I had forgotten about him, would definitely have him in there - he has been a lot better than Tom Burgess this year from what I have seen

Hardacher
Burgess
Watkins
Reed
Hall
Tomkins
Widdop
Hill
McIlorum
Graham
Farrell
Tomkins
Cuthbertson

Bateman
Roby
George Burgess
Walmsley

Hardaker
Hall
Reed
Watkins
Briscoe
Ratchford
Widdop
G Burgess
Roby
Graham
J Tomkins
Ablett
Cuthbertson

Hill
Bateman
Clark
S Tomkins

It seems that everyone is in agreement that Smith is not an international player and is in fact an overrated pile of poop!

He does a decent job for Wigan, keeping them ticking over but at International level he lacks a fair bit of star dust.

I wish Danny Brough and McNamara would sort their stuff out. I rate him as our best half back in SL.

Would you include George Williams in the squad. He can cover #6 or #7 and has had a really good 1st season. It may be a bit too early for him but the experience could be good for him in the long term, just as it was for Joe Burgess last year. He's 5th for try assists in Superleague, good discipline and a good defender. www.superleague.co.uk/stats/player_stats

Would you include George Williams in the squad. He can cover #6 or #7 and has had a really good 1st season. It may be a bit too early for him but the experience could be good for him in the long term, just as it was for Joe Burgess last year. He's 5th for try assists in Superleague, good discipline and a good defender. www.superleague.co.uk/stats/player_stats

He said McIlorum!!!!!!!

Spot on in every respect.

Hardaker
Hall
Watkins
Reed
Burgess
S Tomkins
Widdop
Graham
Roby
G Burgess
Ablett
J Tomkins
O'Loughlin

Hodgson
Hill
Walmsley
Whitehead

Squad: Ratchford, Briscoe, Shenton, Williams, T Burgess, Cooper, Cuthbertson, Currie

My thinking is more along the lines of needing a third pivot, which I don't think is the strongest aspect of Hardaker's game, nor any 'third prop' in the 13 shirt. Would also consider Wilkin for this role fitness permitting - in fact he'd definitely in at least the squad.

I tend to agree with the sentiment regarding Cuthbertson but that ship looks to have sailed unfortunately, the Pacific teams will continue to be decimated by defections to Aus and/or NZ. If he is eligible and could potentially improve the team then we should pick him.

Ablett is in far better form than Ferres and deserves a starting run IMO, seems to have been around forever without getting a fair run despite consistently producing the goods for Leeds. LMS is very hit and miss, there are more talented and consistent options available to us.

A lot will depend upon what style SM wants to play. If he's looking to play an offloading game then Cuthbertson is a must as is pace and footwork in the halves. If he's looking to play a more conservative structured style then he'll probably go with Smith and Widdop in the halves again which would probably mean Sam Tomkins ant FB and Hardaker asked to play centre.

If it was up to me I'd go:

Hardaker
Burgess (very close call with Briscoe)
Reed
Watkins
Hall
Tomkins
Widdop
Graham
Roby
Hill
Whitehead
Farrell
Cuthbertson

George Burgess
Walmsley
Cooper
Bateman

I'd also look to include the likes of Percival, Greenwood, Williams and Ward in the squad. More for the experience than anything else as those four look to be outstanding prospects.

Squad: Percival, Greenwood, Williams, Ward, Tom Burgess, Clark, Smith.

If we go with Hardaker at full back i'd want Briscoe on the wing. The back all play at Leeds together so know each others games inside out and would hopefully translate that form to the internationals.

Cooper is a very good NRL forward nowadays. I personally think McNamara should go for a more attacking team than try to use a Smith/Widdopp combination. Partly because I think we'll need to score points to win, but also because I think England should be good to watch.

The two big problems last year for England were back row (awful and easily the weakest in the competition, with Westerman the best of the second rows by some distance, which isn't saying much) and halfback. If Widdopp is on form and Tomkins is given a go at 7 that would make us look better there, plus we could bring in Jack Reed at left centre (having a storming year for the Broncos). Whitehead apart, back row still just looks naff.

As an aside is Savelio qualified to play for England? If so would it be worth putting him in the squad for experience?

Savelio is qualified to play for England, as well as NZ and Samoa I believe. I'd get him in before NZ and Samoa attempt to stake a claim to him. He's already played for England u16s and u18s admittedly, but we'll see.

My team would be:
1. Hardaker
2. Joe Burgess
3. Watkins
4. Reed
5. Hall
6. Sam Tomkins
7. Widdop
8. Graham
9. Roby
10. Walmsley
11. Whitehead
12. Bateman
13. Cuthbertson

14. Josh Hodgson
15. George Burgess
16. Chris Hill
17. Liam Farrell

Our props are really strong IMO, quite a nice range of talents too with Graham's passing, Walmsley's line running, Hill's footwork and George Burgess' general freakishness. Our second row isn't particularly strong except Whitehead, Bateman and Farrell are both great workhorses I'd say but I don't think they'll win you a match at international level. Cuthbertson would just play as an offloading third prop as he does for Leeds, with Tomkins and Hardaker sniffing around him. When Cuthbertson needs a rest, Bateman would go to loose and Farrell into the second row. Hodgson has had too good a season in the NRL to leave him out.

In terms of the backs, Watkins has been unreal this year and finally seems to be living up to his potential, but I'm interested to see whether it continues on at international level. Reed has been really good for Brisbane Broncos and is quite a nice contrast to Watkins, and should get Hall lots of ball outside him. Tomkins at 6, he's capable of playing there, and him and Hardaker are both too good to leave out. His main weakness as a stand off would be his lack of kicking game, but Widdop is a very good kicker (the main one for St. George) and both Roby and Hodgson have a passable kicking game.

I think it's a year too early for the likes of Greenwood, Percival and Currie, but I'd consider taking one or two young players with the potential to play internationally for the experience.