Briers and Reardon were the standouts

[JasonE]

Ironically these are 2 of the players going home.

Reardon - Brilliant on his feet and deceptive runner
Carney - a joke, wouldn't be anywhere near GB if i was selector
Gleeson - showed touches of class
Senior - very quiet in attack but worked hard in defence
Aspinwall - solid debut not many opportunities.
McGuire - needed the hitout, has put on weight but showed his class with 2 great tries.
Briers - Absolutley superb, guided team around the park.
O'Loughlin - what his attack lacks he makes up for in defence,an awesome hitter.
Ellis - had a good hitout and worked hard.
Hock - may have played his way into the 17, god he's grown.
Peacock - started well before rested, came back on later and got sin binned.
Higham - slightly disappointed, was hoping for a blinder but looked rusty.
Fielden - injured early, couldn't get going.

Wood - ran strongly and worked hard
Coley - made a few mistakes, not sure he did enough to make top 17
Burrow - was realy good when he came on with his running and kicking.
Hodgson - 2 tries and looked the goods, brought the ball back well.
Westwood - good work rate but will be one who goes home early.

 

[Newcastlerabbit]

The 2SM radio crew were rapping Briers bigtime.

 

[deluded pom?]

It's not at all ironic if you are a G.B. supporter Jason . It's totally expected from Noble . He's just paid Briers lip service to keep him quiet . Briers has always played well against Australia when he's played for Wales . He deserves his chance .

 

[East Coast Tiger]

In the AAP report I read today Noble wrapped Fielden, Peacock and Senior. No mention of Reardon or Briers. I reckon he's talking up Peacock and Senior because he knows there's been some question marks over their possible selection in the starting side. That would indicate he intends picking them both to start next week. Not that Peacock didn't deserve some credit. He played well early, although he could have been sent off for running into that fight at the end, which would have been a very stupid thing to do. As for Fielden, he was okay but he didn't really play that mich of the game. I appreciate he hasn't played for ages and he did hurt an ankle early on but there were better players. The fact Noble hasn't wrapped Reardon and Briers indicates they will be going home as planned.

 

[deluded pom?]

Can you guess which coach let Reardon go from the Bulls to Warrington ?

 

[East Coast Tiger]

Can you guess which coach let Reardon go from the Bulls to Warrington ?

I don't have to guess

 

[JasonE]

I think Noble has hinted in 2 interviews what his team will be, on both occasions he spoke about Kirk Yeaman, Gaz Hock and O'Loughlin. He also said Terry Newton will play and mentioned McGuire and Carvell so from that i'd say they will all feature.

After watching Australia and Kiwis big wingers i would put Senior and Pryce on the wings to match their height and power.

 

[East Coast Tiger]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/international_and_australian/6074366.stm

GB coaches trim Tri-Nations squad​

Great Britain have released four players from their squad as they build towards their opening Tri-Nations Test.
Warrington duo Lee Briers and Ben Westwood, Salford's David Hodgson and Wigan's Mickey Higham will return home from the squad's base in Australia.
"Following our warm-up game, the staff have now finalised their plans for the series," said team manager Abi Ekoku.

Britain, who beat Newcastle 40-6 in their match on Friday, face New Zealand in Christchurch on Saturday.

"We would like thank the players returning home for their contributions to the squad and the professionalism they have shown during their time with the group," added Ekoku.​

​

I guess that answers it. Briers sent home but Reardon stays. Wood also stays to give them a bit more size after losing Graham.

 

[The Observer]

Jason, why do you think Carney should be dropped on the basis of this game only?

I have to argue that Briers is the only genuine playmaker or organiser in this team. Nevertheless, Noble will probably leave him behind, share the responsibilities between Long and a host of players, and leave the Lions directionless again.

 

[douglasallen91]

27 in the squad? i thought you was only allowed 25 so i duess their is two on standby. who are they?

 

[Evil Homer]

I always thought Reardon did well on the wing for GB in 2004.I'm glad he's stayed with the squad.

 

[bartman]

27 in the squad? i thought you was only allowed 25 so i duess their is two on standby. who are they?

Players originally down as standbys and staying on are Reardon, Westwood and Wood. Probably a fair guess that Wood has taken James Graham's spot in the 25.

 

[East Coast Tiger]

Players originally down as standbys and staying on are Reardon, Westwood and Wood. Probably a fair guess that Wood has taken James Graham's spot in the 25.

Westwood is going home, it's only Reardon and Wood staying. Wood is needed due to Graham's loss. GB are still short on size and Wood was the only player that came over of any size. He also played okay on Friday although he did get sin-binned. I think Reardon just got to stay because Noble realised how good he is/could be for GB if Friday's effort is anything to go by.

 

[bartman]

Yeah, got Westwood wrong, must've got my sums wrong as I was looking for 24+3=27? Time for me to get some sleep I think...

 

[JasonE]

Jason, why do you think Carney should be dropped on the basis of this game only

No mate i haven't based it on one game, i don't really rate Carney and i think due to his lack of size he will struggle against the big Kiwis and Aussie wingers.

I believe Pryce, Senior, Reardon and Raynor are all better options.
Even David Hodgson has improved out of sight these last 2 years and is now a very good finisher.

 

[deluded pom?]

It's not as if Carney hasn't played against these "monsters" before . He's played poorly and well against them in the past . I thought he was getting rave reviews in Australia for Newcastle?

 

[Frederick]

It's not as if Carney hasn't played against these "monsters" before . He's played poorly and well against them in the past . I thought he was getting rave reviews in Australia for Newcastle?

He was very good for us this season, playing every game, scoring 17 tries, and forming a formiddable combination with Matt Gidley, which unfortunately will never be seen again
His defense was the only thing lacking in his game here. I'm not sure why he played so poorly for GB on Friday night :?

 

[bartman]

27 in the squad? i thought you was only allowed 25 so i duess their is two on standby. who are they?

I've worked out my mistake. Was counting Lee Radford, when he never actually flew out and instead played for England last night. So it's 26 left on tour, with Wood officially in the 25 and Reardon on stand-by.

 

[The Observer]

No mate i haven't based it on one game, i don't really rate Carney and i think due to his lack of size he will struggle against the big Kiwis and Aussie wingers.

I believe Pryce, Senior, Reardon and Raynor are all better options.
Even David Hodgson has improved out of sight these last 2 years and is now a very good finisher.

I think Carney has been one of the most consistent wingers in the Lions strip. Regarding size, he might only be 1.8 m tall, but he is 90kg, is a strong hitter, has great leg drive and takes the ball up strongly, nearly always making ground. Whether wingers like Vatuvei or Inglis outleap him remains to be seen. I don't think they'll overpower him though.

Of the other players, I think Pryce will be wasted on the wing, I think he struggles to get involved there and has never really done much in the position at international level. IMO he should play fullback (even with the slow Wellens getting Man of Steel). Senior had the capacity to play wider earlier in his career, as he did in 1998 for the Lions, but now he's lost some spark (not just due to off field issues but just getting older), and if he were to be shifted anywhere it'd be into the second row, where I reckon he's do a better job than some guys (e.g. Ellis and Gilmour).

Reardon and Raynor each have different strengths, but I'm not sure I'd start them ahead of Carney.

 

[deluded pom?]

So can someone please explain it to me ? You take a squad of 29 to Australia . You play a trial match . You send home two of your better performers . What a total waste of time and money . Noble had no intention of keeping Briers or Hodgson so why did he take them in the first place ? This is where you get found out Brian .