2012 England Elite Training Squad

Carl Ablett2012 England Knights Squad

Joe Arundel: Castleford Tigers, Castleford Panthers
Jodie Broughton: Salford City Reds, Queens
Chris Clarkson: Leeds Rhinos, East Leeds
Paul Clough: St Helens, Blackbrook
Mike Cooper: Warrington Wolves, Latchford Albion
Rhys Evans: Warrington Wolves, Burtonwood Bulldogs
Liam Farrell: Wigan Warriors, Wigan St Pats
Dale Ferguson: Huddersfield Giants, Featherstone Lions
Mark Flanagan: St Helens, Saddleworth Rangers
Lee Gaskell: St Helens, Blackbrook
Josh Hodgson: Hull KR, Hull Dockers
Danny Houghton: Hull FC, East Hull
Shaun Lunt: Huddersfield Giants, Ellenborough Rangers
Jermaine McGillvary: Huddersfield Giants, Deighton Juniors
Richie Myler: Warrington Wolves, Halton West Bank
Larne Patrick: Huddersfield Giants, Townville Tigers
Stefan Ratchford: Warrington Wolves, Wigan St Patricks
Chris Riley: Warrington Wolves, Woolston Rovers
Matty Smith: Salford City Reds, Blackbrook
Scott Taylor: Hull KR, Skirlaugh
Liam Watts: Hull KR, Featherstone Lions
Joe Wardle: Huddersfield Giants, Ovenden
Gary Wheeler: St Helens, Blackbrook Royals
Elliot Whitehead: Bradford Bulls, West Bowling

The selection of a few players in the Elite Training Squad are totally wrong IMO.
The following should not be in the squad having represented another nation at full international level.

Danny Brough(Scotland)
Michael McIlorum(Ireland)

Until this is sorted Rugby League will never be taken serious at international level.

The only way international rugby league will be taken seriously again is if we go back to being GB

Why have you excluded Chris Bridge, Gareth Carvell and Ian Henderson from your list?

I thought maye Ryan Atkins would have got into that squad.
Not so sure we need the services of Chase anymore .

Could name a pretty good team of Rhinos, we can manage with 12 right?

Bring back GB

I wouldn't.

Usual debate about feelings of national identity etc, but I would need some convincing in the cases of all 5 that anything has changed in their circumstances other than that they hadn't previously been deemed good enough to play for England. Since none of them, as far as I know (I'm prepared to be corrected) have ever been resident in Scotland and weren't born there, it's hard to remove my cynical hat.

My cynical hat also remains firmly on my head with Rangi Chase. Acknowledging the possibility that his choice reflects a genuine feeling of allegiance to his country of residence, I just can't quite believe it given how little time passed, and how little else in his material situation appeared to have changed, between his stated aspirations to play for NZ and his decision to play for England.

I suppose though, we should defer to the England coach, and trust that he is happy with the motivations of the players he has selected.

On a happier note, it's pleasing (to me, not to you I don't suppose Keith) to see the entire Leeds 3/4 line selected for this squad.

are burgess and ellis only not in as they are in the NRL?

Who are we due to play when the Exiles game goes ahead? Surely we won't play with that volume of players missing!?

I'm surprised by the omission of Atkins & Shenton from either squad.
No Luke Robinson either.
None of the Aussie based players (8 in total I think) were considered.
IMV Hardaker is fortunate to be in the elite squad.

Well we've deliberately rearranged the Wakey game for the Monday after one of the exiles games, so there's not much getting around that one!

A severe oversight on my part, for which I have given myself a good old rollicking.

I'm confident that none of the Leeds players will look out of their depth on the international stage against Wales and France. The same would apply to the two faux international fixtures against Exilia.

The most dissapointing thing for me is that these faux international fixtures present a much stronger test than Wales and France. And teams like Wales and Scotland will never get better while their best Players (brough, Henderson etc...) can choose to change their international team as they like and play for England.