Franchising and no relegation has started to allow SL clubs to try out talented youngsters. I can see the green shoots of that coming through in the first half of this match. Can't i?

You can, That young Mark Riddle at Wigan must surely be in for a shout in the next game, or that Danny Burdirous lad from Leeds.

This was exactly the scorn I poured on the Dulls signing Menzies for the recent season ( and beyond ) and now they take Burgess in the opposite direction. Our clubs are to blame for the mess we are in at International level.

Indeed. The RFL laid the platform for clubs to blood English youngsters by removing the trap door that is relegation. That's all we heard wasn't it? Chairmen saying that they had no choice from signing overseas players because they needed that quick fix.



I hope that the one saving grace against all this is that franchising is in it's infancy but i won't hold my breath.

It won't change as we just don't have the depth of talent and level of professionalism that they do down under.

We need to accept that our clubs are only bothered about themselves and nothing else, they chnage the rules to suit, like a bunch of politicians.

JOHN, we do, that's the bleedin' problem. The talent is there, the money is there, the clubs are there. Just look at Wakey, their academy lads hammered a very good Wigan lot in the GF just over a month ago, that is just one example, look a little deeper, there's loads of talent around.

The national side is an utter joke and has been for god knows how long, we struggle to compete let alone put the two stronger nations under pressure.

And another thing, is Lee Smith really the best we've got to offer at centre for the national team ?

I wouldn't have touched him with a barge-pole after his defection to RU, well maybe I would have if I thought he was good enough !

maguire was absolutely =blue[irubbish[/i.



I think leon Price deserves a shot.



=blue[iEdited by TS[/i

all 26 points came from australia attacking the right side of englands defence lee smith is e at centre felt he and mcguire should of gone off at half time but briscoe went instead

He was boo'd when he was sub'd late in the game & Sinfield came back on.



Id maybe go for Tomkins & Eastmond at half back.

Our forwards are as good if not better than the Aussies. Our backs on the other hand are extreemly poor. Tomkins and Eastmond should be the halfbacks. But excluding Tomkins from Mcguire downwards we are very poor. the best we can offer is Briscoes, Smith, Shenton and Hall? Compared to the Aussies and NZ they are average club players at best.

Im never sure what the big deal is when the Aussies beat us. They produce far more quality players than us, probably due to a lot more people playing the game and better coaching. Whats up with that?