn't fact I suppose (In my eyes it was

)

If players need a role model for professionalism at that level then they should just not be picked.

I also wonder what effect he would have on current players, whilst he will go down as a great in your eyes, like Wellens he will only ever be a club great. He just wasn't good enough at a high enough level to gain the respect of anyone else.

Because Wellens is so much better these days... even Smith isnt a match winner. Radlinski, don't forget, did not play the likes of Wales, PNG & France on a regular basis.

I never saw Radlinski perform as poorly in a four game run as Wellens did in Australia last year.

The Aussies whinged about them when they came over for the Ashes if i remember rightly so we went to using their Steeden balls.

Set the bar low enough and anyone could look good!!

I never saw him getting MOMs either, or going under the sticks in Sydney.

Shock horror, non wigan fans think a wigan player having something to do with internationals is a bad thing!

At least when we get hammered next time by the ausies, you can blame another wigan lad, must have been hard in the world cup without our lads to blame.

Harris

IIRC in the England v Wales World Cup Semi Final at Old Trafford he pulled off one of the best try saving tackles I've ever seen whilst the scores were locked late on in the game. I'm sure it was Sullivan flying down the wing, Rads lined him up and nailed him, dragging him in touch whilst he was at it. Try saved, England scored....final at Wembley versus Aus.

If Radlinski was an international failure what does that make half the Leeds side that turned up that damp squid of a performance in Australia?

Yes.

let's blame the fb for not pulling off a tackle on every player who get's through, not asking about how he got there in the first place!! a great pro imo, and with the right guidance will be a great coach