What is it with his lack of size that makes people think he shouldn't be playing for England?



While i don't think you can completely rely on statistics, as Mark Twain famously quoted, his stats for this season are incredibly impressive.



579 Tackles, 12 Missed! His size doesn't stop him having making all those tackles successfully.



For example Ben Westwood, who i really rate by the way, 421 tackles, 27 missed. No one would question his size or defence!



His average gain is comparable with all his rivals, more than Whitehead, way more than Ferres, just behind Westwood.



I saw somewhere some Opta stats, which showed him to be the third most effective player in Super League. I couldn't agree more. His defence is incredible, the lines he runs are superb and his support play is great.



People on here say that the big Southern Hemisphere forwards are too big for him. He coped very well with the Samoans last week, the Aussies won't be so big and NZ will be about the same as the Samoans. I don't see where this theory carries any weight, if you pardon the pun. It's not like he doesn't tackle big players in Super League.

Liam is a superb player and as you say the stats are there for all to see.

Everyone seems to be glossing over that it was his drive that let Clarke go through. Took a few defenders down then got a quick play the ball. Quality player

Very valid points. Think we get a little obsessed with size. Look at Tom Burgess, not good enough, but is in because he is a big.



Outstanding defensive state.

To be fair, tackle % statistics also don't show if he's winning collisions or slowing down the PTB.



I know a while ago he was getting some stick from Wigan coaches because his collisions weren't as big as other players. One of the things he is good at though is slowing down the PTB, one of the best I've seen - I've no idea how he gets away with it as much as he does.

He does get pinned for this from time to time though. The penalty for holding down Higham's leg in the Semi vs Wire was absolutely stupid.

Agree, always shouting at the TV to get him to let go in the tackle. Can't afford to push his luck against Australia.

I rate Farrell, but whitehead and ablett have both been way ahead of him this season and should have been in front of him in the starting lineup and Farrell on the. Each. Tompkins should not be even in the squad

He's a far better player than Joel Tomkins, Whitehead has to play next week

Think Joel was superb in defence but didn't offer much going forward.

Thought he was good and actually tons of work going forward putting his hand up a lot.needs a bit more time to get back to his dangerous line running which is one of the reasons i thought he shouldn't have been selected but fully justified his place today on that display.

There is a good chance that Farrell will be suspended next week after being put on report for an alleged chicken wing. I'm not his biggest fan but he his a load better than Joel Tomkins, who in my view is the fourth best second row in the squad and probably not even in the top 10 of English second row forwards.