Rugby League

[PaulWolves]

Fair play to Wigan, I don't think their attacking play has been anything special this season by their standards but their defence has been brilliant and made them grand final winners. Warrington yet again are the nearly men, must be a sickener to lose 2 finals.

Fairwell to Stevo as well

 

[RavenBish]

80 minute Shaun Johnson masterclass there with England lacking a bit of speed and sizzle - would have Shaul in ahead of Lomax every time.

As a Wigan fan, I still have no idea what the Dan Sarginson fuss is about. He was Wigan's 3rd best centre and 3rd best full-back this season and he's starting for England and bagged a move to the NRL.

Aussies should walk it. A shame really as I thought England were clearly the better team - just 2 big mistakes from Widdop and Lomax decided it (no knock on how brilliant Johnson was that)

 

[PaulWolves]

England don't have top class centres, Watkins doesn't do it at international level and agree with Sarginson. Ryan Atkins was probably the pick of the bunch in Super league but doesn't get a look in at internationals anymore. Could say the same with the half backs, Don't think Widdop creates a lot, although was nice pass for Hall try.

I think England can play better than that but it's very fine margins at this level.

 

[RavenBish]

Williams made a huge difference today - big call between Gale/Widdop next week. Either way we shouldn't have enough to beat Australia.

Enjoyed the second game too, Shaun Johnson had an atrocious first 75 minutes and then almost won the game single-handedly.

 

[Super_horns]

Criticism for the new coach because he is isn't "helping promote the game"

Is that fair or would the guy just be interested in performances/results - not pleasing the media and PR people?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/37886383

 

[RavenBish]

He does seem a bit of a weird one - I don't like the fact that the England job was essentially a consolation job for him because he wanted the Aussie job and then acted a bit of a twat when he didn't get it.

I can see where they're coming from with the criticism but he was probably just pissed off they've underperformed the last 2 weeks.

Interested who he thinks played themselves out of contention. There were no standout performers but I don't think anyone had a noticeable stinker either - Gale had a very poor first half but bounced back well.

 

[TomPNE94]

Coventry is the coldest place I've ever been. I'm not going back.

 

[Super_horns]

Blimey Scotland are giving New Zealand a good game!

All square close to the end.

 

[RavenBish]

Brown?! Williams and Widdop to start for me. Not sure why you'd include Brown if you didn't plan on playing him though.

 

[RavenBish]

Clark out the 17 and Brown & Widdop ahead of Williams. Bennett is a fucking clown.

 

[RavenBish]

No chance Lomax is anywhere near England's best option at full-back.

Terrible decision for that late challenge on Cronk.

 

[RavenBish]

is Robert Hicks a secret Aussie? Fucking hell. Calling everything at the ruck against England and then ignoring every time Australia stray offside, which is happening twice a set.

 

[Camborne Gills]

Guaranteed to lose this by 1-3 points!!!!

 

[RavenBish]

Widdop and Brown have done nothing. Widdop in particular - get Williams on.

 

[RavenBish]

Boring coach. Boring team selection. Unimaginative gameplan. They've looked unprepared and uncoordinated all series.

 

[Super_horns]

Is there a lack of fitness or Aussies just upped their game?

 

[Camborne Gills]

Yes and yes

 

[Super_horns]

Easy win for the Aussies then..

 

[Super_horns]

Bradford Bulls - one of the top teams in the country/world not so long ago have gone bust (although can re-form in the same league...)

3 times they have gone into administration - something must have gone seriously wrong on each occasion after they were saved the 2 previous times.

Just shows the gulf in money between sports like Rugby league and football when their debt was only 1 million!

 

[RavenBish]

2-0 - well done Wire and Wigan.

Great start to the season if the Sky games have been anything to go off - Salford and Huddersfield look a lot stronger this year, Leeds still don't look quite right and Cas are going to push the likes of Saints and Hull very close for a top 4 spot.

Talking of Cas, can't be bothered to hop across t'other thread. Big Denny got a hat trick today and qualifies for England in about 4 weeks - NZ born Samoan RL international - quite the ride for a 23 year old

 

[RavenBish]

Hicks is a dreadful ref, I think he's managed to overtake Thaler in those stakes

 

[RavenBish]

This Cas side is phenomenal

 

[Super_horns]

This Cas side is phenomenal

Could they and Hull breakthrough against the usual top 3/4?

 

[RavenBish]

Hull did last season. Still early days but Cas and Catalans look very strong. Hopefully it all keeps up because based on the first few weeks of the season, any one of about 6 teams could win the league leaders shield.

 

[Super_horns]

Saints losing at home to Wakefield - does seem like a wide open season.

 

[RavenBish]

Warrington's start is bordering on unforgivable - Sandow was a loss and Ratchford, Currie & Hill are misses but the team is still far too strong to be doing a 2016 Leeds Rhinos.

 

[joethegill]

Any others on here heading up to Magic Weekend?

 

[Super_horns]

Salford certainly looking like a much improved team this year.

Have the traditional big boys got weaker or the others caught up in terms of quality player wise?

 

[RavenBish]

just think teams have caught up - the likes of Cas and Salford aren't really over-achieving, they've got strength in depth (Cas' bench at the weekend included Moores, Sene-Lefao & Chase for example) and Cas' under-19 side are top of the league too.

still expect Leeds, Wigan and Saints to be in amongst it at the end of the season. Wigan still have the strongest side on paper in the league as demonstrated by us being competitive despite all the injuries (you could genuinely pick a top 6 side just from the injury list - see below)

 

[RavenBish]

George Williams is phenomenal - good kicking game, electric with the ball in his hands and arguably the best defensive stand-off in the league too. Really hope he isn't lost to NRL - even if we have to ditch Tomkins as the marquee player (although his injury record means a pay cut should be plausible)