To be fair, I don't think anyone assumes we haven't got problems of our own.

Australia are still number one for me. We can outmuscle them, but our halves just aren't up to following that up with winning the game on a regular basis. Cronk and Thurston can change a game on their own, and we've got no one anywhere near their class. New Zealand have a similar issue, I know they're ranked number one, but as we saw last autumn, they're beatable, especially when their heads drop.

That said though, I don't think Australia are invincible. As a team, they're less than the sum of their parts. Our chances I think will hinge a lot around how well Hardaker and Widdop play (presuming they both start). If they're on their game and confident then we can take it to them. An England-Australia final at Anfield is certainly achievable in my eyes (as for winning that...)

Yes, this. I just hope Bennett does give Gale the shot; he deserves it.

Sam Burgess and James Graham would get into the Aussie or New Zealand side. I'm not sure anybody else would, George Burgess maybe when he's on form.

and some might say that yours is too, which is particularly sad as it's a forum for discussion

Gale is great for Cas, but no Wayne Bennett coached team is gonna play like Cas.

Hope Issac Luke is banned, that was nasty.

IMO at the end of the day whether we win or lose is all down to 1-7. Our forwards can match theirs, both in terms of pace, power and skill. We can get into try-scoring situations, but time after time our half-backs and outside backs just don't deliver. When the pressure's on and there are 10mins left to win a test match, who's your money on - Widdop and Williams or Thurston and Cronk?

Hopefully, now there's a fully fit Hodgson at 9 we might be able to cause them a few more problems. In Super League, the players have to cope with close games and real pressure a handful of times a season. In the NRL it's probably 4/5 times that, if not more when you take into account Origin. This is where Bennett comes in and hopefully his experience and guidance can hopefully get our back line switched on and get the team over the finishing line.