Finally, options at half back

[JasonE]

This time last year England only had Rob Burrow as an option to play 7, at least three young halves have emerged in Rich Myler, Sam Tomkins and Kyle Eastmond to put pressure on Burrow.
Thats what you need in every poition.

 

[roughyedspud]

i expect myler & tomkins to get a start @ 7&6 next weekend against wales with eastmond on the bench to swap with either of them at some point..


and given eastmond seemless ability to step in at 7,center,wing or fullback and not look fased or out of place (as the GF proved) he looks destined to fill the back untility spot on the bench

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

I dont think England realistically can consider Myler, Tomkins or Eastmond as a serious half for matches against Australia or New Zealand. My god they are still kids arent they? did they debut in the Super League this year?

Yes, wonderful prospects, especially Tomkins, but let them develop their game before hoping they can save Englands halves problems.

 

[bartman]

May as well throw them in there to get international experience, otherwise they'll never develop from kids into confident rep players.

Like most halves - Thurston included at the Cowboys - they will be useless without a dominant pack of forwards leading the way. That's where international games are won and lost imo.

 

[Billythekid]

May as well throw them in there to get international experience, otherwise they'll never develop from kids into confident rep players.

Like most halves - Thurston included at the Cowboys - they will be useless without a dominant pack of forwards leading the way. That's where international games are won and lost imo.

Agreed. No point protecting them. They will never find out whats its like to rep games until they get the oppurtunity.

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

Agreed. No point protecting them. They will never find out whats its like to rep games until they get the oppurtunity.

But there needs to be a way of easing them into this level. A stable half next to them is needed, like what Parra did with Jeff Robson and Daniel Mortimer, Sean Long comes to mind. The kids need to find their feet before facing Australia and NZ.

 

[JasonE]

The squad hasn't been named yet but both Eastmond and Tomkins are IN.

 

[Billythekid]

But there needs to be a way of easing them into this level. A stable half next to them is needed, like what Parra did with Jeff Robson and Daniel Mortimer, Sean Long comes to mind. The kids need to find their feet before facing Australia and NZ.

When you have Jared Hayne doing a heap of the work for the halves it kind of takes the pressure off them.

England doesn't have that luxury.

I sort of agree they should be allowed to find their feet first but in general if they are good enough they will be able to handle it. Just look at how young some of the Australian team has come through.

 

[WireMan]

Problem in this country is though the media will hype them up as great white hopes, then when we lose they will be blamed and it could put them back a bit.

All three of them will have to step up this next year so we will see how they develop. Long has gone from Stains so Eastmond will have a lot of pressure there, Myler has joined Wire and we will be looking to him for good things. Tomkins has a new coach to impress, Smith has gone (i think), and there is no one else there so he is gonna be the centre of attention.

I think this years 4 nations is one year to early to put them all in at the same time. Put them in the squad to get a feel for it. Maybe put them on the bench. I wouldn't start two of them vs the Aussies, it would be counter productive. IMO.

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

I dont think its a bad idea to bench them 1 at a time and start them all against France. I promise you, Australia and New Zealand will find them out very quickly if they play at the same time. If Tomkins and Myler are the starting halves against Australia, England will not score a try from a set. Might score scrappy ones like Robys in the World Cup, but that will be about it.

 

[roughyedspud]

myler & mcguire will be the starting halves for the big games...


personally i thinks it's a mistake not to have rob burrow & leon pryce in the 24,sure pryce had a crap world cup but he's still one of the most dangerous players we have..and i don't know what burrow has done to be ommitted?

 

[westie]

They're good players, but halfbacks they are not.

 

[KumulRaider]

what about Sean Long??

 

[roughyedspud]

what about him?

 

[Deleted member 10972]

Whatever happened to these halves? I recall a fair few of them being near GB contention a few years ago:

Paul Deacon
Sean Long
Luke Robinson
Chris Thorman
Kevin Brown
Lee Briers
Danny Brough

 

[jim_57]

Whatever happened to these halves? I recall a fair few of them being near GB contention a few years ago:

Paul Deacon
Sean Long
Luke Robinson
Chris Thorman
Kevin Brown
Lee Briers
Danny Brough

Brough should be playing for Scotland, he missed out England selection, wouldn.t be too supried to see him there in coming years though.

Long is retired from rep.

Deacon, Robinson, Thorman and Brown don't even rate a mention at the moment.

Lee Briers has retiered from rep but would be the first picked in the Welsh side if still available.

 

[Evil Homer]

Brown is a good solid half but not international standard. Robinson again had a decent season but went missing in a few games, and is has never made the step up to international level. Thorman had a nightmare at Hull and has now dropped out of Super League. Deacon is well past his best, his poor form was a major reason for Bradford missing out on the play-offs. Brough will probably not get picked ahead of the halves available.