The Easter Embarrassments and Widdop for England? by Steve Mascord AFTER some of the scores on Easter Monday, and as a dumb foreigner, I am intrigued to find out how attached Super League fans are to the idea of two complete rounds over Easter. The wins by Widnes and Salford late last week should have helped attract sponsors, season ticket holders and new fans. Instead, they didn’t have one working day before losing again – in the Vikings’ case, very heavily – to capitalise on these results. READ MORE ON THIS STORY...

The Easter Embarrassments and Widdop for England? by Steve Mascord AFTER some of the scores on Easter Monday, and as a dumb foreigner, I am intrigued to find out how attached Super League fans are to the idea of two complete rounds over Easter. The wins by Widnes and Salford late last week should have helped attract sponsors, season ticket holders and new fans. Instead, they didn’t have one working day before losing again – in the Vikings’ case, very heavily – to capitalise on these results. READ MORE ON THIS STORY...

Seems to have forgotten already the 50-0 drubbing of the Eels this weekend.



Before pointing out our competition's embarrassments maybe Steve should look to his own competition's first.

Can't agree more about Gareth Widdop, he is the best half back we have and we either play him at full back or not at all................. I see Kevin Sinfield as more of a 7, an organiser, and Widdop as the partner with the pace and desicion making. However I would rather see Richie Myler and Gareth Widdop have a shot at half back partners for England. Both young, fast, inteligent, have good kicking games and have a head on their shoulders.



I can't understand why McNamara keeps picking the veterans, Sinfield, Morley, Westwood, Carvell etc... we should blood new talent, Rugby League is a young mans game............ If your good enough your old enough.



We seem to have a negative mentality about blooding youngsters, when in Australia its the opposite......... look at Falou, Hunt etc.....

Why don't you concentrate on Australian RL and leave GB to their own. It's Aussie infiltration that has ruined the game over here. You are obviously another Aussie import like, Rolf Harris that we don't need.

I asked him to comment on the game, that includes anywhere in the world.



I assume you have all the answers, so I'm looking forward to your in-depth analysis in a post soon.......

Is anyone better placed than Mascord to comment on any aspect of Rugby League in any country? The man who sold his home because he didn't need it due to continually being on the road worldwide watching RL. I bet WYSIWYG's never been further than Ibiza.

prick.

I think its constructive critism...........



He has some valid points

People really get too defensive, Steve often makes a lot of good points

Can't agree more pal. Why Widdop is not an automatic choice is a total mystery, but your talking England here! Widdop playing at the top of his game for the best club side in the world and not even being mentioned in our press is crazy and there is no-one to even lace his boots here. The same old faces and usual suspects create nothing but lethergy among the fans who know who deserve to play for England through watching the game world-wide.

On the question of age, I seem to recall the Aussies picking both Lockyer & Civoneceva well into their mid-thirties to name but two.

There is a place for experience.

It's not simply about youth.

agree totally about widdop great player in a great team (and he is from Halifax)

So was Websters beer.....





I drink lager 'cos of that $hite LOL





The only thing Websters was good for was sponsoring the Fax shirts !

They've a good chippy in Baildon

Oh dear. You do know Steve not just reports about Australian Rugby for both the UK and Australian media, but world wide rugby and pays his own way to the USA, Thailand, Philipines, UK etc to cover Internationals and get a better understanding of the domestic scene? Steve spends most his time covering the NRL but he also pays and flies across to the UK for the weekend from Australia to cover the World Club Challenge, The Cup Final and SL Final! And he is considered to be one if not the best RL Journo in the world and is also well known in UUK Rugby League circles. Its embarrassing when people post clueless statements without having a clue who they are speaking to or about.

Widdop is a very average player playing in an outstanding team, stick him at a Super League club and he wouldnt get a mention for England.

Yeah he does play in a outstanding team but i do belive that they need him to fully operate for instance when they do shift plays you tend to have cronk organising plays with widdop giving a short ball to a second rower or giving slater a ball out of the back for him to work his magic.

If he was an average player then Storm wouldn't play him. There is a massive talent pool down there. They play him because he is up to their standard.

You pick the team which is good enough, if your good enough your young/old enough. Lockery and Civoneceva have been Australias most consistent players for 10 years, they've won everything! Why would they drop them? You don't fix what isn't broken, do you?



However Sinfield, Morley, Westwood etc are past their best. They've never won anything substantial, if its broken, fix it!



International rugby and pro rugby in general is about pace. Theres not much difference in skill level from ametuer to pro, its just the extra bit of pace in the head or the feet. In international rugby I feel its more about pace in the feet, this is what Morley and Sinfield lack.



We should blood the youngesters instead of fielding the same players who have repeatidly failed to win anything over the past 10 years. Saying that if they do get picked (which they will) I hope they win the world cup, but I'm sceptical.



It's interesting phycology as well. Players like Sinfiled and Morley have been lossing to the Aussies all their careers, it must shatter their morale. However I young kid like G.Burgess..... he'd be raring to go, fresh.... can take the knocks which Morley for example will feel more.

In the top of the table clash this morning Widdop won the game, not bad for an average player.........

For people who don't rate widdop ill put it to you this way would you rather have him playing and winning in the BEST team in the world or have rangi chase who does alright at cas

meaningless comment. in the best team in the world, average players look very good. in the worst team in SL, good players can look average.

what i want, is a coach who can judge what he needs, and pick the most appropriate person for that role, to suit the game plan and the abilities of the team around him.

it is more complex than just picking the best 13 players and trying to make them fit into a team pattern.



there may be situations when widdop is the best choice, and vice-versa for chase, dependant upon opposition, tactics, form and who else is in the team.

whilst we can at times over complicate discussions, in this case i feel we are over simplifying.

Exactly, excellent in both attack & defence.

If fit he must be in the England team, along with Sam & George Burgess.