Is there a better defensive full back than Hardaker at the minute? His one on one defence is outstanding. In fact, there can't be many (if any) better attacking full backs at the moment.

I couldn't pick the wingers. We have too many that would be tough to leave out.



Hall is a safe, reliable, solid England standard winger, however based on what I've seen Makinson, Briscoe and Burgess have that extra something. Burgess in particular is fearless and has the potential to be the best winger in SL. Having played in a WCC and probably appear in semi finals or finals this season I think he'll be ready.

I'd go:

1. Lomax/Hardaker

2. Briscoe

3. Watkins

4. Reed/Shenton (possibly Bateman who put his winger away time after time on Good Friday. You don't need to be fast when you can do that)

5. Hall

6. Tomkins

7. Widdop

8. Hill

9. Roby

10. Graham

11. Ferres

12 Farrell

13, O'loughlin/Sinfield

14. Clark

15. Huby

16. Bateman/Westerman (maybe being exposed to international RL might unleash his potential)

17. G burgess



I'd like to expose some younger players to give them experience for when we need to replace the older players. The ashes and home 4N are the ones we more likely to win and we need to find players to replace them with. This tournament should be used to throw some wildcard in such as Sneyd, Huby etc



Unfortunately we're likely to see more or less the same players as last year and and not making the final. Players such as Huby will be overlooked as they don't play for a glamour club. Mike Cooper will be in though...

England need to move away from the likes of Ben Westwood and choose Elliot Whitehead. He has all the attributes to be a top second rower and has an amazing try scoring record.

Westwood has been a very good player but is now past his best.

Jones is far more likely to be in contention than Percival. He's developing into a quality centre, why saints fans don't recognise it is beyond me - it's probably a year too early this year (which is why I left him out) but in the coming year or 2 he could make a real push for it.



That said 3-4 years down the line so could Percival

but then we said that about ste tyrer as well!

Can't comment too much on Whitehead this year but it has been my impression that he tends to be a bit of a showpony who can go missing defensively or shirk the hard work when the going gets tough.

Can't help feeing that Makinson is this year's Charnley. Devastating as a finisher at SL level but not big or strong enough to have any positive impact in top-line internationals, and defensively vulnerable. Burgess and Lineham on the other hand have potentially got the attributes to be international wingers along with Briscoe and Hall.



Agree Whitehead should be in the squad. Along with Ferres he's our best offloading second-row, but you can only really play one of them in the same team alongside a workhorse.



For a squad of 25 I'd choose



Hardaker, Lomax

Briscoe, Hall, J.Burgess

Watkins, Reed, Shenton

Widdop, Sinfield, Tomkins

Graham, G.Burgess, Amor, Hill, Crabtree

Roby, Clark, McIlorum

Ferres, Westwood, Ablett, Whitehead, Bateman, O'Loughlin

If Scott Taylor carries on the way he has been then he will be difficult to overlook

At the moment...



Tomkins

Briscoe

Watkins

Reed/Shenton (both solid, but I hope Percival can stay fit and improve, and Crooks gets a run at left centre for Hull, as a quality game-breaking left centre is the weak link in our backline.)

Hall

Widdop

Sinfield

Graham

Roby

Hill

Ablett

Farrell

Flanders



Clark (no-brainer IMO)

G Burgess

Walmsley

Westwood



In Hardaker, Lomax, Shaul, Makinson, Lineham, Charnley, Burgess, Cudjoe, Russell, BJB, Broughton etc we have some good depths in the backs. We're still lacking in the halves with Widdop and Sinfield get injured. Tomkins would slot in nicely but apart from him I don't have much faith in the other options at the moment. Our depth overall in the forwards is good, but we could really do with a back rower who can provide us a x factor. Someone mentioned Hock, but I'll be shocked if he ever plays for England again.

He'd be a certainty for any England squad I was picking. Cracking player.

Tomkins is no half back, he needs the space and also he struggles to play to pattens as he nees to roam and pop up anywhere. Widdop is in, no question, any player who is rated the best stand off in the NRL at the minute must be in. His kicking game is brilliant as well. Not sure who else we have with him though 7 must be the one position we do not have an contenders for that can do the job. Luke Robinson ???

Quote marshman777="marshman777"Tomkins is no half back, he needs the space and also he struggles to play to pattens as he nees to roam and pop up anywhere. Widdop is in, no question, any player who is rated the best stand off in the NRL at the minute must be in. His kicking game is brilliant as well. Not sure who else we have with him though 7 must be the one position we do not have an contenders for that can do the job. Luke Robinson ???'" www.canberratimes.com.au/breakin ... 3745u.html?

Quote marshman777="marshman777"Tomkins is no half back, he needs the space and also he struggles to play to pattens as he nees to roam and pop up anywhere. Widdop is in, no question, any player who is rated the best stand off in the NRL at the minute must be in. His kicking game is brilliant as well. Not sure who else we have with him though 7 must be the one position we do not have an contenders for that can do the job. Luke Robinson ???'" www.canberratimes.com.au/breakin ... 3745u.html?