: Tue Jan 27, 2009 12:54 pm  

bobm wrote:

I can see what your saying there. Must admit I'd like to see our ptb's as slow as in the NRL to encourage smarter play from the half-backs, whether any of the current crop could cope is the question. It may take years for clubs to bring some through that would be up to scratch.

Yep, our half backs would be half backs again, it'd also benefit Wigan's style of play as well

: Tue Jan 27, 2009 1:13 pm  

I understand the point you're making but I disagree.

There is no coincidence that the England team made up of Saints/Leeds players failed. Both teams play with speed around the ruck and gain momentum that way, playing under australian conditions with the grapple doesn't allow for this.

The fact that Leeds and Saints are so much better than the rest is why they can play that way. If they regularly came up against teams that can match them for skill and athleticsm you'd need more creativity to break them down.

Lack of strength in depth is the issue IMO, not the speed of the PTBs. Leeds and Saints can break teams down without having to do anything great

: Tue Jan 27, 2009 1:39 pm  

Quacoe wrote:

I understand the point you're making but I disagree.




The fact that Leeds and Saints are so much better than the rest is why they can play that way. If they regularly came up against teams that can match them for skill and athleticsm you'd need more creativity to break them down.

Lack of strength in depth is the issue IMO, not the speed of the PTBs. Leeds and Saints can break teams down without having to do anything great

Yes thats why Saints / Leeds play that way but that style of play will never have worked in the world cup due to the grapple tackle, the aussies only had 'our' ref once and look what that threw up.

Yep lack of depth is a major probs which relates to other issues we have in our game, but it was still the style of play we struggled with. As has been mentioned our half backs were clueless as they are used to playing with more momentum. I think this years tournament will close.

: Tue Jan 27, 2009 1:48 pm  

you could keep trying too win a test series by scooting . again

: Tue Jan 27, 2009 3:20 pm  

fredie wrote:

you could keep trying too win a test series by scooting . again

Well thats pretty much my point, I can't understand why we have different rulings and interpretations. They need to bang their heads together and sort it out!!

: Tue Jan 27, 2009 7:48 pm  

I still believe its a mental thing, we don't have the belief that we can beat them. We look upon them as super-humans. The New Zealanders don't look upon them like that. New Zealand beat them more often than us, and we seem to have a 50/50 record against the kiwis. That tells me its all in the head.

: Tue Jan 27, 2009 8:13 pm  

so do i dougy....our players need a sports shrink more than anything

: Tue Jan 27, 2009 8:42 pm  

So do I, but I'd take it further to the entire country. There's so much negativity, self-deprecation and lack of confidence. People think that because we haven't won a series for 30 odd years, we won't win the next one. Shouldn't everyone believe the law of averages. Our turn next.

: Tue Jan 27, 2009 9:33 pm  

Rooster Booster wrote:

So do I, but I'd take it further to the entire country. There's so much negativity, self-deprecation and lack of confidence. People think that because we haven't won a series for 30 odd years, we won't win the next one. Shouldn't everyone believe the law of averages. Our turn next.

Yeah, i always thought this of our football clubs in Europe, for years we didn't believe we could compete with these big names like Real Madrid, Barcelona and AC Milan, but as soon as an awful Liverpool side won in 2005, it give the rest belief, and since we've had 4 of the last 6 finalists.

I'm hoping this New Zealand victory will help us believe.

: Tue Jan 27, 2009 10:28 pm  

Dougy wrote:

I still believe its a mental thing, we don't have the belief that we can beat them. We look upon them as super-humans. The New Zealanders don't look upon them like that. New Zealand beat them more often than us, and we seem to have a 50/50 record against the kiwis. That tells me its all in the head.

OMG, are you honestly that stupid. Did you watch the World Cup? In fact, have you watched any game England/GB have played in over the last 30 years?

You're not close, in fact you are getting worse. The English game is dying!