Would have Walmsley ahead of Hill- Walmsley and Cuthbertson are standouts for me this year in SL. Reeds had his best year in NRL and has to be in there imo. Mike Cooper has to be in the team- was unlucky to miss out last year and has been killing it this year in NRL, often starting at loose or prop, where as T Burgess has been very average this year at souths. Stevie Ward would have definitely been in there but missed too much of the season due to injury- if he gets back to where he was for the rest of the season, would pick him but I rate bateman- been a standout in the wigan pack this year ahead of tomkins and farell, and adds that thugishness i think we lack on occasion.
Is leeds biased as leeds have been the most in form and consistent team this year, if wigan, saints, cas or hudds were 6 points clear lets say and in cup final, I'm sure it would more biased towards them

Hardaker
Briscoe
Watkins
Sarginson
Hall
Widdop
McGuire
Graham
Hodgson
G Burgess
Ferres
Whitehead
Cuthbertson

Cooper
McIlorum
Hill
Walmsley

Squad places for: Hughes, Burgess, Williams, Farrell, Myler, Clark, Shenton

You need some dirty players in international League. Less so against NZ, where you really don't want to be scrapping with their pack, but certainly against the Aussies a bit of niggle would benefit. Would be tempted to pick McIlorum over Roby vs Australia too for that reason.

I'm sorry but talent wins games. Talentless thugs like McIlorum and Bateman have no place in International rugby for me. You can get away with it against equally talentless teams, but good players find the poor ones out.

I don't think they are talentless though (we'll disagree on that). But added to what talents they have they have a bit of side to their game that you still need in internationals.

Bateman is a fantastic prospect. He's one of those people that seems dim away from the pitch, but on it, he has a superb rugby brain. He's got great feet, and pace, and looks a genuine leader. He's as good as Ward IMO. I'm not sure either are big enough at this stage to play test RL, but they've been playing themselves into contention.

A few other players that I don't think will be far away are Greenwood and Savelio at Saints, and unlike Ward and Bateman, they look up to the job physically.
There's also Philbin at Warrington, who looks a real unit, with great pace, and although I didn't see the game last night I've likes what I've seen of Mike McMeekan at Cas. He's the most underrated player in SL IMO.

I'd go with:

Hardaker
Burgess
Watkins
Reed
Hall
Tomkins
Widdop
Graham
Roby
Hill
Whithead
Flanders
Cuthbertson

Hodgson
Walmsley
G Burgess
Ablett

I think the best squad for kiwi tour would be
1 Hardaker
2 Briscoe
3 Watkins
4 Sarginson/Shenton
5 Hall
6 Widdop
7 Mcguire
8 G Burgess
9 J Hodgson
10 J Graham
11 Whitehead
12 Ablett
13 Cuthbertson

Subs
Roby/ Clark
Cooper
Walmersley
T Burgess

Rest of squad S Tomkins, J Burgess, Ferres, S Ward, Hill, Bateman, Singleton,

The international game is too fast for that now. It's all about physical domination in the contact, speed and skill, not about cheep shots and name calling.

Stevie Ward has international written all over him. Athletic, fit, disciplined, strong and skilful.

I don't agree. You need your most elite players. We've tried all that countless times in the past. You waste your time trying to wind up NZ or Australia and all your doing is taking your eye off the ball, they don't get distracted, they step it up.

McIlorum isn't fit to lace Roby's boots. He has no place in International RL.

Funny how quickly Ben Currie has dropped off the international radar as Warrington's form has declined.

Probably the form back rower in the competition up to a month or so ago. Mobile, agile, strong carry and a decent defender.

I'm not sure he fancies it when the going gets tough, to be honest. I think Philbin is a better prospect.

I think getting injured and having 5/6 games off will stand him in good stead. I think if he'd have kept going with his tackling numbers then he might've been spent by the time of the playoffs and Internationals.

Lathwaite was the best of the young ones at Warrington. Shame about his injury

Agreed. It's a long season for someone that does the minutes and work he puts in.

And Stevie Ward has? What..?