No Rhys Lovegrove in either squad is beyond belief.

I mentioned that earlier on and have been having a nice little rant about it on another forum.

Looking at the Knights squad selected it begs the question; what exactly is the point of it?

Is it effectively a second string England team but only containing young players who might step up in the near future? The likes of Matty Smith, Stefan Ratchford, Zak Hardaker, Jonny Lomax etc suggest that it is, but then why does it include Lee Gaskell, Rhys Evans, Chris Clarkson etc who certainly aren't on the verge of England selection.

Likewise, if it's for players who could step up in the near future, where are the likes of Elliot Whitehead, Greg Eden, Luke George and more importantly some of the other players who haven't made the full England squad like Mike McIlorum and Darrell Goulding.

If it's strictly for young players with potential to be genuinely top quality then why not include the likes of Dan Sarginson, Gareth O'Brien, John Bateman, Ben Currie?

I don't think any player has been added to the Knights squad since it was first announced except those who have dropped down. Despite some excellent performances by young players they don't seem to be able to play their way into the squad ahead of players who haven't been playing regularly like Lee Gaskell and players who have been quite simply well below average like Chris Clarkson.

Not really, he's an Aussie who declared for Scotland.

I know a scrum half who'll be upset to hear he won't be eligible

Are you talking about Lovegrove or Ian Henderson?

McNamara has completely lost the plot and should lose his job asap. This squad as in no way been picked on form and is a complete joke. I was going to go to the match next week but dont think I will bother now and will not waste my money again whilst this clown is in charge.

There are more than just a few players that do not deserve to be in the England squad. Most of the Leeds contingent immediately spring to mind and 6 players (the most from one club) from the team in ninth is laughable. Peacock, Sinfield, Burrow, Ablett and Jones-Buchanan are all either past their best or are simply not good enough and all are out of form anyway. They simply should not have been selected by whatever measure you choose to use, bar name and reputation. In the case of Peacock and Sinfield they have had their chances, repeatedly, and failed time and again. There are also players in this squad such as Cudjoe, Carvell and Wilkin who fans of their respective teams have said over the last couple of months should be dropped by their clubs as they are playing that poorly and yet they are picked for England. They are average at best. Almost half the squad straight away shouldn't be in it and thats before you even get to the debatable selections

It is truly baffling that Goulding and McIlorum arent in who have been the best players in their respective positions over the course of the season. Goulding has been outstanding this season and has laid tries on a plate for Charnley with excellant centre play. He has outplayed centres that are in the England squads and is the form centre in Super League. McIlorum has been immense all season and is the form hooker in Super League and offers an awful lot to any team in the middle of the park, particularly in tense close games like you would get in an international. Goulding and McIlorum are not even in the England Knights squad and yet players like Wheeler who they have completely outplayed are and even worse players that cant even get in their club teams are.

McNamara's not got a clue.

Given that there are lots of older experienced players in the current squad and many younger players who will no doubt find it hard to get a look in I would have been interested to see two England squads go head to head. One side would be made up of more experienced or slightly older players and the second team made up of young players with less experience.
It's essentially England vs England Knights except the Knights squad is focused purely on young players currently playing well and possibly pushing for a place in the full squad.
Players like Lee Mossop and Josh Charnley who are called up to the full England squad but haven't made their debut or haven't played many games would play for the younger side.

Something like -

'Experienced'

FB Sam Tomkins
RW Ryan Hall
RC Leroy Cudjoe
LC Ryan Atkins
LW Tom Briscoe
SO Rangi Chase
SH Danny Brough
P Jamie Peacock
H James Roby
P Garreth Carvell
SR Jamie Jones-Buchanan
SR Gareth Hock
LF Sean O'Loughlin

Sub Rob Burrow
Sub Eorl Crabtree
Sub Adrian Morley
Sub Jon Wilkin


'Young England'

FB Greg Eden
RW Josh Charnley
RC Darrell Goulding
LC Zak Hardaker
LW Luke George
SO Jonny Lomax
SH Matty Smith
P Lee Mossop
H Mike McIlorum
P Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook
SR Liam Farrell
SR Elliott Whitehead
LF Carl Ablett

Sub Danny Houghton
Sub Larne Patrick
Sub Scott Taylor
Sub Joe Westerman

Same old garbage.

The only Leeds players who I would try to justify their selection this season would be Hall and Ablett. The latter is especially written off as 'garbage' but he has probably been our best player this year for consistency and has put some excellent performances in.

I completely agree.

Wikipedia has it announced as "a bridge between the academy and first class sides". So this must be between the academy sides and National selection. So players who have the potential to be top class England internationals. The concept is to be applauded but the current application is to be questionned. As you mention players don't seem to be able to get into the side based on form - Greg Eden? Chris Hill? John Bateman? If it was based on form Lee Gaskell would not have had a spot & Chris Clarkson is being dropped from the Leeds team are just two examples - there are many more!

McNamara states that McIlorum has 'one or two areas' he needs to work on. Then surely the Knights squad is the way to go about it? To 'bridge the gap between the academy and first class sides" - surely there isn't a more applicable case? So then why isn't he included? Zak Hardaker and Gary Wheeler in there but no Darrell Goulding? At the start of the year I could have accepted that but on form it just looks like a ridiculous selection. How does a player like Darrell Goulding get into either side?

It needs clarification & more scrutiny that it's getting. There's not much difference between this Knights squad and the one we had last year. This is despite a drop in form for several players and the emergence/improvement of several players in Super League.

The whole England selection needs reviewing for both sides because I think we've made some alarming omissions. I mean how on earth can we possible compete with the Aussies/Kiwis if we're not picking the best sides?

He's isn't known as McBanana for nothing!