Re: John Bateman : Fri Oct 11, 2019 7:37 am  

SaleSlim wrote:

Yes sorry Jean, very rude of us to derail a thread.

All - Please remain on topic so Jean can impart his wisdom on the thread.

Bateman has always been a quality player, I think the only strange thing about his previous selections was picking him at centre.

Clearly a top class second rower

Re: John Bateman : Fri Oct 11, 2019 8:13 am  

SaleSlim wrote:

Didn't see it chief.

And you're seriously clutching at straws if you're gonna quote 1 game to highlight why Clark is (but blatantly isn't ) better than Roby.

But ok for you to quote Clark for 'not doing much' against Salford for 2 and a half games this season

Re: John Bateman : Fri Oct 11, 2019 12:26 pm  

Lord Tony Smith wrote:

But ok for you to quote Clark for 'not doing much' against Salford for 2 and a half games this season

And the other games I've seen him on TV.

Like I said I really do rate Clark but if you think how consistently superb Roby has been then you can't currently speak of Clark in the same breath. IMO of course.

Since 2007 Roby has been nominated in the SL Dream Team six times, Clark twice (yes I appreciate Clark is younger but he made his debut in 2011 according to Wikipedia).

Roby was also competing with the likes of Cunningham in his early days who is considered a modern great. Will Clark reach that level over such a sustained period of time? Maybe best to revisit the topic in 5-7 years time and we can maybe make a fair comparison then.

Re: John Bateman : Fri Oct 11, 2019 4:42 pm  

Both great hookers, I'd be confident in either of them doing a job.

Whoever gets picked is only likely to be back up to Hodgson. I think if we're building towards the next World Cup, then I think Clark probably makes more sense.

What's the chances of the young Rabbitohs winger, Campbell Graham getting picked for Great Britain? Scottish father and English mother, and plays for Wayne Bennett at club level.

Re: John Bateman : Sat Oct 12, 2019 12:00 pm  

John Bateman has some niggling injuries and will miss the International Nines at the fabulous Bankwest Stadium next weekend.

However he is eager to play for Great Britain Lions in the upcoming Test matches against New Zealand, Tonga and Papua-New Guinea.

Re: John Bateman : Sat Oct 12, 2019 1:27 pm  

For me Roby is far and away better than Clark. Just on another level of consistency and control of games. Who would I pick for GB this season? Clark. Younger, quicker, and his time now.

Re: John Bateman : Sat Oct 12, 2019 2:54 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

For me Roby is far and away better than Clark. Just on another level of consistency and control of games. Who would I pick for GB this season? Clark. Younger, quicker, and his time now.

John Bateman couldn't give a toss what your opinion is of the Great Britain candidates for hooker. John Bateman, Joshua Hodgson, Elliot Whitehead, James Graham and Gareth Widdop are the real keys to Great Britain's performances this year.

Re: John Bateman : Sat Oct 12, 2019 3:16 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

For me Roby is far and away better than Clark. Just on another level of consistency and control of games. Who would I pick for GB this season? Clark. Younger, quicker, and his time now.

Yeah I'd agree with that. Roby a generation player utterly brilliant but Daz Clark still very good on his day too and is ready for international RL. Roby could still walk MOTM tonight.

Re: John Bateman : Sat Oct 12, 2019 3:37 pm  

John Bateman is an incomparably better player than James Roby or Darryl Clark. That is why we need to be discussing John Bateman, not James Roby or Darryl Clark.

Typical irrelevant discussion from the people who voted for the catastrophe of Brexit.

Re: John Bateman : Sat Oct 12, 2019 3:54 pm  

JEAN CAPDOUZE wrote:

John Bateman couldn't give a toss what your opinion is of the Great Britain candidates for hooker. John Bateman, Joshua Hodgson, Elliot Whitehead, James Graham and Gareth Widdop are the real keys to Great Britain's performances this year.

A bit like most posters on here with yours