Re: New Zealand v Great Britain 2nd Test : Sat Nov 09, 2019 11:58 am  

JEAN CAPDOUZE wrote:

The try by Joshua Hodgson showed the wisdom of Wayne Bennett's selection of the Canberra hooker.

People need to stop the Wayne Bennett bashing. The former policeman is in the Clint Eastwood mould, and he certainly knows what he is doing.

He’s the most boring and one dimensional player in the squad. Arguably been the least effective player on the tour. He doesn’t do anything to attract defenders before making a pass, all of his teammates hang back when he gets to dummy half because they just expect a straight up pass from DH or three steps and a pass. We are never on the front foot when he’s on the pitch. He’s a safe, consistent, boring, ineffective player.

He doesn’t create space, he doesn’t attack space, he doesn’t create panic, he doesn’t create confusion as the defence know exactly what he’s going to do, he doesn’t create positive play. He’s just safe.

Re: New Zealand v Great Britain 2nd Test : Sat Nov 09, 2019 12:51 pm  

Psychedelic Casual wrote:

He’s the most boring and one dimensional player in the squad. Arguably been the least effective player on the tour. He doesn’t do anything to attract defenders before making a pass, all of his teammates hang back when he gets to dummy half because they just expect a straight up pass from DH or three steps and a pass. We are never on the front foot when he’s on the pitch. He’s a safe, consistent, boring, ineffective player.

He doesn’t create space, he doesn’t attack space, he doesn’t create panic, he doesn’t create confusion as the defence know exactly what he’s going to do, he doesn’t create positive play. He’s just safe.

Which is why the use of Clark is inexcusable

Re: New Zealand v Great Britain 2nd Test : Sat Nov 09, 2019 1:53 pm  

Psychedelic Casual wrote:

He’s the most boring and one dimensional player in the squad. Arguably been the least effective player on the tour. He doesn’t do anything to attract defenders before making a pass, all of his teammates hang back when he gets to dummy half because they just expect a straight up pass from DH or three steps and a pass. We are never on the front foot when he’s on the pitch. He’s a safe, consistent, boring, ineffective player.

He doesn’t create space, he doesn’t attack space, he doesn’t create panic, he doesn’t create confusion as the defence know exactly what he’s going to do, he doesn’t create positive play. He’s just safe.

And how many points did we score with Roby in the WC final team? What a difference Clark made today also, right? Or maybe it’s just the poor players around him? Another one who only watches SL.

Same as always, our hb pairings are weak in comparison to the teams down under along with most of the back line.

Re: New Zealand v Great Britain 2nd Test : Sat Nov 09, 2019 1:56 pm  

Psychedelic Casual wrote:

Our tactics and style of play has been APPALLING!

We haven’t played with any intensity in any of the three first halves we’ve played.

We are eye wateringly boring to watch.

The tactics this morning when we were camped on the Kiwi line for three sets, where our half backs were not involved until the final play of each set and we just gave the ball to our forwards to run in and run in and run in at the line, has to be a sackable offence on its own for Bennett.

Absolutely TERRIBLE!

Get Bennet OUT... NOW!

That was shocking.

Re: New Zealand v Great Britain 2nd Test : Sat Nov 09, 2019 1:59 pm  

I've see Hodgson's entire career, everything about him has always been average. slow passes from DH, never runs from DH, and is no more than an OK defender.
He's been excellent for Canberra, but at the highest level, his average skill set gets exposed.
Clark's 20 minutes last week was better than anything Hodgson has ever produced at this level.

Re: New Zealand v Great Britain 2nd Test : Sat Nov 09, 2019 2:13 pm  

It’s not like we didn’t expect it.

2 scoots, 2 drives and a ballsup on the last, we’ve had that all your.

His negative tactics makes me want to take out my eyeballs and grate them with a Parmesan cheese grater.

Rugby League is in a state of flux, we are in the entertainment business whereas the coaches are in the results business and one cannot be sacrificed for the sake of the other.

I’ve followed rugby league since the age of 6 and I live my life my it but SL and the international games are turning me off. I’d much rather watch a game from 15 years ago where there was skill, passion and intensity in every international.

Re: New Zealand v Great Britain 2nd Test : Sat Nov 09, 2019 2:40 pm  

Our forwards worked hard, they are grafters, however with the exception of Bateman, theres no aggression. If NZ want to employ Maguire tactics at the ruck, it's down to the GB forwards to prevent them doing it. Where have all the nut cases gone?

Re: New Zealand v Great Britain 2nd Test : Sat Nov 09, 2019 3:08 pm  

post wrote:

It’s not like we didn’t expect it.

2 scoots, 2 drives and a ballsup on the last, we’ve had that all your.

His negative tactics makes me want to take out my eyeballs and grate them with a Parmesan cheese grater.

Rugby League is in a state of flux, we are in the entertainment business whereas the coaches are in the results business and one cannot be sacrificed for the sake of the other.

I’ve followed rugby league since the age of 6 and I live my life my it but SL and the international games are turning me off. I’d much rather watch a game from 15 years ago where there was skill, passion and intensity in every international.

You can have both. They are not mutually exclusive.

Losing a test match isn't a criminal offense but there is a way to lose and the way GB have lost the last 3 test matches has been nothing short of terrible.

NZ didn't have to work hard for the win today. Their defensive line was barely challenged. Throwing the ball around just for the sake of it isn't what people want but it's not too much to ask for some actual ball movement, clever lines being run and two half backs who are allowed to actually take a risk.

Playing centre for GB/England is pointless as you won't get the ball.

There was an example where GB got a scrum 20 metres out and one would think they would actually have a set play to attack from such an advantageous position but no, nothing.

All coaches need to be put on alert that 5 drives and a kick isn't cutting it. I don't know what it's like at Jnr levels but one has to ask the question on why does this county fail to produce genuine world class halfbacks and fullbacks?

Re: New Zealand v Great Britain 2nd Test : Sat Nov 09, 2019 3:56 pm  

Hodgson is *not* a bad player.He is a very good one for his club. So unless all the Aussie players, ex-players, Dally M guys etc don't know what they are talking about...And actually, I thought Hodgson had a better game than in the last match FWIW.
But as I've said before, if he and Bennett between them can't make it work at international level, then it's up to the coach to pick someone else more suited to his tactics. Whatever his tactics are, cos I saw no sign of any kind of a plan. As other posters have noted, no sign of any set plays when we got into the strike zone.

Widdop for me is another one who seldom offers much in an England/GB shirt. Kicking game poor, and never imposed himself. It comes to something when Austin, despite playing out of position, dropping a high ball, and butchering a score, was still one of our more effective players.

.

Re: New Zealand v Great Britain 2nd Test : Sat Nov 09, 2019 4:03 pm  

Well, we had 3 halves in the starting line up that were produced outside this country, but they look as bad as the much maligned Sean Long, Danny McGuire or Kevin Sinfield ever did, so I'm sure the problem is necessarily the halves.