I think it just goes by the highest ranking team in the league.

With majority of the team missing the squad will be made up of academy lads.

Hardaker, Briscoe, Watkins, Hall, Cuthbertson, Ward, Ablett should be in the England squad. JJB, Sutcliffe, Aiton injured. Sinfield, Peacock, Leuluai unavailable to play.

Golding
Handley Keinhorst Moon Jones
McGuire Burrow
Mulhern R Ward Garbutt
Achurch Walters
Singleton

Lilley Milton ? ?

For domestic finals the club lets the players keep the prize money which is exempt from the salary cap. When players go to a lesser club for more money like Calderwood to Wigan for example, they'd do well to think of that.

I'd imagine they will reach a similar arrangement. Get some sponsors in etc and let the players keep the prize money.

I know from conversations with the directors that the club consider the WCC games a real cash bonanzas.

I still don't see why Peacock & Leuluai can't play in the game v NZ. I understand why Carnegie wouldn't want Sinfield to, although it is only a couple of weeks extra. IIRC most player contracts run til the end of November.

May be they don't want to? It's not just a case of rocking up and playing. They would have to continue to train ahead of the game and it will be a tough game not a friendly knock about. I think there is an insight into the possible reasons in the interview with JP in the CC final program. He was asked about the possibility of playing on, and he shut the idea down completely, talking about the discipline and effort required and the pain to be endured to get fit for match day. It seemed pretty clear that he has enjoyed his career but has no regrets to be leaving the stage to start the next chapter.

With the absence of the three retirees and the absence of our players on international duty, it should be an interesting game from the point of seeing how emerging players are developing.

Besides which, if you're going to hang your boots up what better way to do it than off the back of a win at Old Trafford in a Grand Final - which will be their aim?

Certainly more of a fitting conclusion than a probable spanking off New Zealand, anyway.

I'd be putting some feelers out to see whether Galloway fancies coming over early though, otherwise that front row is going to look a bit light to be taking on the Kiwi pack without Peacock and Leuluai in it.