Are they though?



We have a FB who would be playing week in week out in the NRL if it wasn't for Billy Slater being his competition. The 2 wingers are stronger all round players than any we've really had for a while and the hb's are 2 of the best we've had for at least the last 10 years. IMO it's only the centres and I think Bridge is vastly underrated.

Widdop in, unbelievable!. Two competitive games in the NRL and he gets the nod! Hear we go again over hyping our young players before we have actually seen them prove themselves at any decent level for any reasonable period of time. All the over exposure we give our young lads will probably do more damage to them in the long run. How many players have we overhyped just to see them turn into disappointments? A few I would say. The best thing for the lad is to continue his development at Melbourne rather than bring him half way round the world to play in a one sided joke of an international.

Widdop overhyped??? No chance, he's only been picked for the squad versus France. We're short of fullback options so it's only right McNamara has a look at him.



It's hardly a baptism of fire. If he's not up to it then we'll have to fall back on Lee Smith.

One very very important statistic is not covered and thats who wins the collision leading to a quick play the ball. Momentum been so important in the modern game, and it all comes from this.

International selection on the back of 2 top level competitive games is a sign off an overhyped player in my view.

Just about picks itself but ...





Widdop

Hall

Shenton

Bridge

Briscoe

Tomkins

Eastmond/McGuire (depending on fitness)

Graham

Roby

Peacock

Ellis

Burgess

O'Loughlin



Morley

Scruton

J Tomkins

Westwood/Sinfield

I have nothing against Scruton who is a decent player but unless my maths are wrong he makes 6.51 metres per carry compared to Crabtrees 7.16.

Similalrly if you gross up Harrison's stats so he has played the same number of games as Scruton then he has more tackles, more metres made, more offloads, and more carries. This isn't to say that this is why Harrison should have been picked as I don't think stats tell the full story, but it does discredit your argument re the stats.



Like I said, I haven't got a problem with Scruton being picked who is a good player and my own preference for Harrison is no doubt motivated by bias as I get to see all his matches every week - just as Steve Mac gets to see all of Scruton's as well as seeing him training etc and knowing exactly what he is capable of. To repeat, I think Ben will prove himself in the longer term and expect to see him on the plane down under at the end of the year.

Anyone know when France name their team? It could be an unfortunate scoreline depending on the injuries. Though i'd like to think this international will give the French players a chance to forget about their woes at Catlans and show what they can really do.

The France team will just be the Catalans Dragons minus their Aussies and topped up with Catalans reserves.

England/GB have suffered too much by playing people out of position in the past - I would rather have a good player playing in his normal position than a 'supposedly' better one out of position



Hell, even NSW showed that if you play quality players out of position (Lyon and Hayne) then the whole is less than the sum of its parts



and finally... I get what you mean with Ellis but do you really think that Ablett would make a better centre option than Shenton or Bridge?