I've always rated Sinfield for his game management. If you look back at my posts over the years I said that for England /GB his most effective position was at #9, where he could control a game without having to be a running halfback. The problem with a lot of many RL fans is that see a Rangi Chase type player as a solution rather than a problem.

He is not the best imo, but is up there which is probably an indictment of the lack of quality HB's in SL.It is the one area now likely to hold us back.Matty Smith had a good solid game on Saturday so fair play to him, but he needs to have a much better year for Wigan in 2016 to be considered again, he was a lucky boy to even get that opportunity at the weekend.

Smith and McGillvary both had great games - massive improvement in their respective positions over those they replaced.



So why did the England coaches not go with them earlier in the series?

Bes they won the first game. They weren't going to change that for the second game.

Nearly everyone to a man wouldn't have even had Smith in the squad let alone the starting 13 so I don't think you can't criticise them for only playing him in the 3rd test when again I think most of us wanted Gale in.



As for wing, I did think we should've gone for McGilivery over Burgess because of the type of physical impact he showed on Saturday carrying the ball. However it was hardly a shocking call to opt for Burgess instead originally.

Smith had a very good game, but in response to the original question, a big fat NO. Gale and our own Danny are ahead of him in terms of ability.

Smith just did what you would expect a half to do. Good short passing and a decent kicking game. Widdop concentrated on his defence and worked his socks off, thankfully only kicking the ball a couple of times.

Glad McGillvary got a chance. The way we played all three tests didn't suit Burgess, wingers sole use was to smash the ball up out of defence. Hall did it brilliantly the first two games then McGillvary did it on Saturday. He's a cracking player. We have a lot of good wingers around at the moment.

Poor mans Danny Mags. We'd have thrashed the Kiwis with Mags in the Halves.

I think McGuire can count himself very unlucky not to have made the England squad, best half in SL by a mile in 2015, and by no means 'just a support player' as I sometimes see him labelled.



Smith played really well on Saturday and does seem to have that knack of raising his performance for the bigger games.



Widdop & Williams weren't completely awful, but the first two tests did lack that element of control and game management that we saw from Smith.

2 very good kicks, a few reasonable/average kicks, a few poor kicks. He knows his limitations, didn't try anything other than passing along the line. If that's the best we have to offer we are sadly lacking. Fortunately there are better, but not much. Can you imagine Aus/NZ picking a HB just because they are an 'organiser'?

It does seem churlish appearing critical after a good victory, I even jumped out of my seat twice on Saturday for the first time in this series, but the question was asked.

Best half back is still the petulant little boy at Huddersfield Giants, I'm afraid.

Sadly lacking enough to beat NZ in a series and be better than their halfbacks Tigs.



Blummin miseryguts.