Re: England Squad 2022 - Why are we falling further behind? : Fri Sep 30, 2022 12:43 pm  

Hall and Hill a bit past it now, don’t think Sneyd is an international player, Williams and Bateman struggling this season.

Would have Hardaker in the squad looks OK of late, don’t know if Connor is injured he,s a better international player than his domestic version.

Re: England Squad 2022 - Why are we falling further behind? : Fri Sep 30, 2022 1:50 pm  

I might go against the grain here but im glad McIlorum is in. We need a pack that wont get bullied and has a bit of bite. Ackers at hooker? The aussies would just put their hand on his head and keep him at arms length like you do with toddlers.

Re: England Squad 2022 - Why are we falling further behind? : Fri Sep 30, 2022 4:15 pm  

I thought Marshall would have got in the squad at least as he scores tries and has real pace.

Re: England Squad 2022 - Why are we falling further behind? : Fri Sep 30, 2022 5:58 pm  

On paper Somoa are a better side.

Home advantage may get England the win but I fancy Somoa to beat England.

A kangeroo series seems more pointless than ever right now. Australia would batter England.

It's inexcusable for a side like England to lack so much genuine quality.

Re: England Squad 2022 - Why are we falling further behind? : Fri Sep 30, 2022 6:06 pm  

We won’t win a World Cup again on individual talent in the next 20 years. The only way we will even beat Australia is through a combination of sheer luck, unbelievable motivation and desire, every referee decision to go our way and at least 5 HIAs/injuries to them in the game.

Therefore it’s mostly irrelevant if the squad includes some players who aren’t as good as others.

Re: England Squad 2022 - Why are we falling further behind? : Fri Sep 30, 2022 6:49 pm  

Hopie wrote:

I saw England beat Australia on TV at the Centenary world cup when I was still at school, but it was just another sport on BBC TV at the time. Little would I know that would be the only time I'd see England beat a Tier 1 team at a world cup in my lifetime.

Before the disastrous world cup in 2000 I was a Super League season ticket holder, and I've been to every world cup since, I've seen some horrible defeats and some painful exits, not many World cup high points involving England at all, but I really despair at the lack of quality England can call upon. In 200o we ran out of wingers, in 2017 we only had 1 centre. Players get older and slower but the replacements don't step up to the mark and displace them from the team. The same tried and failed players look good in the league and then get picked again and battered in full internationals.

Results in 2000 and 2008 were disastrous for different reasons, but in 2013 and 2017 I thought we had a genuine chance. We grew through the tournament in 2013 and actually put out a good team in a losing semi final. A huge upgrade on the coaching side made up for the reduced squad quality in 2017 but a favourable draw and creditable niling in the final isn't what I am after. I just want to see England win another big game before I give up, or the game I knew is gone for good.

2022 looks like another downgrade in terms of squad and a bigger one in terms of coaching staff. looks like we are falling down the rankings rather than looking to use home advantage to beat the best. Why is there such a lack of quality England players, particularly creative ones, and will we ever be able to turn the tide on this one?

Geta grip we was a ankle tap from probably winning the final in 2017 against aussies

Re: England Squad 2022 - Why are we falling further behind? : Fri Sep 30, 2022 6:55 pm  

I think we would of had a chance had lomax, percival, Walmsley and Roby been fit/played

Think Samoa are stronger than NZ and will be a serious threat to Australia

A lot of key Penrith players who have dominated the nrl last few years so the gelling issue shouldn't be a problem

Re: England Squad 2022 - Why are we falling further behind? : Fri Sep 30, 2022 8:11 pm  

Thetalentboy wrote:

Geta grip we was a ankle tap from probably winning the final in 2017 against aussies

Would have only made it 6-6. We'd have still had to score again.

Re: England Squad 2022 - Why are we falling further behind? : Fri Sep 30, 2022 9:07 pm  

Thetalentboy wrote:

I think we would of had a chance had lomax, percival, Walmsley and Roby been fit/played

Think Samoa are stronger than NZ and will be a serious threat to Australia

A lot of key Penrith players who have dominated the nrl last few years so the gelling issue shouldn't be a problem

I think the problem for Samoa and Tonga, even Australia is that we're likely to see mass pullouts. Once one big name does it, tons of them will.

Re: England Squad 2022 - Why are we falling further behind? : Fri Sep 30, 2022 9:12 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

I think the problem for Samoa and Tonga, even Australia is that we're likely to see mass pullouts. Once one big name does it, tons of them will.

I don't think they will. There are players from Somoa and Tonga who turned down the chance to earn great money to play for Australia.

They wont turn down the Green and Gold
only then to pull out.