Not saying hello to James Graham would probably upset him these days. He's turned into a petulant crybaby lately. Such a shame to see arguably the best prop in the league reduced to the moaning kn0bhead he's been in recent weeks, who was lucky not to be given 10 minutes in the Grand Final for his hissy fit.

I agree though about Bailey. As much as I can't stand the guy, he would have been another better choice than Griffin.

Bailey's had an excellent season - and he does his job well - Look at how he wound Radford up when Leeds played Hull.


If everbody was fully fit, what would your team be then?

Widdop
Briscoe
Bridge
Atkins
Hall
Tomkins
Eastmond
Peacock
Roby/Diskin ( England's worst position)
Graham
Burgess
Ellis
O'Loughlin - I only left him out of my other team by Mistake !!!!!

Roby/Diskin
Morley
Lynch
Fielden

Crabtree
J Tomkins
B Harrison
B Westwood
Shenton
Goulding
Burrow
This will be controversial - has Deacon retired from international????? Without Eastmond we are crying out for a 7.
Bailey

Bully Boxer makes a very valid point in that he speaks of Huddersfield being in form at the end of the season and players being picked on the back of that fact. Whilst I must admit I was surprised at the inclusion of Darrel Griffin, how many times have squads left these shores with players having been picked on reputation rather than being in form and gone overseas and got erm............... smashed. Now I am not saying that this tour will be different but isnt it right that players in form are given a chance?.

I personally for one wouldnt pick James Graham because he is a spoilt brat who acts like a four year old stamping his feet and back chatting the referee, the Aussie refs will have a field day if he repeats his antics whilst on tour.

As has been mentioned in this thread previosly everyone will have a view on the squad but picking players in form should always be the way.

You wouldn't pick the best prop we have?

No matter whether he moans to the ref or not, we need him.

If Sinfield was fit would you leave him out too? He's the biggest moaner in SL but he'd be a welcome addition to a poor England squad.

Bailey is a wind up merchant supreme. It's his job, is controlled with it and is actually exceptional at doing so. Would love to see him doing it for us and add the nasty element we lack.

Fully fit:

Widdop
Briscoe
Gleeson
Atkins (would still be Senior but he's retired)
Hall
McGuire
Eastmond
Moz
Roby
Peacock
Ellis
Burgess
O'Loughlin

Fielden
Graham
Burrow/Pryce
Westwood

I had considered Pryce as a centre given his size and handling skills and the lack of existing quality there.

James Graham is simply becoming a parody of himself. He needs to stop the dummy spitting, it's pathetic.

As I've said before, Bailey has the Joe Grima, Kurt Sorenson, Neil Cowie, Barrie Mac factor - sheer bloody annoyance but very good at what they set out to achieve; disruption. To draw in and experienced guy like Radders in the first few minutes it's cleverer than many gave him credit for. Bailey against Anthony Watmough would be bums on seats stuff. And I'm sure Billy Slater would be his usual chopsy self.

Whoops left out old Sam. Yeah, Tomkins fullback and Widdop anywhere else in the backline. Seen very little of the guy but not many decent poms get big raps in the NRL like this lad seems to. Worthy of a spot.

As for Flanagan, again not seen a great deal of him. Interesting that he is deemed surplus as Wigan yet with the right structure around him is flying. Hmmm

I would rate a lot more of the props than that above Griffin

does seem a strange inclusion given some of names left out. But from a selfish club perspective I'm quite happy all our lads have been overlooked as we have another big turnover in playing staff and we need as long a pre-season as possible to try and gel the team.

He has been playing at 7 lately and Brough at 9.

See, I don't think that's right. I think SL was a much tougher competition 6 years ago because of the imports. I also think that younger players at the time needed to push that much harder to break into SL teams which leads to better players. The worst thing the RFL did was increase the number of teams while decreasing the number of available players.

The smartest thing to be done, if the RFL want to have a competitive England/GB team is to scrap quotas and amend the salary cap so that clubs that produce their own players are rewarded and have are able to keep hold of the young players they produce.

Shocker. Sh!te coach picks a e squad.

Where is the surprise?

Anyway, he is Englands' problem now.

Seen Flanagan a few times on Aussie TV. Not had a great season and it would be right to say he's sunk a little bit recently without trace...Ellis and Sam have looked the part though, but the Rabbito's have been using Sam at number 8 these last few games...and he's looked OK there.

And hence everyone's 'problem'.

This apathy towards the national side doesn't help. Indicative at times of the collective national psyche. Or therein lack of.

Nope. Indicative of the fact that I am Scottish and could not give a stuff about the fortunes of the England side.

So not "everyone's problem" at all. How insular.