I actually think that the Kiwis look more dangerous than the Aussies. They've got some beasts in that squad.......

That is correct.

Just spoke to someone who was at the press conference, and they made a point of saying Sinfield would have been in the squad if fit...

The Kiwis are very dangerous when they're running hot and the Aussies fear them due to their unpredictability. I wouldn't be surprised one bit if the Kiwis won the Four Nations. In fact I'd go as far as to suggest the Aussies fear the Kiwis more than the other way around.

My team would be:

Cudjoe
Goulding
Briscoe
Atkins
Hall
Brown
Tomkins
Morley
Lunt
Graham
Ellis
Burgess
O'Loughlin

Roby
Westwood
Crabtree
Griffin

The Aussie 23 is: Darren Lockyer (C), Sam Thaiday (Brisbane Broncos); Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, David Shillington (Canberra Raiders); Paul Gallen (Cronulla Sharks); Greg Bird (Gold Coast Titans); Anthony Watmough (Manly Sea Eagles); Cooper Cronk, Billy Slater, Cameron Smith (Melbourne Storm); Kurt Gidley (Newcastle Knights); Matthew Scott, Willie Tonga (Nth Qld Cowboys); Jarryd Hayne (Parramatta Eels); Petero Civoniceva, Luke Lewis (Penrith Panthers); Darius Boyd, Brett Morris, Dean Young (St George Illawarra Dragons); Todd Carney, Nate Myles (Sydney Roosters); Brent Tate (New Zealand Warriors); Robbie Farah, Chris Lawrence (Wests Tigers).

Was that really called for?

Highlights the poor quality of squad depth. Aside from a decent starting forwards (hooker excluded) we look weak in every position.

I think the squad is picked based on the future, which is why the likes of Gleeson, Wellens have not made it

he's been left out so he can negotiate his move to Salford





Not much strength in the goal kicking department?

Westwood can be good or poor. 2nd choice Widdop?

We are going to have to score lots of trys

I'm going to be sick.

The squad has to be chosen on the basis of the future. We don't have the quality of players in sufficient numbers to put in a realistic challenge of winning an international tournament anytime soon. We have nothing to lose and may as well blood younger players. I don't see any mileage whatsoever in selecting the tried, tested and failed who are now getting on in years.

Bollox.

It pains me to say it but thats the best we have. Besides an argument for Sinfield (if fit) , Burrow instead of Robinson and Gleeson, that is the best England has got to take to play the Aussies and Kiwis.

If McBanana was to pick a team based on future could you had seen him dropping JP? Has Morley got some anti-ageing medication?

Thats the best we have.

There are a few surprises (Griffin, Lunt and Clubb), but I have no real complaints with it.

Only one Leeds player and no Bulls - when was the last time this happened? The Schofield era?

I know that McGuire and Peacock would probably have been picked if fit (alongside Sinfield maybe and Diskin at a big push), but this selection is a sad indictment on how the likes of Lee Smith, JJB, Rob Burrow, Bailey, and Ablett, have faired this season. In previous years several of these players would have been automatically picked. Is this because there are simply better players around or that they have stood still/got worse/not improved enough. I'm not sure.

At least our players won't have to suffer the inevitable post-competition witch hunt (unless Hall has a nightmare performance).