: Sat Nov 15, 2008 7:28 pm  

Another thing what really gets me is the lack of ex players in the International set up. Why the hell didnt we use the like's of Schofield, Gregory, Crooks , Edwards, Harrison more.

: Sat Nov 15, 2008 7:39 pm  

fc baldy wrote:

Buderus and Crocker are at the careers end arent they.

Its the little known ones that are the worse...see Castleford,they are experts at it.

Was not referring to quality imports. When 30odd per cent of super league players are imports there is no wonder we are in trouble.If the top Aussie coach can see it then why can't we.

: Sat Nov 15, 2008 8:59 pm  

Jake the Peg wrote:

Shocking that our game has gone backwards despite record levels of money being pumped in. We have no world class players in the England team and most seem to have a lack of basic skills such as passing and positional play. How can the Australian system be so much better at producing skillful players?

The problems start and begin with our youth system, i know a lot of hard work goes in at grassroots level and a lot of people give up there free time

But in Australia these kids are identified an early ages and put in to there instutiute of sports at there chosen game, with the best coaching and facilites

They also train in warm weather with sun on there back most of the time which can only help devolp there handlings skills and concentration

Where as our youngsters play the game in winter in cold and at times appalling weather conditions, and at times is hard to get a full team to training due to weather parents not wanting to take them out on a cold wet freezing misreable night

1 of the 1st things is we need to changer the amatuer game over to summer to enable youngsters to devolp there handling skills from the off

: Sat Nov 15, 2008 10:41 pm  

DABHAND wrote:

Was not referring to quality imports. When 30odd per cent of super league players are imports there is no wonder we are in trouble.If the top Aussie coach can see it then why can't we.

quick fix mate, every chairman/ceo in super league should hang their head in shame as should the people who say they dont care about international rugby and only care about their club side.

: Sat Nov 15, 2008 10:50 pm  

Hope those so called superstars carry that form throughout super league next season,especially Saints

: Sat Nov 15, 2008 10:53 pm  

|Rommells not been about lately

: Sat Nov 15, 2008 10:56 pm  

DABHAND wrote:

You are talking about superstars on 2-3 thousand quid a week,and they can't do the basics.Well the so called superstars have been found out and i hope the clubs have the sense to realise this when their contracts are up for review.Let them get paid a contract commensurate with their world standing which to me is on a par with P.N.G.If they don't like it they can't all go to other super league clubs and the Aussie league certainly won't have them.Lets start paying players on performance instead of throwing money at average players.Its funny how some of the players who seem to have a high opinion of themselves have been well and truly found out ie.,Wilkins(alright showing the BBC the contents of his fridge),Wellens,Pryce,Gardner(bet he wished he had stayed at home)Sinfield and on and on.Let me hear one more so called pundit say we are not far off and i will scream.Fourty years ago we could beat the Aussies and most of our players were'nt pampered like this bunch,they had physical jobs to feed their families, besides playing.Give it a fortnight let the dust settle and we will just go back to our same old ways.Oh for someone to come in and sort it out from the bottom to the top.While ever we get Stevo and Eddie telling us we are watching superstars in superleague the players believe they really are superstars.And on a final note,reading the Aussie press they say that agents and coach's are at all of the games trying to sign players,strange the Aussie's are not interested in our superstars.

Yes that Man!!! I agree 100% with what you say.

: Sat Nov 15, 2008 11:05 pm  

Hutchie wrote:

|Rommells not been about lately

Was he not stood on the wing for England today disguised as a Mexican

: Sat Nov 15, 2008 11:07 pm  

Kosh wrote:

They have a larger pool of talent to pick from.
Sport generally is more important to them, especially at school and youth level.
The way the game is played encourages skill over pure athleticism.

IMO.

I don't buy it. We shouldn't be as far behind as we obviously are

: Sat Nov 15, 2008 11:16 pm  

I was hoping to see a fresh looking England team for this World Cup. Alas........Tony Smith has picked the same mis-matched team foundation as Nobby had. OK......These lads seem to prove their worth in superleague playing with their respective clubs.......But each and every one of them would've got "Does not mix well with others" on their reference after this competition.
The alarm bells were ringing three weeks ago with the PNG scare. The winning mentality and body language just wasn't there.

Come on Kiwi's (well......gotta support someone in the final eh?)