They're exaggerated by the fact that people see Leeds conceding breaks in their right centre channel and don't realise that it's where Sinfield and McGuire defend rather than Watkins.

Watkins has defended fourth man in for most of the season, regularly making 20+ tackles per game. This idea that he's somehow a defensive liability is fallacy.

Not sure about that.

Ablett must have been decked of half the league during the last few seasons. There is a couple in that Aussie squad that would knock the be-Jesus out of him if he tried his shenanigans.

Hock, Westwood and Micky Mac to name a few will ensure that the "niggle" is more like an International against the Ockers deserves.

Totally agree.

We do need 'niggle' to get at the Antipodeans but class wins you International games and World Cups. On another point, only Ablett for me wouldn't have been in from Leeds. The others deserve their jerseys.

He does have that Ben Westwood thing of having a head like a breeze block though, of the punches he's taking I can't really remember anyone really hurting him, he's just carried on with the match.

As for Watkins' defence, a big part of it is how Leeds line-up trying to 'hide' 3 halves with Burrow playing hooker. With England most likely to start with Roby (or McIlorum) at hooker then a more natural centre position in defence might see an improvement.

Like someone mentioned above, he does get through quite a lot of tackling so it's not so much that he can't tackle, more his positioning which costs him. If however, he can as I mentioned above, defend in a more natural centre position he could be ok. I remember him having a good game defensively against Manly in the 2012 WCC up against Matai.

I remember Watkins conceded a try to Atkins in last years Grand Final that was just awful but for the most part he looks a competent defender, somewhere firmly in between the excellent and terrible we have seen mentioned on this thread. He is certainly not as good as Cudjoe or Goulding defensively but I think we are on a hiding to nothing out wide against Aus anyway, and he does have a bit of spark in attack that we will need if we are to have a chance against them so he would get my vote with Cudjoe. We aren't exactly blessed with choices for centre in the squad so they pretty much pick themselves.