Souths' (ie. your man Maguire's) plan is to use Sam Burgess at 13 this season, whatever happened in the first game. But you obviously think you know better than him.

Not arguing the above point but maybe that's because it's become the Australan way to play what is effectively a 3rd prop at 13. Sam, for all his quality, has no kicking game, utilitarian passing and doesn't really operate as any sort of link. If that's the way England are going then fine. It's never been the GB/England way in the past and we have little experience in playing this way. That's not to say it's neccessarily wrong. However, it might not serve us well to try and play the Aussies at their own game. Just a thought...

he rang you and told you that did he???



I don't think I know better than him, i'm just questioning the fact people think he should be played in a different position as to where his club coach plays him, despite the fact the majority on here probably haven't seen him play since he was last in an England jersey

I dont doubt he has a good kicking game, but the rest of his game (IMO) is not International standard, although our choices are limited at halfback.

How the hell is Zak Hardaker anywhere near the England team and Atkins is overlooked again. Atkins has been outstanding for 2 seasons now and Hardaker looks just an average youngster at best at the moment

It's great to see Ryan Atkins getting some love. I do still think he's a bit of a bully though, by that I mean that he always shines against the lesser sides. I bet you've never seen him play Wigan and think "Atkins had a belter tonight". Good and potentially great player, but a lot of work to do.

Hardaker was embarrasingly poor against Castleford last week. How he has got in over Atkins is beyond me.

How there's 11 Leeds players in the England setup is beyond me.

Hardaker has a lot of potential, but is still developing as a centre. He also looks as though he's suffering a bit playing on the left TBH. At least he is big and quick, unlike so many threequarters we've picked in the past. Seems to me that he may be in for experience at this stage?

As for Atkins, he withdrew from selection last year didn't he? Has he made himself available? IMO Atkins was honest and brave in stating that the last time he played the Aussies his confidence got smashed. Maybe he wants to make sure he really believes he's up to it himself before trying again? Physically there's no doubt at all he'd be OK - the question is whether the rest of his game (setting up the winger and defensive positioning) is up to it.

We all need to hope Watkins stays injury-free and carries on developing his game. As well as being big and fast he also - unlike so many British centres including the likes of Senior - came into the game with a ready-made passing game from the start.

Aren't quite a few of the Leeds players 2nd choice in their position (especially when you add Reed, Widdopp, Burgess, Ellis and Graham) just like last year? Care to name which ones you'd drop from the squad and for who? I bet you can't name 11 better English players in SL apart from those already in the squad.

No he wouldn't

Leeds Rhinos produced players
Ablett,Bailey,Burrow,Carvell,Jones-Bishop,JJB,McGuire,Morley,Sinfield,Watkins

Wigan Warriors produced players
Charnley,Hock,McIlorum,Mossop,O'Loughlin,Tomkins

=#FF0000None of which should be in the 17

=#4000FFWhich should be in the starting 13

And Watkins played his junior academy rugby at Salford.

Tomkins
Charnley/Briscoe (depending on form)
Reed
Watkins
Hall
Widdop/Lomax (depending on form)
Brough
Graham
Roby
Burgess
Westwood
Ellis
O'Loughlin

Peacock (if he can still hack it, otherwise Mossop or Carvell)
Morley (likewise)
Wilkin/JJB/Another mobile second rower
Burrow

Would be my first choice. Plenty of pace in the backline, excellent kicking game and the usual standard of pack that we put out.

As has been mentioned, if we have a downfall it will be in the backline and the coaching, we have been churning out enough decent forwards for a long time. The promising thing is that our three quarters are now athletic as well as fairly big, as are our wingers.

I worry about the half backs however, we seem far too obsessed with 'runners' in England (as our reluctance to play ball players such as Tommy Martyn showed), we are crying out for an Adrian Lam type who will grab the game by the scruff of the neck and lead us around the pitch.

I was on about SL as a whole, nearly every club has got a few players that have come through the Wigan Academy, I dont think the same could be said for Leeds.

I think it probably could.

Off the top of my head: Morley, Carvell, Gibson, Broughton, Murrell, Netherton, Scruton, Walker, Diskin, Gale, Mathers, Fox.

There'll be others I've forgotten.

There are 22 players elsewhere in Super League who have come through the Wigan academy system. I reckon Leeds probably have more than that.

Hargreaves, Ainscough, Jones, Colbon, Melling, Gilmour, Brown, Robinson, O'Carroll, Aspinwall, Hodgson, Gleeson, Jewitt, Wild, Howarth, Veivers, Briscoe, Davies, Clarke, Kavanagh, Allen, Coyle and Marsh is on loan.

Questions marks over Hodgson and I might have missed out a couple.

So McBanana (a coach with no track record at club or country level) makes his squad selection and you offer that as proof that Leeds' academy system is better than our's?





A very poor attempt. Try harder next time.

Widnes 37 Wigan 36
I again expect Rogues and all you believists on pie dome to tell us how much better the Wigan academy players are than their counterparts at the Leeds Rhinos

I'm sorry, did Leeds play and beat Widnes with a few kids playing today?

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Quote ="inside_man"I'm sorry, did Leeds play and beat Widnes with a few kids playing today?'" No but we definately did the self same thing against Cas on the 28th june 2008 and beat them with a team of at that time academy players www.therhinos.co.uk/rugby/110.ph ... ixid=76539

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