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After an exciting ending to the three-Test Series between England and New Zealand, here are a few things I learnt from the match.
1. Jermaine McGillivary should have played in all three Tests
I picked him before the series and he proved me right.
He was the form winger in Super League leading up to the Test series and he carried that form into the third Test, taking the ball out strongly and making plenty of good hard yards. He was certainly more effective than Joe Burgess had been in the first Two Tests.
2. England coach Steve McNamara made a very good call to bring back Wigan scrum half Matty Smith to the starting line up
It was clear after the second Test that a change had to be made at halfback. The majority of England supporters would have preferred Castleford Tigers half Luke Gale to be given a chance but Smith did the required job.
He is not spectacular but his kicking game is excellent and it was far superior to what had been proffered in the second Test. His game management, organisation and distribution where just what England needed.
3. New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney should have picked Benji Marshall
The Kiwis were crying out for some creativity at halfback. While Kodi Nikarima and Peta Hiku had their best matches of the series, a player with the experience and creative skills of Marshall could have been the difference between winning and losing the Test Series.
4. Gareth Widdop
I’m still not convinced that Gareth Widdop is England’s answer at stand off.
Most of the time he seemed to be running around in circles and up dead ends and turning back on himself. He has a high quality kicking game and is a very good goal kicker but I am not sure that he has the creative ability to fully crack it at international level.
5. John Bateman is a Test class player, but just not at centre
He has had a very good series and has played like the quality second row he is. He constantly plays above his weight and is a thorn in the opposition’s side whether that is in attack or defence.
But, he is not a centre and that could be one of the reasons why Ryan Hall had such a quiet series.
6. Sam Tomkins needs to lose his beard
Nothing more needs to be said.
7. Raiders recruits
Canberra Raiders will have two quality English players in their ranks in 2016.
Former Hull KR hooker Josh Hodgson had a brilliant first season with the Raiders in 2015. His form saw him overtake the 2014 Man of Steel winner Daryl Clark in the pecking order of top quality English hookers.
Hodgson will be joined at the Raiders by his Test colleague Elliott Whitehead who has signed from Catalans Dragons. Whitehead is an outstanding second row forward who fully deserved his Test spot. He was fairly quiet in the first two Tests but came to the fore in the Third Test to score two crucial tries.
8. Ben Thaler was the right choice as referee
At times I was worried that he was impersonating Gerard Sutton from the Second Test because he started giving penalties for petty little infringements at the play the ball. That was something he didn’t do in the first Test in Hull.
However, he settled down and allowed the players to get on with the game and showed that there has been a vast improvement in his refereeing over the last 12 months.
9. Lizzie Jones should sing at all future big rugby league occasions
This is not out of sympathy but because rugby league fans identify with her, love her and actually look forward to hearing her sing. She has a damn fine singing voice.
10. The future of England’s head coach
I’m still undecided on whether Steve McNamara should be retained as England coach. Has he taken England as far as he can?
You can clearly form an argument that his results against Australia and New Zealand over his five-year tenure as coach have not been good enough. However, there is no doubt that England are a much more competitive outfit, are more professionally prepared in camp, are defensively sound and have a very good team spirit.
If he is awarded a new contract it needs to take in the 2016 Four Nations and the 2017 World Cup, as we do not want to be in a position to be looking for a new coach just 12 months out from a World Cup.
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