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.

Not for mine. The top 4 teams along in this years semi's were far far stronger than the 2004 models.



It happened at Leeds and to a degree Wigan. It's about clubs chosing to have faith or otherwise. Your point remains correct though.



Agreed with the first part. But the bun fight that would ensue with amending the salary cap for rewarding those retaining home produced players could be a 'mare. May have merits though, but for me, a simple reduction of any non EU qualified/overseas players to 2 or 3 would hit the spot. In other words eligible to play for any of the home nations, or you are in said bracket. Of course, there are employment laws but for too long these sort of issues have blighted the game and let the tail wag the dog. It could be sorted with some smart research and implementation.

But the RFL haven't the sweetbreads to do it.

For those of us in England it is. Since you identify you aren't interested, jog on with your external unvalued Scottish opinions.

Not allowed an opinion now because I am Scottish?

Great argument!

Hadrians.