Re: French and Field withdraw from Combined Nations Squad : Mon Jun 13, 2022 3:03 pm  

FearTheVee wrote:

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.

Exactly. A conspiracist would think that less Wigan players equals less chances of injuries/suspensions derailing their season...

Re: French and Field withdraw from Combined Nations Squad : Mon Jun 13, 2022 3:05 pm  

FearTheVee wrote:

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.

After a cursory look at RedVee I suspected you might say that but the one thing I can say about Wane with absolute certainty is that he wouldn't put club loyalties over England beating the Aussies and any suggestion otherwise is not worthy of discussion. If you truly believe that then you've gone down in my estimation.

Re: French and Field withdraw from Combined Nations Squad : Mon Jun 13, 2022 3:06 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

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)

I'm not taking offence, I'm just wondering about the position you are taking. We're a shambles this season why? For having five in the squad and not withdrawing them yet? Percival is injured. Lomax is injured and maybe Wane doesn't want to pick a player who it has been publically acknowledged has ruptured his bicep and is playing with one arm - Lomax is a shadow of himself since the injury. I don't know what is happening with Knowles but there seems to be an agreement around 5 players max from each team, a limit only us and Wire have reached.

We have one half out for the sseasona nd the other injutred for the season but are sending our only other half in Welsby to play. I wouldn't call that a shambles.

Seems you want to lump Saints in with Wigan (who somehow only have two players in there now after withdrawing their best player), but I'm afraid Saints are not in the same camp as Wigan or Huddersfield in all this as you would like to present it. If anything we are the polar opposite as no club has more players than us in the squads and Wigan appear to have less than half the number despite running joint 2nd and being the cup winners, odd given the England coach is involved at Wigan.

I'm not saying there is anything amiss with Wane's selections by the way, more that I find it odd that Saints are being lumped in for criticism despite providing the most players.

Re: French and Field withdraw from Combined Nations Squad : Mon Jun 13, 2022 3:06 pm  

Stu M wrote:

Exactly. A conspiracist would think that less Wigan players equals less chances of injuries/suspensions derailing their season...

And would this conspiracist have a name Stu?

Re: French and Field withdraw from Combined Nations Squad : Mon Jun 13, 2022 3:10 pm  

Phuzzy wrote:

And would this conspiracist have a name Stu?

I'm just playing devils advocate. Its easy to throw mud at Woolf and blame him for the demise of the International game yet he is the coach of Tonga and has done and continues to do wonders with them.

Meanwhile the England coach (also Dir of Rugby at Wigan) selects only 2 Wigan players despite said team winning the first trophy of the season, best Academy products, etc etc etc. We keep hearing that Saints are on a slight decline so why the disparity? Why no Havard or Smith?

Re: French and Field withdraw from Combined Nations Squad : Mon Jun 13, 2022 3:13 pm  

FearTheVee wrote:

Wigan appear to have less than half the number despite running joint 2nd and being the cup winners, odd given the England coach is involved at Wigan.

The alternative view is that there is no-one else from Wigan in with a realistic chance of featuring in the World Cup once all players are available and, as he works and has worked with the fringe players on a regular basis he's taking the opportunity to work with others who he doesn't have the same opportunity to work with. Bateman and Farrell are the ones most likely to make the actual WC squad and they're both there.

Re: French and Field withdraw from Combined Nations Squad : Mon Jun 13, 2022 3:13 pm  

The All Stars is such a flawed concept. Why would anyone want to represent any entity that has nothing to emotionally connect to? No country, city or town, no fan base, no potential reward.

Play France each year in France - it was reasonably competitive at the end of last year and they will only get better playing good quality teams.

Re: French and Field withdraw from Combined Nations Squad : Mon Jun 13, 2022 3:15 pm  

Phuzzy wrote:

The alternative view is that there is no-one else from Wigan in with a realistic chance of featuring in the World Cup once all players are available and, as he works and has worked with the fringe players on a regular basis he's taking the opportunity to work with others who he doesn't have the same opportunity to work with. Bateman and Farrell are the ones most likely to make the actual WC squad and they're both there.

Come on mate. Havard is one of the best English players in the game, courted by numerous NRL clubs and Smith is arguably the form half back in the comp and an accomplished goalkicker.....

That's without even consering the likes of Marshall.

Re: French and Field withdraw from Combined Nations Squad : Mon Jun 13, 2022 3:18 pm  

Stu M wrote:

I'm just playing devils advocate. Its easy to throw mud at Woolf and blame him for the demise of the International game yet he is the coach of Tonga and has done and continues to do wonders with them.

Meanwhile the England coach (also Dir of Rugby at Wigan) selects only 2 Wigan players despite said team winning the first trophy of the season, best Academy products, etc etc etc. We keep hearing that Saints are on a slight decline so why the disparity? Why no Havard or Smith?

We are stacked for props and Havard is unlikely at 20 years old to make the squad. I guarantee he'll be there next time around. Smith has literally only just made the Wigan team on merit. I would have said too early to be talking about facing the best in the world. That said, I wouldn't have objected to him featuring as Lomax is unlikely to be available at the end of the year. I still don't think Wane would put an inexperienced half in there in a World Cup.

Re: French and Field withdraw from Combined Nations Squad : Mon Jun 13, 2022 3:30 pm  

Stu M wrote:

Come on mate. Havard is one of the best English players in the game, courted by numerous NRL clubs and Smith is arguably the form half back in the comp and an accomplished goalkicker.....

That's without even consering the likes of Marshall.

He is. But he's also 20 and has a lot of players currently ahead of him at international level. Again, I'd have no objection to him being in and around the squad and his time will come but probably not in time for this WC. Smith, slightly different as we have problems at half but Williams/Lomax was always going to be Wane's preferred option. He could have played in this game given the circumstances but I'm guessing he wants to look at different combinations with Williams and there are already several to look at in that squad who are all currently ahead of Smith. I'm guessing he'd consider both Tomkins and Welsby before Smith.