agree thats whatt im saying we have good domestic outside backs but not top class players, for me the likes of burgess,ellis,roby,graham ect are all top class players

what was the crowd tonight ?

Quiet, very quiet (unless Tomkins had the ball)

Apparently, 14,174. But Smailes says that's a load of rubbish.

14k i think anyway which isnt a bad start tbh, the booing was a disgrace and no matter who it is when hes playing for our country then he should get our ful support

how does smailes know thats rubbish?

He was there.

what and he spent all night counting every person did he

No idea, but i'm guessing he believes the crowd he saw with his own eyes was less than that which was announced!

If it was significantly ledd then it would be easy to see.

but i actually think its alot easier to tell a crowd watching it on tv rather been in and amonst the crowd, seeing the stands ect before the start of the game i thought they were 13-14k there but thats me

Found it pretty funny myself, would have joined in if I was there. Made even more funny by Hemmings crying his eyes out.

Without a doubt the halfback were the difference, the Exiles ability to move the ball was far better than ours. I don't understand how Myler get's in the England set up, he is a poor half who can only support the play.

Shenton also looked poor and Tomkins looks wasted at fullback the way we play.

The boys playing in the NRL will improve us but the halves are still the biggest worry for me.

Thought the Hull players showed up well tonight with Ogre and Manu impressing.

agree totally the halfbacks are a massive worry persoanlly id go with brough and lomax at this moment

to add to that ogre was the best prop on the field

Brough and Widdop will be in at the end of the year.

Hmm hardly mouth watering though is it.

not sure on widdop great talent but at this moment very much in a good posistion by playing in a top nrl team with cronk,slater and smith running the show and widdop coming in and out out showing flashes but for england we need an halfback thats going to orginise and structure the attacking style

That will be Brough. Widdop should in theory compliment him very nicely.

I actually really like that partnership in theory

It's not the worlds best but it would give us a well balanced pairing, throw in Tomkims at 1 and there's a nice ball handling look about them.

personally at this moment i would rather have lomax at 6 then widdop but can see macca playing widdop

Widdop is still unproven at club level, nevermind at international level. Brough I like but he has it to prove at this level too.

1 Tomkins
6 Widdop
7 Brough
9 Roby/Robinson

Potential there but a shame they will have no game time together before the 4Nations.

Still think the outside backs are lacking though.