strongest GB side.

[Phillips]

havent watched alot of super league this yr.. but im interested to see what the great britain side would look like if picked right now..

 

[JasonE]

Depends whether the side is picked on form or not but the standout players so far have been

fullback: Platt, Wellens
wing: Hodgson, Aspinwall
centre: Sykes, Brown
5/8: Pryce, Rooney, McGuire
half: Burrow, Orr
prop: Lynch, Fozzard, Moore
hooker: Roby, Hudson
2nd row: Ellis, Crabtree, JJB, Gilmour
lock: Wild, Wilkin, Langley, Purdham

Disappointingly incumbent players such as Morley, Fielden Hock, Senior, Gleeson and O'Loughlin have been garbage.

 

[Evil Homer]

Wouldn't say Hodgson had stood out to be honest - he's barely even played on the wing this year. Looked the part when he has, though I'd choose Raynor ahead of him.

1.Wellens
2.Raynor
3.Gleeson
4.Sykes
5.Aspinwall
6.Pryce
7.McGuire
8.Lynch
9.Hudson
10.Carvell
11.Wilkin
12.Ellis
13.Wild

14.Roby
15.Crabtree
16.Graham
17.Gimour

 

[bartman]

It;s a real guessing game what Smith will pick this time, isn't it? I don't think it will reflect the strongest GB side, or necessarily the most in from players, but maybe be a mixture of experience and new blood, so that he can answer some questions ahead of the end of year matches and next year's England squad.

Best at the moment from what I've seen so far, and can think of right now:

1. Wellens
2. Apsinwall
3. Sykes
4. Wild
5. Raynor
6. Pryce
7. Burrow
8. Fozzard
9. Hudson/Roby
10. Lynch
11. Jones-Buchanan
12. Ellis
13. Wilkin/Gilmour
14. Roby/Hudson
15. Graham
16. Crabtree
17. Carvell

But guys that Smith might pick in his GB squad to have a good look considering WC08:
Yeadon, Rooney, Cooke, Thorman, Brown, Purdham... He might also feel obliged to include a few more of the usual experienced brigade, although this is the perfect opportunity to leave out certain incumbents and essentially have them earn their way back in, without making a song and dance of it?

 

[Coastbloke]

I might be mistaken, but my weekly edition of Rugby League Week seems to have the name Senior as a try scorer quite often in the Super League results.

Now as I said, I might be mistaken. I don't have them all with me at moment to re-check..

 

[JasonE]

Wouldn't say Hodgson had stood out to be honest - he's barely even played on the wing this year. Looked the part when he has, though I'd choose Raynor ahead of him.

Yeah i too would have Raynor in my GB side but i wouldn't say he is one of the form players atm.

 

[Leek UK]

Aspinwall is far better than Raynor mate.Whts all this about paul sykes? GB:lol:

 

[Evil Homer]

I might be mistaken, but my weekly edition of Rugby League Week seems to have the name Senior as a try scorer quite often in the Super League results.

Now as I said, I might be mistaken. I don't have them all with me at moment to re-check..

He's only got 5 in 15 this year. Barely above average now. FWIW you can see the top scorers for SL at this website.

 

[bartman]

FWIW you can see the top scorers for SL at this website.

Clicking T to sort by Tryscoring, the only guys to have scored 10+ SL tries after 16 rounds are:

Wellens
Webb (NZ)
Vainikolo (NZ)
Platt
Fa'afili (NZ/Samoa)
Gidley (Oz)
Pryce
Barrett (Oz)
Sykes
Wild

 

[bartman]

Wow, Adrian Morley's been named captain... squad to follow on Tuesday.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/6727905.stm

I guess they had to have someone experienced in the pack with the usual suspects being rested. But purely on form when not injured this year, I wouldn't have Morley near a GB shirt. Could be a nice farewell gesture in case he doesn't feature at the end of the season?

 

[JasonE]

Wow, Adrian Morley's been named captain... squad to follow on Tuesday.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/6727905.stm

I guess they had to have someone experienced in the pack with the usual suspects being rested. But purely on form when not injured this year, I wouldn't have Morley near a GB shirt. Could be a nice farewell gesture in case he doesn't feature at the end of the season?

Poor choice, Morley shouldn't even be in the squad lt alone captain it.
I doubt he'll play in the 2008 WC either.

 

[bartman]

Starting to wonder who he'll pick now... I guess Morley will now be the most experienced forward, maybe we'll see something like:

8. Morley
9. Roby
10. Lynch
11. Jones-Buchanan
12. Gilmour
13. Ellis
14. Graham
15. Carvell/Crabtree
16. Wilkin/Wild
17. Hudson/Rooney/Maguire/?

Only one day to keep wondering...

 

[Phillips]

has Paul Sculthorpe retired from rep footy?

 

[bartman]

Injured. Has hardly played this season. In all likelihood may never represent again?

 

[Coastbloke]

Injured. Has hardly played this season. In all likelihood may never represent again?

I don't think he should represent again...

He questioned the need for a World cup in 2008. Why would you select a guy who thinks his trip to Australia in late spring to try and win his sports highest award is a waste of time and effort....??

There'll be a few others very willing and able to take his place.....

PS: It was Sculthorpe right..?? :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

 

[bartman]

Kevin Sinfield awarded man of the match from the bench tonight... I'll have to watch the highlights as he didn't seem that dominant from my seat?

A bit of drop ball and disorganisation through the side at the start, but much tighter in the second half. Among the backs was impressed with Stephen Wild's general play, Ade Gardner did alright, and Burrow is probably worth a shot at the end of the year, otherwise I don't think we saw too many strong future GB candidates there. The pack generally did the job all night in their rotations.

 

[JasonE]

Kevin Sinfield awarded man of the match from the bench tonight... I'll have to watch the highlights as he didn't seem that dominant from my seat?

A bit of drop ball and disorganisation through the side at the start, but much tighter in the second half. Among the backs was impressed with Stephen Wild's general play, Ade Gardner did alright, and Burrow is probably worth a shot at the end of the year, otherwise I don't think we saw too many strong future GB candidates there. The pack generally did the job all night in their rotations.

It's unfortunate that we don't get the game in oz because i have read so many varying thoughts on the game.
Did any GB players play there way out of contention for the November tests ?
I can honestly see Tony Smith using Sinfield at hooker (as he has for Leeds) and using Roby as an impact player off the bench in the future.

 

[bartman]

Sinfield had to play mainly stand off for the majority of this match, following Danny Maguire's injury. So we had no way to see if Smith intended to give Roby a break... you may be onto something though Jason.

In terms of playing out of future contention:
- Mellings got bumped around a lot, credit to him he kept going back for more but he's not going to displace Wellens in a hurry
- Sykes had the worst handling of any back, consistently dropped balls and misfired passes, I don't think he'll be back
- All the forwards contributed, maybe O'Loughlin is easier to single out as disappointing because in terms of his frame and fitness he could easily be so much more on the field?

Newcomers Lynch, Langley, and Coley did OK for their first runs, again probably won't displace more experienced guys from the starting 17 this year or next, but will probably go forward in future squads.

 

[vikingstorm]

Sinfield had to play mainly stand off for the majority of this match, following Danny Maguire's injury. So we had no way to see if Smith intended to give Roby a break... you may be onto something though Jason.

In terms of playing out of future contention:
- Mellings got bumped around a lot, credit to him he kept going back for more but he's not going to displace Wellens in a hurry
- Sykes had the worst handling of any back, consistently dropped balls and misfired passes, I don't think he'll be back
- All the forwards contributed, maybe O'Loughlin is easier to single out as disappointing because in terms of his frame and fitness he could easily be so much more on the field?

Newcomers Lynch, Langley, and Coley did OK for their first runs, again probably won't displace more experienced guys from the starting 17 this year or next, but will probably go forward in future squads.

I think Jamie Langley will be a strong candidate against the Kiwi's. He is a Big Strong Bloke. The same with Sam Burgess when he gets in at some point

At times our passing game was great. Sykes has been playing really well this year, and he will get another chance because he has outplayed Gleeson by a Country mile.

My GB 17

1 Paul Wellens
2 Adrian Gardner
3 Paul Sykes
4 Keith Senior
5 Leon Pryce
6 Danny McGuire
7 Robert Burrow
8 Ryan Bailey
9 James Roby
10 James Graham
11 Jamie Peacock
12 Gareth Ellis
13 Jamie Langley

14 Jon Wilkin
15 Gareth Hock
17 Jamie Jones Buchanan
18 Andy Lynch

We need a Half back combination who can play well together. That means McGuire and Burrow

We need a Big Pack, all those blokes apart from Roby are well over 16 Stones.

Players not picked...Fielden, Morley, Gleeson, Long, Cunningham, Harris (if they were available for selection) Deacon, Wild, Thorman, Crabtree, Aspinwall, Brown, Carvell, Horne, Diskin, Brown, .........................So we are getting some strength in depth as well now

 

[bartman]

Interesting.

On last night I'd take Wild over Sykes in the centres. McGuire's lack of game time might mean he become the bench utility, with Pryce at stand off if he can make a good combination with Burrow. Leaving one wing spot open for maybe Apsinwall? I think they'll still favour Morley for Bailey, as this match wasn't billed as his rep swansong...

But yes, it starts to point out some English/GB depth developing, when you look at the names that may not make a 17 at the end of the year.