McMeekan would be in my squad, but Bateman and is ahead of him on quality (as is Currie in my opinion), and NRL experience/bias will have Whitehead above them all.

Are Bateman and McMeeken better options at 2nd row than Sean O'loughlin?

I expect all 3 to be in the World Cup squad.

I expect this to be O'loughlin swansong at international level, but he would be in my pack for this WC. I think him at lock with Sam Burgess and Mcmeekan / Whitehead in the back row is how i would go... i know it will rile certain Wigan fans, but size is needed against huge Aussie- Kiwi packs and Bateman and Farrell are both excellent players but too small for me. I would have both in the squad though.

I think Stevie Ward has a shot at being included. Bennett seems to be fan and called him into last years squad to have a look at him even though he had no plans to play him because he'd only just returned from injury.

As a Wigan fan this is exactly how I would go. Having O'Loughlin at loose gives you an extra pivot because of the way he plays and would be wasted anywhere else. Either play him at 13 or don't play him at all. Burgess and Whitehead or McMeeken at second row too.

I was appalled Farrell didn't make the mid season test team considering we were shy of Bateman and Currie due to injury but unless he's played for the full 80 mins, it's worthless considering him. It's his consistent level of performance and his fitness levels over 80 minutes which make him such a force at superleague level but he won't make an impact playing for 20 and 30 minutes a game against Australia or New Zealand. With that in mind I'd leave him out.

The backrowers I'd take are Lockers, Whitehead, Bateman, Currie and McMeekan in that order with the option of Sam Burgess slotting in there if needed.

I expect Stevie Ward will be in the squad. He has also covered centre a few times and could do for England if we pick up injuries.

I expect the squad to look something like.
Hardraker
Hall
Watkins
Percival
Mcgillvary
Widdop
Gale
Graham
Hodgson
Hill
S Burgess
Whitehead
O'loughlin

Clark
Walmsley
G Burgess
Ward

Roby
Williams
Currie
McMeeken
Tomkins
Shenton
T Burgess

Disappointing result for Leeds today but any doubt that Ryan Hall can still produce in big games? He had no right to score either of those tries. Great finishes.

I think that's pretty much spot on apart from I'd expect Taylor in place of Walmsley.

I know Eden has scored a lot of tries but he is a long way off International quality imo. It reminds me of Goulding getting picked on the wing about 6 or 7 years ago simply because he scored a lot of tries that year.

In the case of the second one, I'm not convinced he did!

24 players and no room for John Bateman?

There are only 2 world class players in SL and hall is one of them

Regards

King James

Go back to living in Russel Westbrook's shadow. Ryan Hall was world class but no longer is.

And Eden never will be