Re: England Secure Test Series Win Over Tonga : Mon Oct 30, 2023 6:28 pm  

The Reaper wrote:

I agree with all of that, but that’s what I mean about him focusing on just winning these games above all else when I don’t think that’s really the be all and end all of these series. We should be getting the next lot of lads ready to do something when it actually matters. Who really cares if we beat Tonga in a series? Like, obviously we want to win but in the big picture it doesn’t matter at all, and nobody will be remembering these games.

In a series of friendlies against second rate opposition (sorry Nicky but any international team playing Hopoate at fullback is not a serious international team. Dude is technically good but slower than Wellens at the back end of his career and runs with as much intensity as my grandad) the focus should surely be putting in an entertaining performance on free to air television and making a good impression so that anybody catching the game might stick around and preparing our team for future tournaments. Obviously play to win, but you don’t need to go as far as playing one out, negative drivel to grind out a win, picking a bunch of seniors that are close to retirement, half of which shouldn’t even be there on merit even discounting the above argument.

I actually agree with you in regards to us using these series more as a look towards the future. I would’ve done that but I think a few absences (Farnworth, Williams, Walmsley, Lomax, KPP, Wardle, Percival) has left Wane wanting to make sure there was some experience in the squad. Take out Hill, Whitehead, Makinson etc and you’re suddenly very thin on the ground in terms of experience. It again comes back to being damned if you do and damned if you don’t. If he goes with a squad full of inexperienced players and loses, he gets absolutely battered.

Re: England Secure Test Series Win Over Tonga : Mon Oct 30, 2023 6:36 pm  

The Reaper wrote:

and talk about how Woolf completely undermined Englands World Cup success by having Saints players not represent over his 3 years

I’m sure he would love to and he’d be 100% correct but it’s tough to do that when he has Saints players in his squad. Not only would he be calling out Woolf but he would be asking questions of mates of Welsby, Makinson, Lees etc (the lads who do turn up). I think what you say above has played a large part in Wane being so public about Woolf’s recent comments.

Re: England Secure Test Series Win Over Tonga : Mon Oct 30, 2023 11:57 pm  

The Reaper wrote:

I wouldn’t mind it if it wasn’t so ridiculous. Like if he’d been real and said he hates Woolf and talks about how Woolf completely undermined Englands World Cup success by having Saints players not represent over his 3 years etc then it could have been a real bit of controversy and ham that could get people caring.

But what he was actually going in over was completely ridiculous. Woolf made excuses for losing. So what? Does he not watch Super League? You’ve got coaches going in on the ref, the other team etc etc every single week. Vast majority of coaches make excuses for losing. Who gives a crap? It’s hardly worth spitting your dummy out over and nor is it going to get any England fans pumped or neutrals interested

It just looks even stupider when they interview Woolf right after and he just laughs the whole thing off

And yet it's garnered multiple posts from your good self. Go figure!

I'm sorry, I'm not defending Wane as international coach per se and I agree with much you're saying, particularly regarding picking players with no chance of being around come the next world cup. I said exactly the same earlier on this board. But by God you're contradictory.

You say you want entertaining rugby as we should be attracting new fans and not concerning ourselves with winning a meaningless series yet, at the same time we should be preparing to succeed at the next tournament. When exactly would we prepare for this next tournament if we're using these friendlies as an advertising exercise?

You say that Wane isn't the man to win us a tournament during a series he's actually winning! Moreover, he's making it clear that he's fostering a winning mentality above all else. Would you prefer we pratt about throwing the ball around so that the odd neutral might take an interest and then, suddenly out of nowhere, breed a winning mentality only when the next 'important' (as defined by you) games come along? I can assure you of one thing if nothing else; unlike yourself, Wane doesn't see these games as meaningless.

It seems to me you're complaining for complaining's sake and no matter what he does you'd find fault. Answer me this one question: Had we thrown the ball around in atrocious conditions the other day and got absolutely tonked could you, hand on heart, tell me that you wouldn't have been using that as a narrative to show how Wane's coaching is too naive to win a tournament against the Aussies?

Re: England Secure Test Series Win Over Tonga : Tue Oct 31, 2023 12:47 am  

From our friends over at Redvee. Enjoy!

Pull your head out of your pompous backside for 5 minutes. England V Tonga means absolutely sweet FA. You may be in the minority who cares, most people don't. I've watched both games because my lad wanted to, I'd have taken him to the games if he'd wanted to go, the fact he didn't and only missed one Saints home game through illness all season speaks volumes. Maybe it's me (and I hope it is) rubbing off on him but I have no wish to support Wigan and Warrington players, nor do I want to lend support to the RFL who've done their best to •••• us over all season, nor do I want to support that fat ape who's sent his players out to deliberately injure our players in the past. Club before country every single time. I'd honestly be happy if we didn't have anyone playing in a friendly series against second rate, NRL headhunters and a player who's stole a living from us for 2 years or however long he's been here. Why should anyone from Saints support the international game when the game gives us nothing? Infact, they actively tries to hamper us. If I was Morgan Knowles, I'd be on a beach in Tonga with my feet up wearing a Konrad Hurrell wig, not getting flogged by that fat Wigan prick and sending a message to RFL.

Re: England Secure Test Series Win Over Tonga : Tue Oct 31, 2023 5:48 am  

Phuzzy wrote:

From our friends over at Redvee. Enjoy!

Pull your head out of your pompous backside for 5 minutes. England V Tonga means absolutely sweet FA. You may be in the minority who cares, most people don't. I've watched both games because my lad wanted to, I'd have taken him to the games if he'd wanted to go, the fact he didn't and only missed one Saints home game through illness all season speaks volumes. Maybe it's me (and I hope it is) rubbing off on him but I have no wish to support Wigan and Warrington players, nor do I want to lend support to the RFL who've done their best to •••• us over all season, nor do I want to support that fat ape who's sent his players out to deliberately injure our players in the past. Club before country every single time. I'd honestly be happy if we didn't have anyone playing in a friendly series against second rate, NRL headhunters and a player who's stole a living from us for 2 years or however long he's been here. Why should anyone from Saints support the international game when the game gives us nothing? Infact, they actively tries to hamper us. If I was Morgan Knowles, I'd be on a beach in Tonga with my feet up wearing a Konrad Hurrell wig, not getting flogged by that fat Wigan prick and sending a message to RFL.

Well that was classy!

Re: England Secure Test Series Win Over Tonga : Tue Oct 31, 2023 6:52 am  

Phuzzy wrote:

From our friends over at Redvee. Enjoy!

Pull your head out of your pompous backside for 5 minutes. England V Tonga means absolutely sweet FA. You may be in the minority who cares, most people don't. I've watched both games because my lad wanted to, I'd have taken him to the games if he'd wanted to go, the fact he didn't and only missed one Saints home game through illness all season speaks volumes. Maybe it's me (and I hope it is) rubbing off on him but I have no wish to support Wigan and Warrington players, nor do I want to lend support to the RFL who've done their best to •••• us over all season, nor do I want to support that fat ape who's sent his players out to deliberately injure our players in the past. Club before country every single time. I'd honestly be happy if we didn't have anyone playing in a friendly series against second rate, NRL headhunters and a player who's stole a living from us for 2 years or however long he's been here. Why should anyone from Saints support the international game when the game gives us nothing? Infact, they actively tries to hamper us. If I was Morgan Knowles, I'd be on a beach in Tonga with my feet up wearing a Konrad Hurrell wig, not getting flogged by that fat Wigan prick and sending a message to RFL.

I honestly think that they are slowing overtaking Warrington fans

Re: England Secure Test Series Win Over Tonga : Tue Oct 31, 2023 8:38 am  

Phuzzy wrote:

From our friends over at Redvee. Enjoy!

Pull your head out of your pompous backside for 5 minutes. England V Tonga means absolutely sweet FA. You may be in the minority who cares, most people don't. I've watched both games because my lad wanted to, I'd have taken him to the games if he'd wanted to go, the fact he didn't and only missed one Saints home game through illness all season speaks volumes. Maybe it's me (and I hope it is) rubbing off on him but I have no wish to support Wigan and Warrington players, nor do I want to lend support to the RFL who've done their best to •••• us over all season, nor do I want to support that fat ape who's sent his players out to deliberately injure our players in the past. Club before country every single time. I'd honestly be happy if we didn't have anyone playing in a friendly series against second rate, NRL headhunters and a player who's stole a living from us for 2 years or however long he's been here. Why should anyone from Saints support the international game when the game gives us nothing? Infact, they actively tries to hamper us. If I was Morgan Knowles, I'd be on a beach in Tonga with my feet up wearing a Konrad Hurrell wig, not getting flogged by that fat Wigan prick and sending a message to RFL.

Them thinking the RFL is out to get them is just bizarre?

Is it based them banned their back rowers who try to decapitate half backs every week ?

Re: England Secure Test Series Win Over Tonga : Tue Oct 31, 2023 8:53 am  

You’d think the decent ones on there would head back over to their board on here, to discuss Rugby League in a reasonably sensible way. I post on the independent Wigan board and that’s more ‘out there’ then here, it’s more biased and you get some characters but it’s not a patch on Red Vee. Over the years some of the things posted on there have been disgraceful.

Re: England Secure Test Series Win Over Tonga : Tue Oct 31, 2023 9:07 am  

NickyKiss wrote:

You’d think the decent ones on there would head back over to their board on here, to discuss Rugby League in a reasonably sensible way. I post on the independent Wigan board and that’s more ‘out there’ then here, it’s more biased and you get some characters but it’s not a patch on Red Vee. Over the years some of the things posted on there have been disgraceful.

I've thought that myself on occasion. How many actual decent posters are there though? I can only think of a handful.

Re: England Secure Test Series Win Over Tonga : Tue Oct 31, 2023 9:25 am  

It's mind boggling some people's views on the national side. The whole narrative about not supporting players from other teams, and that being exaggerated further by the coach being from "insert rival teams town/city here" (in this case, Wigan), is to me beyond comprehension. Yes I hate it when Welsby for example shreds us to pieces because he's an outstanding player, but by the same token the admiration for good play trumps that in the end. I want anyone pulling the England (or GB) shirt on to absolutely smash it, and I want more players across the league capable of doing it (regardless of what team they play for) as it will make Super League a better competition. The game will never improve over here without a strong backing of the national side, that's what has wicked me off the most about the way in which Saints have been in the recent past about releasing players for International duty (and others to a lesser extent, but Saints in particular as they've had the players who could make a real difference at Test level).