Shenton has failed to impress in the final few weeks of the season for Cas but over the course of the full season I'd place him 4th of the English centres behind Senior, Gleeson & Atkins. Atkins is injured and Senior has retired so Shenton probably gets bumped up to challenging for a starting spot.

A mate of mine that's a Bradford supporter has been underwhelmed with Sykes performances for them this season whilst at centre, saying his defence ain't good enough. But he's been a different player over the final few weeks of the season having been switched to stand off.

I can't imagine Tony Smith is contemplating playing Sykes at stand off so I'm a little bemused as to why he's in the squad - perhaps just shows how poorly off we are for centres at the mo!

Owen was probably Cas' most impressive player over the last 2 games of the season but had come back from around 6 games out through injury and that maybe cost him a spot.

Westerman hasn't stood out this season apart from to us biased Cas fans.

I'd be more perturbed if I was a Wakey fan. Ferguson deserved a place in the train on squad as possibly did Blaymire and Brough (if he qualifies) who I'd say is the best allround English halfback currently playing.

Been underwhelmed with gleeson all season, he's struggled to score tries (as oppososed to shenny who is sl's highest scoring centre, despite being starved of the ball when sherwin was out) whilst he has been defensivley sound so has shenton. Gleeson at his best is a fantastic centre, this season has been the worst i can remember from him. Tony smith, like all the rest of the national coaches will probabley look at a couple of good playoff performances as being more important than having a good season, unfortunatly. This for me makes a whole joke of the selection process as if you only perform in the playoffs you are either lazy or cant keep up good performances for long periods.

As for atkins he has been very good, utilising his strength in both attack and defence, but has issues with passing to his winger, something we know is no problem for shenton.

I'm confidnet that if shenton gets a start and is utilised properly (ie not like the wales/france games where he hardly touched the ball as all play was directed down the opposite side) he will do us proud and make the england centre spot his own.

hmm I see your point and the logic regarding playing them now ready for the next WC but I disagree on your overall point. For the experience alone he may well get a spot but imo he's still behind Gleeson as a player.
Gleeson's had no problem scoring on the intenational stage and he certainly wasn't one of the failures of the last WC, scored a couple of good tries.
Shenton is Cas' main strike weapon whereas at Wigan they favour their left side which is why Gleeson hasn't scored as many tries. Maybe Shenton would be better with better players around him but when i've seen Cas this year there's been too much dropped ball/missed opportunities down that side, something you cant afford at the top level.
General experience can refer to SL, or even playoff footie. The internationals against france are still good experience to see how a player fits in the pattern of the team, he's still young, plenty of time yet.
We obviously disagree on this issue but oh well, we'll see what Smith goes with. I think he'll go with Gleeson because simply you pick your strongest available team.

I wouldnt say that shenton has been castlefords main strike weapon at all, we've been missing sherwin for nearly half a season and when he's not playing we seem to send most of our attack down the other wing, which is why we have scored more tries down that side this season. When sherwins been playing shenton has scored most of his tries. Shenton would have probably scored more tries if ferres had been more willing to pass outwide, but he generally backs himself (hence him scoring 11 tries this season). Despite being all to often starved of the ball shenton was still the highest scoring centre in the competition (english or otherwise) which speaks volumes about his attacking abilities.

Tv games (where i imagine is where you got most of your viewing time of shenton) are probably not the best to judge shenton as his best performances (and the teams) have been away and the vast majority of our sky games have been at home (4 homes games, one away and one at mm).

As i've said earlier on the thread i think on form gleeson is a fantastic centre but i think this has been his poorest year in sl and for me he hasnt even been in the top ten of sl centres this year (senior, gidley, shenton, atkins, bridge, howell, webster, carmont, goulding, smith, nero and t. briscoe ahve all impressed me more at centre this year). If gleeson gets picked before shenton for me it means we are picking on form before reputation or having another calderwood-esq selection policy (you can be average at best all year but if you put in a few good performances in the playoffs you get picked).

If gleeson and sykes get picked at centre against the aussies the bookies need to add another 24 points to the handicap as both struggle to score tries and only one can defend.

Sykes has no chance! Id pick me first!
Having watched both Bridge and Gleeson in Wires team this year Gleeson was the better in a worse team however I think with another couple of seasons Bridge could be a contender for that spot. Probably never going to be physically big enough, he's only about 13 1/2 stone IIRC
Still, none of them can be doing that well if the OAP has been the best centre all year but you're right, most of my viewing has come through sky plus the couple of games against us n B&A online

I'm with you there (with my two dodgy knees i could outrun sykes) but he should never have gone to the world cup either and smith picked him then. the only reasons i can think smith picked him was that he has utility value (fb, w, c, so even though he nowhere near the best we have in any of those position) and that he can kick.

tbh I thought he had an okay season last year with what I saw on limited viewing and to be fair to the lad he was shipped almost every position except prop. Still, never going to be anything more than a club man but he does have a nice step

No trolling. Oh you cant be a troll coz your a Cas fan. Only fans of other clubs that say anything except 'Westy is ace', are trolls.

shut up troll

No Trolling, troll.

Many people's (mine included) first choice favourite to fill one of the England centre spots - Martin Gleeson - has not been picked for the train on squad.

Must improve Shenton's prospects of playing, although Keith Senior has now said he'd be prepared to play if asked. If I was Tony Smith I'd say to 'Keith - thanks but no thanks'. Senior won't play internationally beyond this season so the four nations should be used as an opportunity to try out new players. Similarly Lee Smith who has said he could play for England this autumn, but presumably not beyond as he's taking up a contract in Rugby Union.

And indeed Shenny is now in the full 24-man squad

Congrats Shenny - much deserved

congrats to Michael for his inclusion against France... hope he goes well and gets the gig for the big guns!

I'll 2nd that.

Whilst expressing my doubts about Shenton (above) he seems the best centre available from the 24 man squad picked (Lee Smith may appear a greater attacking threat to some supporters but I have my doubts about his defensive abilities, particularly against the big guns).