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.

Savelio inclusion is a good idea, I share the concerns regarding the back row and he has the potential to be better than any of our currently available options.

Do you see him as a back rower or a prop though? I can't make up my mind.



I think two things Greenwood needs to work on for now are his work rate and his tackling/wrestle. His last 4 matches he's averaged 27 tackles and 68 metres a match. Whitehead 34 tackles and 90 metres a match. Liam Farrell 37 tackles and 114 metres a match. Obviously part of the difference is due to playing styles (with Farrell in particular), but I think Greenwood is great if you are attacking someone's line at the minute, but to be an international second rower he needs to be just as effective carrying the ball in his own half. At the minute as well when he's tackling he can be wrong-footed, leading to a really quick play the ball. He doesn't necessarily miss the tackle, it just isn't a particularly effective one. As much as we criticise Wigan for it, slowing the PTB is huge nowadays but a lot of it comes from getting your footwork right into contact really.

How good is Widdop's kicking game? It'll have to be good, because in most of these teams he'd be doing it all on his own.

That wouldn't concern me. Both Roby and Hodgeson have a decent boot out of dummy half. Tomkins' kicking game is good enough to be a back up to Widdop.

Hodgson's excellent kicking out of acting half.

Farrell is nowhere near international quality. Its one thing making yards in SL, but he was just far too small last year, even losing the ball in the collision a few times. We need backrowers who love the tough stuff. The only way you could get away with a smaller second row is an absolute workaholic who runs good lines (so avoiding head-on collisions with bigger forwards). I don't see any of our options having that kind of engine or rugby brain.

On Savelio, if he's got the potential to pick other national teams, I'd be very tempted to do a Widdopp and get him in the squad ASAP even though he's not quite ready. That was a really smart move by our often criticised coach.