Re: French and Field withdraw from Combined Nations Squad : Mon Jun 13, 2022 1:24 pm  

FearTheVee wrote:

Two players missed out from Saints, two played. I think that compares to 3 from Wigan maybe. The two who missed out didn't play in our next fixture the following week so maybe we wait and see whether other withdrawals miss a game through their withdrawal injuries?

We have 5 in the squads this time despite Percival, Lomax and Knowles not being available/selected.

You can blame Woolf if you like (that well known hater of international RL) but I'm not sure it stacks up all that well.

I’m going over old ground here but no overseas players played either but I’m bored of the conversation. Saints lead on it last year and everyone else, including Wigan, have jumped on board this season and have made the fixture a sham. Let’s face it, there’s nowt wrong with Field, Lomax, French, Lolohea, McQueen, Knowles etc etc and all will turn out the week after next.

I’m a Wigan fan but I’m a Rugby League fan first and want to see England do well more than anything. The clubs have crapped on the national side and looked after number one by turning a stand alone international weekend in to a mid season break for most players.

It’s pathetic.

Re: French and Field withdraw from Combined Nations Squad : Mon Jun 13, 2022 1:35 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

I’m going over old ground here but no overseas players played either but I’m bored of the conversation. Saints lead on it last year and everyone else, including Wigan, have jumped on board this season and have made the fixture a sham. Let’s face it, there’s nowt wrong with Field, Lomax, French, Lolohea, McQueen, Knowles etc etc and all will turn out the week after next.

I’m a Wigan fan but I’m a Rugby League fan first and want to see England do well more than anything. The clubs have crapped on the national side and looked after number one by turning a stand alone international weekend in to a mid season break for most players.

It’s pathetic.

Lomax is currently playing with one arm - maybe Wane didn't want to pick him on that basis? And it's a bit of an odd point anyway given we have five players in the squad already. The one player in the whole squad we can't afford to pick up an injury now is Jack Welsby and he'll be there.

Seems to me you want to find a way to blame Saints/Woolf for Wigan (maybe?) behaving poorly in 2022 . . . . . .

If players are being pulled that don't have knocks I agree it is pathetic. They clearly are I agree - we'll all be able to see who turns out in the next game and form our own opinions I guess.

Re: French and Field withdraw from Combined Nations Squad : Mon Jun 13, 2022 1:51 pm  

Field was definitely playing with some sort of niggle at Salford . A couple of times when gaps appeared he gave the ball to French instead of going full pelt himself

Re: French and Field withdraw from Combined Nations Squad : Mon Jun 13, 2022 1:54 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

I’m going over old ground here but no overseas players played either but I’m bored of the conversation. Saints lead on it last year and everyone else, including Wigan, have jumped on board this season and have made the fixture a sham. Let’s face it, there’s nowt wrong with Field, Lomax, French, Lolohea, McQueen, Knowles etc etc and all will turn out the week after next.

I’m a Wigan fan but I’m a Rugby League fan first and want to see England do well more than anything. The clubs have crapped on the national side and looked after number one by turning a stand alone international weekend in to a mid season break for most players.

It’s pathetic.

Has any club provided as many players as we have? 5 in the England squad. Seems like we will be more affected than any team.

Re: French and Field withdraw from Combined Nations Squad : Mon Jun 13, 2022 1:57 pm  

Stu M wrote:

Has any club provided as many players as we have? 5 in the England squad. Seems like we will be more affected than any team.

Oddly, yes. Warrington also provide 5 players.

Re: French and Field withdraw from Combined Nations Squad : Mon Jun 13, 2022 1:59 pm  

FearTheVee wrote:

Lomax is currently playing with one arm - maybe Wane didn't want to pick him on that basis? And it's a bit of an odd point anyway given we have five players in the squad already. The one player in the whole squad we can't afford to pick up an injury now is Jack Welsby and he'll be there.

Seems to me you want to find a way to blame Saints/Woolf for Wigan (maybe?) behaving poorly in 2022 . . . . . .

If players are being pulled that don't have knocks I agree it is pathetic. They clearly are I agree - we'll all be able to see who turns out in the next game and form our own opinions I guess.

You’re taking offence at me questioning Saints last year. I stand by them being a disgrace and setting a precedent that other clubs have decided to jump on this season. Wigan, Huddersfield, Saints etc all a shambles this season, no bones about it. They’ll all be fine in 2 weeks, absolutely no doubt about it.

That’ll be my final word on the subject because it’s a debate nobody can prove either way and it’s been done to death. The clubs have let down the national side but it doesn’t surprise me. The game is riddled with self interest. A combined nations squad should’ve been announced at 12pm and then 3pm but they’ve had to spend the day phoning around players to see who might play. It’s absolutely laughable and something the clubs should feel embarrassed about (but won’t)

Re: French and Field withdraw from Combined Nations Squad : Mon Jun 13, 2022 2:15 pm  

To be fair, FTV, with the National coach being our director of rugby I doubt we'd be the ones abusing the system. French wasn't picked. He hasn't withdrawn from anything unless you want to also say Passi has withdrawn? Field was icing an injury after the Salford game. All other selectees bar him are available.

Re: French and Field withdraw from Combined Nations Squad : Mon Jun 13, 2022 2:39 pm  

Phuzzy wrote:

To be fair, FTV, with the National coach being our director of rugby I doubt we'd be the ones abusing the system. French wasn't picked. He hasn't withdrawn from anything unless you want to also say Passi has withdrawn? Field was icing an injury after the Salford game. All other selectees bar him are available.

There were never any overseas players going to be selected for Saints. The agreement with Hanley was because we were always going to have 5 or 6 selected for England which has proven to be the case.

Re: French and Field withdraw from Combined Nations Squad : Mon Jun 13, 2022 2:48 pm  

I'm staggered that there aren't more Wigan players selected to be honest. Would've thought Havard would have been in and possibly Harry Smith.

Re: French and Field withdraw from Combined Nations Squad : Mon Jun 13, 2022 2:58 pm  

Phuzzy wrote:

To be fair, FTV, with the National coach being our director of rugby I doubt we'd be the ones abusing the system. French wasn't picked. He hasn't withdrawn from anything unless you want to also say Passi has withdrawn? Field was icing an injury after the Salford game. All other selectees bar him are available.

I haven't accused Wigan of anything, I'm referencing someone who questioned Wigan's approach then blamed it on Saints/Woolf.

There is a line about why your Director of rugby hasn't picked more players from Wigan (must be surprising to your fans given other threads have you down as a genuine contender to Saints this year and you just beat us in a semi final) but I'm not sure it's one that would be enjoyed on here so I'll leave it.