Brown tips Crabtree to win back place

NATHAN Brown is backing Eorl Crabtree to re-claim his spot in the England squad, after missing out on selection for this week’s international against France.
Crabtree was given his first England cap by Tony Smith but, despite featuring for his country during the 2008 World Cup and last year’s Four Nations tournament, has been omitted from Steve McNamara’s first selection as national coach.
"It’s disappointing for Eorl because I thought he did a really good job for England last year,” said Brown.
"There has been a change of coach and sometimes that means that there is a change of personnel, but it gives Eorl the chance to remind Steve what he can do in the next 6-8 weeks.”
The Giants are one of three English-based Super League teams to not have a player called up for the squad - with Wakefield and Hull KR the other two - but Brown remained diplomatic in response to the oversight.
“The representative sides generally get picked from winning teams and I think the fact that we have had some defeats in the last month, albeit against good sides, has played its part.
“The likes of Luke Robinson and Kevin Brown may feel slightly aggrieved that they haven’t been selected, but again, I think if the team had won the last few games it may have been somewhat different and it might have helped them get selected over others.
"I’d much rather they get selected off the back of good form for the tour at the end of the year, which is the big one against Australia and New Zealand.”
The Giants welcomed back Larne Patrick to the squad that faced Bradford, and were set to hand a debut to 22-year-old winger Jermaine McGilvray.
McGilvray has spent the first half of 2010 at Championship side Barrow on a dual-registration contract but comes into the reckoning following injuries to threequarters Jamahl Lolesi and Paul Whatuira.
Sunday came too soon for long-term absentee Simon Finnigan who, as reported in ‘League Express’ last month, is close to a return following close-season surgery on his back and shoulder.