Re: England 19-Man Squad for the Quarter Final Against PNG : Fri Nov 04, 2022 8:06 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

Chris Hill has not been 'immense', not even close. Maybe slightly less useless than he was at Warrington, but he's not a top level forward. Burgess and Lees should start and Thompson and Oledzski from the bench. Far more dynamic, far more impact.

Lees is not good enough,certainly not as good as Hill,Burgess,Thompson,Oledzski.

Re: England 19-Man Squad for the Quarter Final Against PNG : Sat Nov 05, 2022 9:12 am  

Saddened! wrote:

More Wane weirdness. Still picking McIllorum simply because he's his mate. No Luke Thompson but wasters like Hill and Cooper in there? Got to presume he's injured. Good to see Dom Young has been preferred to Ryan Hall. Bateman another who continues to ride the Wigan train into unwarranted international selection, but he's not a glaring weakness like Mickey Mac...

Agree on Cooper and too an extent Bateman.

However I thought McIlorum justified his selection in the opening game. He was dominate and ferocious against the likes of Paulo etc.

I don’t think he can do 80 at that intensity though, maybe Knowles will jump in a 9 for a bit

Re: England 19-Man Squad for the Quarter Final Against PNG : Sat Nov 05, 2022 10:40 am  

Saddened! wrote:

Chris Hill has not been 'immense', not even close. Maybe slightly less useless than he was at Warrington, but he's not a top level forward. Burgess and Lees should start and Thompson and Oledzski from the bench. Far more dynamic, far more impact.

Please explain what Lees has done that Hill hasn't done better...apart from wear a Saints shirt of course!

Re: England 19-Man Squad for the Quarter Final Against PNG : Sat Nov 05, 2022 2:00 pm  

Phuzzy wrote:

Please explain what Lees has done that Hill hasn't done better...apart from wear a Saints shirt of course!

Lots of pressure and energy can play for long minutes, terrific line speed around the ruck. In otherwards a fast mobile prop who gets into your face consistently.

The only stand out selection questionable is Pearce-Paul, sooner have Farnworth starting.

Re: England 19-Man Squad for the Quarter Final Against PNG : Sat Nov 05, 2022 2:05 pm  

NSW wrote:

Agree on Cooper and too an extent Bateman.

However I thought McIlorum justified his selection in the opening game. He was dominate and ferocious against the likes of Paulo etc.

I don’t think he can do 80 at that intensity though, maybe Knowles will jump in a 9 for a bit

Radley played 9 for a spell and Knowles came on at 13 in the first group game. That was pretty effective so I think Wane will go with that option if needed.

Re: England 19-Man Squad for the Quarter Final Against PNG : Sat Nov 05, 2022 2:14 pm  

Can't see selections making a big difference to the result today, but I'd be concerned seeing this 17 playing in a semi final.

Re: England 19-Man Squad for the Quarter Final Against PNG : Sat Nov 05, 2022 3:05 pm  

England scoring at will, Game Over in the first quarter

Re: England 19-Man Squad for the Quarter Final Against PNG : Sat Nov 05, 2022 3:31 pm  

England looked good for half an hour, and PNG collapsed. Last 10 minutes were a bit of a muddle.

Hoping England can put in that second half performance now, play smart, don't force the attack, and keep it tight in defence, PNG nil should be the target.

Re: England 19-Man Squad for the Quarter Final Against PNG : Sat Nov 05, 2022 3:31 pm  

Jason65 wrote:

Lees is not good enough,certainly not as good as Hill,Burgess,Thompson,Oledzski.

He's better than Hill. His line speed and relentlessness in defense is outstanding. He's been brilliant for Saints for two years now. We've been told we're only winning the title every year because Walmsley is so good. But we've had two long injuries to Walmsley now and we don't drop at all. Lees has been incredible. Hill is putting a lot of effort in, he's doing okay, but there's no power in his carries or his tackles, he's just working hard.

Re: England 19-Man Squad for the Quarter Final Against PNG : Sat Nov 05, 2022 3:33 pm  

NSW wrote:

Agree on Cooper and too an extent Bateman.

However I thought McIlorum justified his selection in the opening game. He was dominate and ferocious against the likes of Paulo etc.

I don’t think he can do 80 at that intensity though, maybe Knowles will jump in a 9 for a bit

Maybe I've been spoiled with the hookers I've been watching for the last 20 years, but he's useless. He's slow to the ptb, his distribution is slow and laboured and whilst he's agressive in defense, he's gassed after about half an hour. If he wasn't a former Wigan player, he wouldn't have been considered.