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great britain team

T

The Punisher

Juniors
Messages
14
Jamie Thackray is the best British prop in the game at the moment and proved it yesterday in the semi against Saints. Should easily get picked for the first Tri nations game if he stays fit. Also Burrow is easily the best scrum half in GB at the moment, but show pony Long will probabley get the nod, how? is beyond me.
 
D

Deleted member 10972

Guest
Reardon over Pryce? I rank Reardon much like Wellens & Radlinski, Mathers, Withers & Briscoe, as a specialist fullback, hes a shadow winger at best, & behind Radlinski & Wellens for the fullback spot.
 
J

JasonE

Bench
Messages
3,107
Radlinski would've been about 6th in line for me, i'd put Horne, Wellens, Mathers, Briscoe, Pryce and Reardon at fullback before I considered him.
 
S

SFW

Juniors
Messages
110
At the moment my GB side would look something like this:

1. Paul Wellens (St Helens)
2. Mark Calderwood (Leeds)
3. Martin Gleeson (Warrington)
4. Keith Senior (Leeds)
5. Gareth Raynor (Hull)
6. Kevin Sinfield (Leeds)
7. Rob Burrow (Leeds)
8. Stuart Fielden (Bradford)
9. Keiron Cunningham (St Helens)
10. Adrian Morley (Sydney Roosters)
11. Jamie Peacock (Bradford)
12. Danny Tickle (Wigan)
13. Paul Sculthorpe (St Helens)

14. Richard Horne (Hull)
15. Gareth Ellis (Leeds)
16. Jamie Thackray (Hull)
17. Ryan Bailey (Leeds)

Rest of Squad:

Stuart Reardon (Bradford)
Leon Pryce (Bradford)
Danny McGuire (Leeds)
Nick Fozzard (St Helens)
Euan Dowes (Hull)
Matt Diskin (Leeds)
Lee Gilmour (St Helens)
Paul Cooke (Hull)

The only bolters from that groups would be Tickle and Dowes. I think Tickle has all the attributes to make in at this level, he gets through a mountain of work in both attack and defence and gives us extra options in the attack his his handling skills and decent kicking game. Starting him would also allow us to maximise the impact from the bench, Ellis and Thackray could really mix it up against a tiring Aussie pack. Dowes is a real grafter too, he's had an excellent season and with the poor standard of props available to GB I think he deserves the push ahead of the likes of Ward and Edmondson.
 
Scott

Scott

Bench
Messages
3,796
Just a question on Crabtree from Huddersfield? I've seen a few games this year and he looks like a good player. A massive man as well. I reckon he'd cause all sorts of problems for Aust and NZ. Is he a chance to play for GB?

Thoughts?
 
E

Evil Homer

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
7,178
Scott said:
Just a question on Crabtree from Huddersfield? I've seen a few games this year and he looks like a good player. A massive man as well. I reckon he'd cause all sorts of problems for Aust and NZ. Is he a chance to play for GB?

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

It's fairly unlikely this year but he's only about 23 so the experience of being in the squad will do him well,and he could be a threat in a year or two considering props don't usually peak till their late twenties.
 
bartman

bartman

Immortal
Messages
41,022
Well, Sculthorpe's injury makes things interesting

Ok, time to bite the bullet and weigh in with my predictions:

1. Wellens
2. Carney
3. Senior
4. Gleeson
5. Calderwood
6. Cooke (a bolter I know!)
7. Long (vc?)
8. Fielden
9. Cunningham
10. Morely
11. Ellis
12. Peacock (c)
13. Sinfield
14. Diskin
15. Bailey
16. Thackray
17. Johnson

18. Maguire
19. Burrow
20. Reardon
21. Diskin
22. Fozzard
23. King
24. Langley
25. Walker

Injured: Sculthorpe, Radlinksi, O'Loughlin...

I think with the absence of experienced leaders, they will stick with some experienced GB-heads like Cunnigham and Long. With Sinfield's ability to shift into the halves, I think they would be well advised to go in with 3 forwards on the bench to match the Aussies, and one spark player in Diskin (to releive Cunningham, who can than come back eslewhere in the forwards).

Bench and fringe player roles will be hotly contested, and could really go anywhere. I'd expect some of those players 18-25 to get a look in across the four/five games, depending on injuries and results.
 
J

JasonE

Bench
Messages
3,107
I think GB need to go with the most skilful players have, therefore Cooke and even Thorman have to be in the 25 man squad, both players will give them plenty of options and i actually think Cooke would do a great job at lock.

For Scott re: Crabtree, i'd pick him in the 25 as well. He could be a real surprise packet.
 
J

JasonE

Bench
Messages
3,107
If GB had say Cooke at lock and Sinfield 5/8 that would be the first time in a while that they would have such good ball handlers in those key positions. That would enable the likes of McGuire/Burrow to play a running game.

If I was picking a 2nd hooker i would pick Mickey Higham but he hasnt played much this year so he'd have to prove his fitnesspretty soon.
 
bartman

bartman

Immortal
Messages
41,022
I'd hope the squad has a few suprises the likes of Cooke, Thorman, Burrow etc, but I'm predicting a bit of a status quo bias (and not the band) instead of wholesale change.

Higham would definitely be in contention if he gets back on the paddock, he was in good form last year.
 
Scott

Scott

Bench
Messages
3,796
On the 4 or 5 occasions i've seen Crabtree he has been manacing. He'd be worth a shot in the tri nations for mine. Reminds me of Willie Mason, not just is size, but in most things he does.

Looks the goods.
 
Phillips

Phillips

Referee
Messages
24,049
Thackray must be in the side, he's the 2nd best prop in super league (behind Fielden)

that Carvell from Hull goes alright too
 
S

SFW

Juniors
Messages
110
1. Paul Wellens (St Helens)
2. Mark Calderwood (Leeds)
3. Martin Gleeson (Warrington)
4. Keith Senior (Leeds)
5. Gareth Raynor (Hull)
6. Kevin Sinfield (Leeds)
7. Rob Burrow (Leeds)
8. Stuart Fielden (Bradford)
9. Keiron Cunningham (St Helens)
10. Adrian Morley (Sydney Roosters)
11. Jamie Peacock (Bradford)
12. Danny Tickle (Wigan)
13. Paul Cooke (Hull)

14. Richard Horne (Hull)
15. Gareth Ellis (Leeds)
16. Jamie Thackray (Hull)
17. Ryan Bailey (Leeds)

Rest of Squad:

Stuart Reardon (Bradford)
Leon Pryce (Bradford)
Danny McGuire (Leeds)
Nick Fozzard (St Helens)
Euan Dowes (Hull)
Matt Diskin (Leeds)
Lee Gilmour (St Helens)
Ben Westwood (Warrington)

Update to my squad following Sculthorpe's withdrawal, Cooke straight in at 13 and Westwood into the squad.

For those interested, GB will definitely be WITHOUT:

Kris Radlinski (Wigan)
Paul King (Hull)
Paul Sculthorpe (St Helens)
Sean O'Loughlin (Wigan)

All of whom have played for GB in the past.
 
T

The Observer

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
1,742
1. Paul Wellens (St Helens)
2. Gareth Raynor (Hull)
3. Martin Gleeson (Warrington)
4. Keith Senior (Leeds)
5. Chev Walker (Leeds)
6. Kevin Sinfield (Leeds) (c)
7. Rob Burrow (Leeds)
8. Stuart Fielden (Bradford)
9. Keiron Cunningham (St Helens)
10. Adrian Morley (Sydney Roosters)
11. Jamie Peacock (Bradford)
12. Danny Tickle (Wigan)
13. Paul Cooke (Hull)

14. Nick Fozzard (St Helens) (prop)
15. Jamie Thackray (Hull) (second row/prop)
16. Sean Long (St Helens)/Richard Horne (Hull) (halves/hooker)
17. Gareth Ellis (Leeds) (centres/back row)
 
coldhardbitch

coldhardbitch

Juniors
Messages
694
1. Paul Sykes
2. Brian Carney
3. Martin Gleeson
4. Kieth Senior
5. Gareth Raynor
6. Kevin Sinfield
7. Rob Burrow
8. Adrian Morley
9. Kieron Cunningham
10. Stuart Fielden
11. Jamie Peacock
12. Gareth Ellis
13. Paul Cooke

14. Danny McGuire
15. Ryan Bailey
16. Danny Tickle
17. Jamie Thackray
 
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