Quote ="wrencat1873"i'd rather be reading about one of our current or ex players comments, rather than those of Salford's coach.'" On that basis you shouldn't have a problem then! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Noble_(rugby_league) Playing career "...concluding in the centenary season of 1995-96 following a spell at Wakefield Trinity"

Quote ="wrencat1873"i'd rather be reading about one of our current or ex players comments, rather than those of Salford's coach.'" On that basis you shouldn't have a problem then! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Noble_(rugby_league) Playing career "...concluding in the centenary season of 1995-96 following a spell at Wakefield Trinity"

Come on Dave! You are on our forum as much as we are.
Just change your name to Dave@Wakey2013 and come clean. You know you want to.

Put him in at scrum half, he's horrible and needs JP into him!
Just find him a place, water boy will do!

It's a shame all this.

First I totally agree about Chase, but when you read the SL apologist on the VT like Smokey and co you can see how this has come to pass.

The sad thing is that the current crop of players available to our moronic coach are IMHO the best for some 20 years. Sadly he choses to have an antipodean obsession which is mirrored throughout the sport.

Chase is a decent enough player but no world beater. Personally I wouldn't have him even if he were but the fact that he isn't makes his selection all the more ridiculous. Myler, Burrows, Tompkins, Widdop, Brough and a few more offer similar.

With the pack we may be able to field all the above should be able to operate to the best of their abilities so why push Chase when he really won't make much of a difference.

If the game had a Coach and a Management with any moral fibre we would be in with a chance - but until we do it remains unlikely.

In response Vasty (I totally agree with your post BTW) I think McNamara recognises that, Solid as Widdop is (and I'm sure WILL BE when the WC starts) him and Chase are pretty much as North/South as you can get with Stand Off's.

I may be biased but if Chase qualifies for selection then that's fine by me. The rules are the same globally, and it's not the first time it's happened (Iaafeta Palea'asina)

Anyway, in my opinion, the off-the-cuff style of Chase and his potential individual brilliance shouldn't be overlooked by the England coach, and I think he was absolutely correct in playing him at 6 against the exiles - in what is, technically, a friendly.

I've no problem at all with McNamara trying our good players in certain combinations, because, as you say, for once we have depth! If it doesn't work try something else! That's surely what these fixtures are about, coming up to a world cup.

I've no doubt that Widdop will get the nod, as Chase hasn't stood out like he potentially (maybe) could've done.

At least we can go to the WC now (probably with Widdop) saying, you know what, this guy was the best 6 we could've fielded. Rather than not knowing what Chase's impact would've been.

The problem is he didn't show any of that and its that trait that is Chases' main (probably only) trump card. McNamara had him playing to a structured system which just doesn't suit him, if he is going to play that way then surely Widdop, who plays in the most structured team of them all at Melbourne, should be first pick. Sadly for Chase England won't be playing the Cas tactic of letting Rangi do his thing so i'm afraid the best he will get is maybe an impact player off the bench role if its all going wrong. But personally I would with other options off the bench, probably Lunt.

He also didn't do himself any favours with his defensive performance either, something that Widdop is strong at. Whilst I maintain Brough and Widdop should have been the partnership, that ship has sailed and for me Widdop and Sinfield should get the halves gig.