more concerned about Bridge the aussis will have him for breakfast

I think they're still full from the Mcguire and Smith all you can eat buffet a fortnight ago.



I'd be tempted to play Smith as we all know how good he can be, but I'm not sure he's done enough in the tournament to warrant it, and he's always worth a penalty or two.



Birsco is certainly not the answer though, and we won't be seeing him at FB for England after this tournament I'm sure.

Agree, major problem! But im not sure what TS can do?



We tried McGuire, Smith and Tom Briscoe - They got torn apart. I guess as bad as it looks - Bridge and Fox will have to have there turn at stopping the most an absolutely unstoppable threequarter partnership supplied by one of the best ever half back partnerships in Lockyer and Thurston.





The only thing i can think of is Eastmood defending out wide right to sweeper Inglis as he is the only one who could match him for speed.

I think the Bridge scenario highlights the major problem in the SL set up, i.e. a dearth of quality centres.

Compare this with the Aussies who have 3 try Jennings, amongst others, who may not even get a game.

He'd walk into any other side in the world.

Where is the next Keith Senior to come from? Someone with the physique, power & pace to trouble the Aussies.

This is an overall SL problem not just an issue for the Rhinos.

What about this young lad "the next Billy Slater"? Is it Widdop? Maybe a future fullback or just hyped up by the press?

there are people like Atkins who have pace and power, but it isn't combined with guile, passing ability or strong defence.



We seem to breed two varieties of centre. A running centre, or a passing centre. Its very rare you get both in one over here.

A problem with the junior setups at amateur clubs where the big lads tend to get put in the middle of the pitch so they get their hands on the ball more often?

True, but you'd think that at the top level, a player could significantly improve some of the more basic skills to a better level

Too late by that point.



By the time a player hits the first team at a SL/Championship club the majority of the available training time is taken up by game planning and structure. Professional coaches shouldn't have to be teaching their players the basics of the game.



Sadly too many junior sides are coached by people with a stack of enthusiasm but no real idea of how to teach kids properly. Lazy techniques get covered up by athletic ability through their development and they arrive on scholarships at pro clubs with gaping holes in their games.

Its true. I see plenty of players at my level who are one trick ponies, and that is good enough to be effective. Very little time is spent on improving basic skills.



I've played with and against some great runners who couldn't pass or tackle for $hit

Briscoe maybe 'solid' majority of the times. But he offers nothing in attack, in what is regarded as a strike position in the modern game.