Australia has State Of Origin.
Oh, that was just a stand alone statement. That has nothing to do with these bloody ridiculous “International Origin” games the RFL have come up with because, if their eyes, this shithouse English side is too goo to play against the likes of say France or Wales.
As Ian Golden pointed out on Twitter, the England squad as a former Welsh, Scottish and NZ Maori representatives in the side. Even so, the team looks very ordinary.
What are England really supposed to do though? The players available are a bunch of second rate failures and there is simply no one around to replace them with.
Lets take a look at their squad:
England Squad
Carl Ablett – Leeds Rhinos
Ryan Atkins – Warrington Wolves
Tom Briscoe – Hull FC
Danny Brough – Huddersfield Giants
Rob Burrow – Leeds Rhinos
Garreth Carvell – Warrington Wolves
Josh Charnley – Wigan Warriors
Rangi Chase – Castleford Tigers,
Eorl Crabtree – Huddersfield Giants
Leroy Cudjoe – Huddersfield Giants
Ryan Hall – Leeds Rhinos
Gareth Hock – Wigan Warriors
Jamie Jones-Buchanan – Leeds Rhinos
Lee Mossop – Wigan Warriors
Sean O’Loughlin – Wigan Warriors
Jamie Peacock (captain) – Leeds Rhinos
James Roby – St Helens
Kevin Sinfield – Leeds Rhinos
Danny Tickle – Hull FC
Sam Tomkins – Wigan Warriors
Jon Wilkin – St Helens
First of all, Jamie Peacock has been named as captain. He is finished! He’s 34 years old now, he will be 35 going on 36 as the World Cup kicks off next year. The chances are he will be joined in the front row in next years World Cup side by Adrian Morley, who is a few months older and that will give England two front rowers with a combined age of 72 as the World Cup kicks off.
Madness. This is supposed to be forward planning…
Not a single player in the England side stands out as a quality player. I’m shocked however that England would select Rob Burrow, again, after countless terrible performances at international level. Running across field might cut it in Super League, but he is like running out a team of 16 players against the likes of Australia and New Zealand.
Then again, as I said earlier, who would you replace him with? This England squad was selected from a garbage player pool. It was never going to be any good.
The Exiles team was also named a few days ago, and it is just a sad side to read through.
Exiles Squad
Brett Hodgson (c)
Francis Meli
Daryl Millard
George Carmont
Joel Monaghan
Brett Finch
Scott Dureau
Tony Puletua
Michael Monaghan
Anthony Laffranchi
Trent Waterhouse
Willie Manu
Luke O’Donnell
Lance Hohaia
Heath L’Estrange
Sia Soliola
Jeff Lima
Antonio Kaufusi
Setaimata Sa
Thomas Leuluai
Louis Anderson
David Faiumu
Brett Delaney
Clint Greenshields
David Fa’alogo
Michael Robertson
Jason Chan
Joel Moon
Pat Richards
Jake Webster
This is what it has come to. I didn’t even know Jason Chan still played!
I’m not going to review the Exiles squad. I guess its a chance for some of these old, busted, finished players to prove they are better than the English players and get paid to play for England in the next World Cup.
It worked for Rangi Chase after all!
This game is simply pathetic. It shows how far English Rugby League has fallen. Someone needs to put it out of its misery. You have to wonder how much longer the RFU is willing to stand back and let Rugby League fall apart before they step in, but Wigan, Leeds, Hull FC and St Helens and just finish the fight for good.
