Hardaker 100%. Seems to have sorted his problems out and enjoying his rugby again. World above any other fullback other than Shaul who also has much to offer.

Shenton and Percival are having tremendous seasons and are better centres then Zak and Zak is a better FB then Ratchford. Samoa game was there to experiment so I'm hoping that's all it was ....

I don't get why this is even a discussion? Hardaker has been head and shoulders above every one! He's a shoe in and rightly so. Why had Tomkins been mentioned? He's probably the 10th best English full back.

Regards

King James

I agree that Hardaker has to be the choice going on form this season, I expect Widdop to play at 6, I don't believe he has played 1 for a number of years now.

One thing I would say about Tomkins is out of all of them I still think he is the most talented with respect to decision making and executing in attack. Against Australia and New Zealand there will be a huge difference in the quality of the fringe defence compared with Super League, they will shoot out quicker, drift quicker and will be stronger in the contact. Chances will be few and far between so it is imperative that we convert them, as I said I think that part of Tomkins game can still be better than the others.

Bennett and McNamara before him just don't seem to fancy any centres other than Watkins. In the NZ series two years ago Bateman was played at centre and then in the Samoa game Bennett picked Hardaker there. Also when Hardaker was at Penrith he was usually picked at centre when he played wasn't he? I think he's more interested in his centres being good defensively than going forward, which is why I think he'll go with Hardaker as he's pretty good defensively, as most of the attack will come from carries up the middle which is why he'll always pick Hall and McGillvary on the wings even if they were out of form for some reason. I think if we had another centre as good as Watkins he'd maybe pick Hardaker at fullback, although even then I still think he'd want his full back to be better going forward than Hardaker is against a defence as good as Australia's.

Probably not what I'd go with but I think that's what he'll go with.

For me, Bennett has to decide on the spine of the team and stick with it every game unless there are injuries. Only by playing together will we develop the combinations that give us a chance of winning in the latter stages. Whoever Bennett picks, I just hope he is willing to stick with them and give them the opportunity to develop and understanding.
Personally I'd have Hardaker, Gale, Widdop and Hodgson as the four spine players.

Hardaker is way ahead of everyone else. No contest.

Hardaker is head & shoulders above anyone else at FB and has been for a number of years with 1 obvious dip last season. Best defensive full back by a long way and no slouch in attack at all. Players like Tomkins & Lomax shouldn't even get anywhere near the squad nevermind the starting lineup. Ratchford is a decent player to take because of the number of positions he can cover.

I'd go with that but just can't see it happening.

We don't have many centres capable of matching the Australians or Kiwis physically, either in size or pace. Shenton would be solid, and he's in good form, I think he should get the nod, but Josh Griffin has also been in good form recently, he has all the athletic attributes, so perhaps he could work his way into the squad. I also think Joe Burgess would be a good shout to play in the centres.

i'm a hull supporter and i wouldn't have griffin anywhere near an international side. would be pulled apart defensively

Yep, this is what I think Bennett thinks and why I reckon he'll go with Hardaker in the centres.