One thing that does occur to me.

If McNamara thinks all our players aren't good enough to play for England, why the f*ck did he sign them for Bradford in the first place? I appreciate you can't always sign internationals, but the fact he doesn't think that ONE of the squad he signed is good enough really makes you wonder.

I don't think the aussies depth is due in any way to them valuing home grown players. It's to do with the fact that in the areas of Aus where RL is popular, it IS the dominant sport, in much the same way that football is in the UK. So this leads to a much larger player pool. The population of the Aus where RL is at it's strongest doesn't have a vastly different number of people living there than the combination of Yorks, Lancs and Cumbria. But, because they don't have to deal with a financial behemouth like the Premier League, the NRL is able to attract the top young athletes in the area.

McNamara and his England side may very well take a kicking, but that's what happens when you put a team with 2 world class players up against teams with 17 world class players, with reserves trying to push their way into the starting 17.

And I believe he did say he was looking to take the best "team" rather than the best players

He is, but the pool of talent to pick from just isn't there. I'm struggling to pick a different squad which I think would result in a different set of results over there. I suppose at least we have a ready made scapegoat though.

He really doesn't have a clue, thank god we don't have to put up with him anymore at Bradford, just a shame he will now set back the England team by several years.

Without doubt elements of truth and logic there.

My point being is we have a large pool of "talent" right down to grassroots level but the obsession with anything antipodean being allowed to play for all our SL sides is a major hamstring in our international development, or lack of. Outstanding overseas players always benefit the comp. The concern is those "average" players getting in, again into nigh on every team. But then that goes back to the age old SL v Int debate. Ho hum.

While he doesn't have a great pool to pick from, there are better options than the likes of Robinson & Lunt. Sinfield & Burrow would definitely be improvements as halves than Robinson. As far as hookers go, while we have no top class ones any more, the likes of Clarke, Moore, Diskin & Higham are surely better options than Lunt!

No doubt we would rather have the likes of Kyle Eastmond out there, who is probably first choice No.7, and that's out of his hands. But a couple of those choices and a couple of omissions are just nuts.

In fact, the top 3 in that squad that I can't believe are in there, are all from the Giants. Not sure what to make of that (although no doubt their fans will believe the whole RL Community are biased against them for sharing a similar opinion).

Sinfield withdrew through injury. Burrow has had his opportunity and has done little at International level. Perhaps the hookers could have been different but I don't think there is a huge difference in quality between any of them. Perhaps he chose Lunt because he was going to go with Robinson at 7.

I'm not sure I'd have picked Griffin either but by the same token, the replacements are of a similar quality IMO.

I wasn't aware of that one, but that explains the most surprising name missing from the squad. That's actually good to know, as if he'd simply left him out it would be more amazing.

We'll agree to disagree on the others. I personally think other options are far better than Robinson & Lunt, and there are a couple above Griffin too.

Two big positives for me though are Fielden deservedly getting back in, and Richie Myler being left out.

Oh I hadn't even noticed Tony Clubb. Another massively overrated player. Always seems to have plenty of potential, never seems to show it.

I suppose putting a Londoner in there keeps the Southern lot and Journos interested though eh?

Completely agree. I look at the squad with a certain amount of trepidation but I suppose we (again) have to give him the benefit of the doubt until we crash out of the tournement in fourth place...!

However, when you look at the team, I suppose you have to take into account the fact that we're not working to the full salary cap this year and... oh... hang on...

There doesn't seem to be much international experience in the backs... I suppose he's been brought in to bring the younger players through and his legecy will be seen in years to come... I'm sure I've heard that before as well.

If, as has been suggested, this is the worst team to leave these shores (nothing like being positive! They'll probably go and win it now) is that a damnation on Macca or the players who he has available? A sign of the way this season has gone is the fact the the Rhino's have only one player representing them.

Everyone will come up with a different squad if they were asked to name one. Obviously McNamara will have more facts to hand to base his selections on. Who is carry injuries etc, who coped or didn't cope with the last tour. Huddersfield were in good form at the back end of the year which probably played a part in his thinking.

I don't agree with all the selections but at the same time there could be some reasons for those selections that I'm not aware of. I don't think the changes I would make in my imaginary team would make a significant difference to our chances though!

Does anyone apart from McNamara rate Griffin above the likes of Lynch, Scruton, Carvell, Coley or even Bailey?

The best I can pick from a bad bunch :

Widdop
Briscoe
Shenton
Atkins
Hall
Brown
Tomkins
Graham
Robinson
Morley
Ellis
Westwood
Burgess

Roby
Fielden
Harrison
J tomkins

Maybe he is being biased... let's face it we've been down to the bare bones at times this year and every player on more than one leg has had to do shed loads of work. So, he's doing us a favour in letting our guys have a rest!

Good call.

Would certainly bring some animal to the side and upset the oppo.

Probably upset James Graham more though...