It was only 6 or so weeks ago that McGuire was made to look a proper lemon by Joel Tomkins in the CC final. The only thing he did of use for Leeds in my memory was his oscar winning dive in the CC semi final. The grand final win was all down to Burrow.

Chase, Widdop, Tomkins, Sinfield & Roby. Loads of creativity there. Lose any one of those players and we're buggered.

McGuire is actually in very good form, and its no coincidence that since he and Peacock have regained fitness (from what people seem to forget were very serious injuries!) Leeds have peaked, and won the competition.

Because no halfback has ever missed a tackle on a bigger man have they.

And yes, Burrow's 2 moments of magic were the deciding factors on the game but apart from those 2 magic touches I cant really remember Rob doing anything else of note.

McGuire was probing and looking dangerous regularly through the game and he was controlling things with ball in hand. Not to mention his defence was supurb in this game. McGuire has the ability as a half that Rob Burrow can only ever dream of. Burrow can't pass accurately more than 5 yards, cant kick very well and as far as organising goes, he's useless.

Since McGuire's first leg injury he has progressively got slower and this has made him in to a much better player as he doesnt rely on his speed any more. Had McGuire not played 7 this year I can guarentee Leeds wouldnt have got anywhere near the Grand Final.

Can't believe the amount of stick McNamara has copped for this squad. I really don't rate him as a coach but when you consider we don't have Burrow, Burgess, Flanders, Joel Tompkins, Lomax, Shenton or Bridge available the squad isn't that far off the mark. I'd have Atkins in the squad over Ablett but, I can see why he's picked him as he can play 3 or 4 positions to a good standard. I wouldn't have picked Brough either as he has played for Scotland before.

Old Mother Hubbard looked in the Cupboard......

I can see why he's picked ablett over Atkins too, Atkins didn't want to be considered for personal reasons so Macnamara had no choice.

FWIW the squad looks pretty good to me, sure it may not be as strong as the NX and Aus squad but we have a fairly decent record on home turf so who knows.

Its Mcilorum that I have a major problem with. Everyone else I can see a reason why they are there even if it isn't what I would have done.

Comparable stats to the 'great' Danny Buderus. Probably playing less game time overall as well.

He shouldn't even be mentioned in the same breath regardless of what the stats say.

Even as a Wigan fan I'm surprised by that one. He does have his strengths - his defence can be devastating and make a real difference down the middle. He's still learning as a hooker but has gone from error-prone to making safe decisions under Madge, and has been a key player at one of the top clubs all year. There are better 9s out there, but few English ones.

Let's be fair, he's unlikely to get much game time if Roby is fit. But if he does he'll do a good job, even if he's no world-beater.

I thought people moaned when form players weren't picked?

Lomax aside he's the best 7 England have in form.

I still see it as Tomkins, Widdop, Chase, Roby and Sinfield as a spine of a 13, and a very good spine.

And McGuire is a much more credible pick than Brough, who's form just hasn't been good enough of late.

Yep. Saw a big number 6 on his back in the GF!

Brough should be in, we need an organising 7 with a kicking game, and McGuire isn't that.