Paul Wellens

[Ron Jeremy]

Is he not one of the worst fullbacks you've ever seen at International level? i have never known why this guy continuely gets picked, he's slow, out position most times, lacks spark...what has he got? seriously why is he still getting picked? ffs you could put Joel Clinton as St Helens number 1 and he'd be great.

Also, Englands wingers, how sh*thouse?, they remind me of Luke burt, have pace but crab all over the place and get run over and caught out in defense.

Apart from that, i think England have the right halfback and forward pack to be competitive, just f**k of Wellens and their wingers, they're sh*t and will never do anything at international level.

 

[ali]

I agree. I've never rated Wellens, and I wouldn't pick him. I've always liked Briscoe from Hull KR, wouldn't mind seeing him at the next level. I also think Leon Pryce would make a better fullback than 5/8.

The wings are definitely a problem. Lee Smith is only young, and did get man of the match in the Super League Grand Final. He definitely has potential. Ade Gardner is solid at best, more in the mould of Luke Rooney than anything exciting. There are 1 or 2 raw propspects emerging like Ricky Sheriffe formerly of Quins and another Quins man, Will Sharpe who came good towards the end of last year. Kevin Penny was the great hope after 2008, but had a massive case of 2nd year syndrome last season. He has great pace, but can't tackle. I also don't mind Richard Owen at Cas, lets hope someone can step up to world class soon.

 

[gatesheadthunder]

Is he not one of the worst fullbacks you've ever seen at International level? i have never known why this guy continuely gets picked, he's slow, out position most times, lacks spark...what has he got? seriously why is he still getting picked? ffs you could put Joel Clinton as St Helens number 1 and he'd be great.

Also, Englands wingers, how sh*thouse?, they remind me of Luke burt, have pace but crab all over the place and get run over and caught out in defense.

Apart from that, i think England have the right halfback and forward pack to be competitive, just f**k of Wellens and their wingers, they're sh*t and will never do anything at international level.

Agree about Wellens, just not good enough at international level. I do think though that the centers are a bigger problem than the wingers. Senior/Gleeson/Sykes offer very little either in defence or attack. Sadly though, other than young Michael Shenton at castleford there is nobody else any better. I would play Ellis there myself, a better defender and no worse in attack.

 

[deluded pom?]

Lee Smith is only young, and did get man of the match in the Super League Grand Final.

He won that from FB.

 

[knocker norton]

We have better options IMO.

Lee Smith at full back, Raynor and Fox on the wings and potential in Shenton, Atkins and Clubb in the centres.

The sooner the old guard are retired the better.

 

[VictorTheViking]

Whatever happened to that guy Mathers that came out to play fullback for the titans in 07??

 

[Phillips]

Wigan

 

[Chook Norris]

agree about Wellens

never seen him do anything good at international level for a really long while

L.Smith should be there

 

[International RL]

Wellens has to go. His lack of speed from the back is criminal.

Something has to be done about England's right edge defence. It is diabolical at times. Shredded to pieces by Manu....

 

[nqboy]

Agree on Wellens. Solid and even stylish at times but as slow as a wet week. I can't believe he keeps getting picked either.

 

[Fairleigh Good!]

You slate Paul Wellens for his performances and that is fair enough. However the reason Wellens is there in the first place is because he's proven himself time and time again to be superior at club level. What good would dropping him for an inferior player do in the long run?

Smith is the only player they could even consider in reality. He is about 2 foot tall and has proven he can't defend for toffee, so what good would it do? England have backs coming through now like Lawrence and Cudjoe at Huddersfield who have the required size, but the current SL players are all too small.

Selecting different players isn't the answer. Super League, whilst still vastly superior to the NRL in entertainment terms, is dying because of the importing of incredibly average players from the NRL, which denies the English youngsters the opportunity to play in the key positions in SL. Most clubs have NRL players in their key positions and clubs aren't willing to write off a season or two when they can import a ready made, experienced Aussie clone from the NRL for less money.

The root cause of our terrible WC is the young players going into the game. In the UK RL is on par with Japanese toad strangling as a sport. Even if you live in the heartlands of the sport (A few insignificant towns off the M62) you are still very unlikely to ever be involved in league. Football rules all. England's Israel Falous, Darren Lockyers and Andrew Johns are playing football for the Nags Head this weekend or getting drunk in town, blissfully unaware their World Cup winning destiny is passing them by. We don't have the athletes going into the game at youth level that Australia does. 99/100 of the young people in the country would never consider playing the game or be exposed to it.

 

[Mr. Fahrenheit]

Pryce at FB
Mc Guire at FE
Burrow at Half

with Calderwood and Gardner on wings (is Gardner injured or not in the squad?)
Gleeson and Senior can do ok at centre.

The problem for me with the English team isn't the talent, its the attitude and lack of heart. If you combined the passion and attitude of the kumuls with the talent of the English team, then you've got someone who can beat the Aussies on a regular basis.

 

[ali]

Whatever happened to that guy Mathers that came out to play fullback for the titans in 07??

Had a poor season I think. Has struggled to find his best form ever since he had the knee reconstruction. It's a shame, as I thought he was quite a good player when at Leeds.

 

[Pierced Soul]

You slate Paul Wellens for his performances and that is fair enough. However the reason Wellens is there in the first place is because he's proven himself time and time again to be superior at club level. What good would dropping him for an inferior player do in the long run?
.

so essentially he's a good club player but sh*thouse at rep level?

i think the selectors/coach need to be looking at changing the old guard. senior has never impressed me either, pryce is so overated it's not funny.

whilst i acknowledge england dont have the depth, surely they've got some players willing to have a go.

speed whilst being good for a fb isnt the most essential thing. hunst is'nt quick but he has great positioning which allows him to get around this. wellens has got nothing

 

[ucantseeme]

They need to change their game plan I think.

Phil Gould mentioned in last nights AUS vs PNG that the Kumuls had to go for unexpected plays to try to beat the Roos. Short kickoffs, chip kicks, etc. That's the type of thing England should do if they manager to somehow beat NZ next week. The whole 'pride in the jersey' thing isn't enough to beat the Roos in the WC final.

If Wellens is their best FB option then fair enough. I think it's not that Wellens cant play it's more that he gets overshadowed by his opposite number. Slater and Hohaia are in top form. If anything Wellens should work on his support play. Follow guys like Peacock and Ellis and Morley, get them to offload and go go go.

 

[cb4]

wellens is trash

 

[babyg]

I'm sure first time I saw Roby play the Aussies a few years back he was playing in the Centres. A bit like now, he was the guy that looked dangerous against us. Pryce to fullback. Liked Gleeson at 5/8th. Don't like Gardiner and Smith was caught out too many times in defence.

 

[Jono078]

I was actually gonna make a thread on this guy.

He hast to be one of the most overated players, he got the golden boot last year didnt he?

He is so bad, slow, doesnt get to the ball on the full and offers nothing in attack.

If that is Englands best fullback, I cant imagine how poor the others would be.

Then there is us in Aus, cant stop producing quality fullbacks.

 

[marv]

You slate Paul Wellens for his performances and that is fair enough. However the reason Wellens is there in the first place is because he's proven himself time and time again to be superior at club level. What good would dropping him for an inferior player do in the long run?

Smith is the only player they could even consider in reality. He is about 2 foot tall and has proven he can't defend for toffee, so what good would it do? England have backs coming through now like Lawrence and Cudjoe at Huddersfield who have the required size, but the current SL players are all too small.

Selecting different players isn't the answer. Super League, whilst still vastly superior to the NRL in entertainment terms, is dying because of the importing of incredibly average players from the NRL, which denies the English youngsters the opportunity to play in the key positions in SL. Most clubs have NRL players in their key positions and clubs aren't willing to write off a season or two when they can import a ready made, experienced Aussie clone from the NRL for less money.

The root cause of our terrible WC is the young players going into the game. In the UK RL is on par with Japanese toad strangling as a sport. Even if you live in the heartlands of the sport (A few insignificant towns off the M62) you are still very unlikely to ever be involved in league. Football rules all. England's Israel Falous, Darren Lockyers and Andrew Johns are playing football for the Nags Head this weekend or getting drunk in town, blissfully unaware their World Cup winning destiny is passing them by. We don't have the athletes going into the game at youth level that Australia does. 99/100 of the young people in the country would never consider playing the game or be exposed to it.

every word in this post is 100% bang on

 

[gatesheadthunder]

Wellens is a decent player but at this level his lack of pace has been exposed badly. To be fair he isn't the only back (Gleeson, Senior) who has looked poor. At this stage we may aswell gamble and put Lee Smith in at fullback.