Baffled Noble looks for answers
Brian Noble insists rugby league's power brokers must go back to basics in the wake of England's disastrous World Cup campaign.
The former GB chief is well qualified to offer an overview of the campaign and says searching questions have to be asked if England are going to mount a serious World Cup challenge in 2013.
The Wigan coach said: "The commitment from England was there, we just lacked the quality of skill needed – we just weren't good enough.
"We certainly don't have enough players to make competition for places in the national team as tough as it should be.
"Some players didn't raise their game or weren't up to the international mark.
"As always, if England pick up injuries to their best players, they can't cope.
"It's been the same story for the last 10 or 15 years."
Noble, who bossed the GB side from 2004 to 2007, added: "We also have to ask is the competition in Super League good enough or is the
competition for places tough enough to ensure England can compete with the best?
"These are perennial questions and they must be addressed."
Under-fire coach Tony Smith will remain in charge of England and Great Britain, despite winning just once in the tournament, their first outing against Papua New Guinea.
The ex-Leeds coach has a year left on his existing contract and said he had no thoughts on quitting.
Noble added: "Everybody had high hopes of England doing well – I know I did.
"But we never got going and never seemed to create any momentum.
"Tony Smith kept his cards close to his chest in his run-up to the semi-final, but I was always confident he would play Rob Burrow and Danny McGuire at half-back.
"He also had to reward Ben Westwood, Rob Purdham and Micky Higham for their displays the week before.
"While we lacked a little bit up front, I thought Jamie Peacock, Adrian Morley and James Graham were superb.
"We began poorly in the semi-final and, like the rest of the tournament, we were always going to find it difficult playing catch-up rugby.
"It was very disappointing and we've got to begin the process of rebuilding, and look at where we can improve and what we need to produce to improve for the future."
Super League fixtures for the 2009 season will be released in the first week of December.
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Thursday 02 September 2010
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