ENGLAND in 4 nations . you rate them ?

[deal.with.it]

Thats a strong team spud. I like whitehead at centre

 

[winnyason]

Sorry but england don't have hope to make final, the aussies will have hayne more to fullback still have superspine, plus inglis.
Kiwis have a strong front row of bromwich, luke, moa backrow featuring ben henry and jason tamololo, shaun johnson with foran too good for england i am afraid.


England have no star half that is the drama, widdop is good but not in shame class as thurston or johnson. Great pack james graham, george and tom burgess, chris hill, ferres but halfs win games.

Samoa will have likes of roy asotasi, tony puletua, francis meli, jeff lima, daniel vidot, bj leuluia, junior sau, hopefully steve matai and ben roberts in halfs.

 

[BrisbaneRhino]

At least Ellis originally started as a centre. A second row out there is a recipe for disaster.

Also, could the person who suggested there are 5 better props than Cooper in SL please name them (excluding the others in the team)? I can't think of any that are miles better, and a slightly above average NRL hardened forward will always trump a better than average SL player IMO - not least in simply being exposed to the plays he will face.

IIRC McNamara did scout around the NRL - and got pilloried for it, despite it clearly being the way to go. That's why Widdopp is playing for England now and not NSW. The halfback he did go after was DCE - now THAT would have given England a halfback pairing worth talking about. Sadly it didn't happen, but I've got absolutely no problem with the coach trying to get quality players to switch to England. I think McNamara has now left it as an open invitation to players rather than actively scouting them - with quite a few in the NRL already that's probably a very good tactic.

 

[Son of Minto]

Gareth Widdop was never eligible for NSW anyway

 

[Evil Homer]

Also, could the person who suggested there are 5 better props than Cooper in SL please name them (excluding the others in the team)?

Walmsley, Amor, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Huby, Crabtree, I'd also probably take Scott Taylor and Tony Clubb and maybe even Dom Crosby ahead of Cooper.

 

[franklin2323]

Has Cooper been picked as a prop or as a benchie that can play anywhere in the pack? He looked good at lock the times I have seen him there

 

[Evil Homer]

Has Cooper been picked as a prop or as a benchie that can play anywhere in the pack? He looked good at lock the times I have seen him there

There are only 4 other props in the squad so he'll probably be the first reserve and maybe get a run against Samoa. Not a chance in hell of him playing at lock.

 

[franklin2323]

There are only 4 other props in the squad so he'll probably be the first reserve and maybe get a run against Samoa. Not a chance in hell of him playing at lock.

Not in the team picked above but who's reserve halves? O'Loughlin and Sam Tomkins?

 

[Evil Homer]

Not in the team picked above but who's reserve halves? O'Loughlin and Sam Tomkins?

Ratchford and then probably Tomkins, O'Loughlin and Sarginson. Although they would probably call up a replacement before playing Sarginson in the halves.

 

[roughyedspud]

even though he made his name at london as a half...

hopefully he'll move into the wigan halves when blake green goes

 

[JasonE]

Sarginson played five eighth against Samoa last year and had a blinder, talented kid who does well anywhere in the back line.

 

[roughyedspud]

shall we whisper he was born in perth WA..lol

 

[franklin2323]

Ratchford and then probably Tomkins, O'Loughlin and Sarginson. Although they would probably call up a replacement before playing Sarginson in the halves.

Flexible squad. Cooper might get a run if they mix things up against Samoa. Though Full strength he shouldn't be in the team. Though if he keeps coming along next year who knows

 

[BrisbaneRhino]

That list of props better than Cooper was laughable.

 

[roughyedspud]

its really not

 

[BrisbaneRhino]

..yes it is. You're talking players who don't particularly stand out in SL in the way Chris Hill can, or Peacock. Not a single one of those players couldn't potentially make it in the NRL in the same way as Cooper, and I expect they'd improve as he has. But right now they aren't way ahead of him at all.

 

[roughyedspud]

if cooper can the practically all our forwards can....

mike cooper is a good solid pro...nothing more nothing less

 

[marv]

That list of props better than Cooper was laughable.

Bang on, some aren't even playing prop regularly for their clubs.

Mike Cooper is deserved of his spot this time round.

Hilariously some people seem to think the fact he couldn't get in Warringtons team in PREVIOUS years means he should not be considered this year, serious joke!

 

[goodplayer]

i see english fans are talking up the england team , very good

 

[Harrigan]

Ok, with the squad picked Id like to see;

Hardaker
J. Burgess
Watkins
Shenton
Hall
Widdop
S. Tomkins
Graham
Clark
Hill
Ferres
J. Tomkins
O'Loughlin

G.Burgess
T. Burgess
Westerman
Hodgson