That's the thing i don't think i would put in anybody ahead of him. I'd also go with Shenton and Ellis, lockers at 2nd row. It's sad though that we're looking at a potential best option at centre of a 2nd rower (I know he's played centre earlier in his career) - we seem to have an alarming tendancy as a RL nation to turn and decent size kid who's playing centre into a 2nd rower, are we putting something in the water or is it we've not got the coaching skills to develop them at centre so it's easier to put them in 2nd row? I dunno really.



If I wasn't going to put Ellis in centre, i'd have to go with Smith or Bridge though i'm really really loath to do that for essentially a '1 off'

I really hope Wigan don't do that with Ian Thorley.

I spoke to a guy involved with Acadamy team coaching (not Wigan's) and he thinks Thornley will make a great second rower. He doesn't think he has the handling skills of a quality centre.

Does make you wonder what the heck is going on though, teams seem to be having second rowers hanging from the rafters, but we're all struggling to produce centres. I suspect that whatever the issue is, it's going to take changes at the early age brackets in coaching and we're going to have to wait quite a while for it to filter through.



I'm a bit out of touch with what changes were made at grass roots level in the past, but it seems like a decision was made along the lines of 'we're struggling for second rowers at the top level, so lets turn anybody with a bit of size in the the centres into second rows.

But that's exactly the point! The person you have ahead of O'Loughlin isn't Burgess but Westwood!!





Please apply your own logic to that selection and explain exactly how Westwood has been better than O'Loughlin at International level. He hasn't even been better at club level. Ever.

Another interesting anomoly in your argument in bold. O'Loughlin has consistently been at the top of the tackles made list for SL throughout his career. Peter Sterling said the last time out against the Aussies that he was , and I quote: "a workoholic", that he "reminded him of Nathan Hindmarsh (sic)" and "was one of the few GB players who would be a success in the NRL". Exactly the type of player Aus/NZ put at loose forward and exactly what you are advocating in bold. Explain?

OBSESSED

I said that on another thread. Smith played Sinfield at hooker alot when Diskin used to go off, I think he may start at hooker.

Ben Westwood





Locky has always shone for GB, he should start be it in back row or 13.

[size=150STALKER![/size

Both statements are true - a lot of teams don't have a playmaker at 13, feeling it's more important to have a tackling machine with great positional and organisational awareness, e.g. DJ



And you're right Lockers is a great defensive workhorse as well as somebody who's got a bit of 'playing' skill - he's a good choice at 13, i'm just tempted to put him in the 2nd row and have sinfield for his kicking.



And yes you're damn right we shouldn't be in that position of needing to include him for his kicking game, but sadly I think we still are at the moment with the current halves.



Maybe in a year or two, a Tomkins/Eastmond (if he stays in RL) type partnership once they develop their games a little more might mean we're not needing a 13 who can kick well.