If you wanted to go down the route of having a third "big lad" in the middle, then you could name someone like Graham, one of the Burgii or (waits for the inevitable, backwards row about eligibility) someone like Adam Cuthbertson at loose-forward.

Whilst I haven't watched Saints much this year, other than the one sided salford game, I've been impressed with the trio of Jones, Thompson and Greenwood.

Given our weakness in the back row I hope that Greenwood, Philbin, Ward and Bateman can carry on progressing. As usual though the lack of world class HBs will be our main problem, especially if we keep moving our talented halves to full back.

Also Ben Crooks and Tom Lineham could also force their way into contention but there's a lot of RL to be played between now and then.

Rangi? He is in fire at the moment

not only will there be players who will be too old or will have retired, there will be new ones coming through who we haven't begun to recognise just yet

Daryl Clark has 1 "r", not 2.

Clarrk?

We are well shot at then, unless some miricle happens.

Miricles happen, though I wouldn't know one if I witnessed it.

If o loughlin is our best back rower in 2 years time that would be embarassing. As for every other player you mentioned they would struggle to get in the top 10 players of that position in the NRL with the exception of george burgess

Regards

King James

Makes you wonder how - given they are so hopelessly outmatched in every position - England got within a hair's breadth of beating both Australia and New Zealand away from home last year.

Quite simply they haven't got the skill and ability when it matters to win, it's that obvious and has been for years.

Another overseas crock please at the expense of development will do nicely and so it will continue.

You can't win by losing, being 2nd in a 2 man race is last!

There are many reasons why England cannot compete but very few why they can and that is the situation that needs to be addressed and should be. It hasn't , and because of that even sports funding has been reduced/withdrawn from the game.

Anyone really wonder why and the long term consequences? No it's short termism, simple easy solutions and the my club, my club, mentality that is/has killed the game in certain areas.