Great Britain Lions: Omissions show strength of squad

Posted on December 23, 2019 by rosa-zubizarreta

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By Dave Woods
BBC rugby league correspondent
This Great Britain Lions squads potency may be judged by the players not involved.
Missing by the 23 men selected for its upcoming Tests against Tonga, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea will be the current Golden Boot entire world player of this year, five of those who began in that epic World Cup final against Australia only two years ago and one of the greatest players of his creation.
Completely fit and in Sean OLoughlin, Tommy Makinson, Sam Burgess, James Roby, Kallum Watkins, Ben Currie, Luke Gale and form would all be a shoe-in for selection.
The simple fact that without this squad has star quality is a manifestation of the developing depth readily available to Wayne Bennett – particularly in the pivots and the package.
Therell be much talk about the three Australians chosen – Jackson Hastings, Blake Austin and also Lachlan Coote. However, all three are all both committed although all three concur and three are players.
And thats all that matters.
Look such as cases of to the current cricket World Cup and the current union World Cup.
They will develop against a side, very few of whom have been born from Tonga – but try telling that.
The three-quarter lineup is an issue given that the party includes only two wingers at Jermaine McGillvary along with Ryan Hall, but thats how Bennett went for the World Cup and it also worked.
Though Zak Hardaker and Jon Bateman are among those who might fill in, Along with 1 specialist in a single semi-regular and Oliver Gildart covers the two center areas in that place in Jake Connor.
Itll be fascinating to find out who gets the nod in the halves and in full-back.
You can make a solid case for just about any Gareth Hardaker, Coote, Widdop or even Johnny Lomax to be given the number one jersey.
And, based on this selection, whats going to be the halves of Widdop, Lomax, Austin, George Williams and Hastings – using young Jake Trueman offering another tantalising variation?
So when was the last time a GB or England squad contained six high-class half-backs – seven in case you add Connor to that mix?
The package seems great as it did when the likes of Stuart Fielden, Jamie Peacock and Adrian Morley ran around making havoc. That is a part of the field that Britain keeps producing.
A possible starting of James Graham, Josh Luke and Hodgson Thompson – using their abilities – supplemented by Tom Burgess, Chris Hill and Alex Walmsley and the lively.
A back-row Blend of both Super League, Elliot Whitehead, Jack Hughes and John Bateman bolters Josh Jones and Joe Philbin is enjoyable too.
This will be a tour. Tonga, with the wheels names back from the fold and back , will provide a physically and mentally draining first Exam.
The Kiwis, with trainer Michael McGuire having had time to apply his influence, will soon be looking for revenge over the hemisphere after last years series defeat England in the 2 tests in Christchurch and Auckland.
And theres a step into the unknown for lots of the players whenever they journey to Papua New Guinea for its one time game in humidity and warmth of Port Moresby.
But weve every right to feel excited about GBs chances.
The Blue and Red chevron may come back with a bang.
26 October: Tonga v GB RL Lions (on air 07:30 on BBC 2, highlights on BBC One 13:15-14:30)
2 November: New Zealand v GB RL Lions (on air 03:30 on BBC One, highlights on BBC One 13:15-14:30)
9 November: New Zealand v GB RL Lions (on atmosphere 06:30 on BBC Two, highlights on BBC One 13:15-14:30)
16 November: PNG v GB RL Lions (on air 07:00 on BBC 2, highlights TBC)
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