Poorest Enhland team I've seen for a long while. Am pleased the test is not vs Oz...

Yes but the NRL contingent isn’t there is it?

No but is there anyone that good from there to change things dramatically?
Hardaker picked at centre beggars belief.

We all know Zak isn't much of a centre (on this year's form he's not even much of a full back right now.)
Why on earth has he been picked there?

Tom Burgess, Herbie Farnworth, Dom Young, Elliott Whitehead, Luke Thompson, Ryan Sutton might be in my squad yes.

Hardaker hasn’t been in England form this year and Bateman should be nowhere near. It’s alright Wane banging on about form and then picking him…

Only one player out of the 17 would get into the 17 for Australia the gap is definitely growing. I know no Nrl based players but not sure any of them would get in either.

Why shouldnt the gap widen tho? The difference in budgets between the NRL and the RFL/SL is massive and again getting wider.

Christ, our own club are asking players to play unpaid next year at scholarship and academy level on amateur contracts. Is that condusive to developing and encouraging kids to play the sport?

Always remember GH hosting a fan event when he took over at Leeds and being asked when GB would beat Australia and he answered "Never, and we shouldnt either" he was right tho at the time I was shocked by his response.

No point comparing us with Australia its like comparing Oxford Utd with Man City and wondering why Oxford never catch them.

Harry Newman is a far better centre than both Reece Lyne and Zak Hardaker, that’s a terrible selection from Wane. Oledzki and Leeming’s spot are well deserved.

I'm a big fan of Harry, but I think missing out on selection will be good for him. There is still a lot to improve on for him and maybe this will help focus him on that. He seems a pretty determined and bright kid and I think we'll take a leap forward next year.

Newman should be first choice centre.
But I'm glad he's not playing.
He's just come back from a long injury lay off and played a lot of games with quick turnarounds.
Let him have the rest and start next year fresh.
Selfishly, I would have preferred the same for Mik tbh, but will be good to see how he goes.

Bateman, Farrell and Hardaker have been poor all year, but Wane still selects them.


Also, interesting to see how Abdull, Knowles and Evalds go.

Newman and Hardaker are similar in a lot of ways. They're both strong broken field runners, and excellent competitors. But They're not team players, and rarely look to pass. Newman needs to work on this, or he'll be too one dimensional to make it at the highest level.

Of course, Newman should have got in. But I can see him now smashing it this season and with a full pre-season on the back of that.

Newman still does need to make improvements. World Cup spot is there for the taking next year and he’ll know that.

Also news he has withdrawn from the squad due to non-specified leg injury… let’s hope it’s not the old injury causing problems.