These hypotheticals are always pretty stupid but if you're going to do it you have to decide whether these players are to be judged on their performances in SL or on their performances at their peak. Most of the imports were not at their best when they played in SL like Renouf, J Smith etc, in fact most of the imports would fit into that category. If it was based on their ability at their best the likes of Andrew Johns, Danny Buderus and Alfie Langer would have to swing it the imports' way. The imports could pick three or four halves combos that would be better than Long and Maguire but the locals stack up better in most other positions. But it's still just speculation so who cares.

I'd pick Senior and Robbie McCormack above the two selections you've made for starters.

Steve Renouf did some wonderful things for Wigan when he was there, even though he was not quite the great player he had been when he was a Brisbane Bronco. (Incidentally, quite a courageous performance for a diabetic!)

Jason Smith was still a great player when he came to Hull. He then went back to Australia and played magnificently (for Canberra and North Queensland as I recall).

Trent Barrett was a great player when he came to Wigan, and remains so. (We all pray that his neck injury suffered today will not be career ending). His unfortunate second season, which resulted from personal family issues, should not detract from the magnificent performances he turned on for Wigan.

The English selection were a stronger pack, but I suspect that the import forwards would do enough when in possession to enable Henry Paul and Trent Barrett (and Stacey) to create openings and let the flying outside backs score lots of tries that the English backs could not.



We all care. It matters precisely because the different relative ability of the English in certain positions.

What this analysis tells us is that the England/Great Britain squad has strong forward components, but is weak in the backs, relative to foreign countries. This began with the arrival of Reginald Gasnier and Graeme "Changa" Langlands on the international scene. It has been embarrassingly true since the retirement of Roger Millward, and even moreso since the retirement of Gary Schofield.

No. What it tells us is that if England/GB could compile all of its best players from the past 14 years and had them all playing at their best then they might have a strong forward pack on paper. In fact they'd have a strong backline too. If South Sydney could bring Clive Churchill, John O'Neill, Bob McCarthy and Ron Coote back and have them playing at their career peak they'd have a good side too. If France had Puig Aubert, Max Rousie and Eduard Ponsinet back at their best they'd have a good side as well. So what. All of that is just hypotheticals, so who cares.

if we could bring back the best team in history . dragons 11 GF team

if we could bring back the best team in historyit would be

Huddersfield ' team of all talents' 1914.


Go on prove me wrong

our team was undefeated for years

That's why thje GB team would obvioulsy have to have Tommy Martyn in it.

Richard Swain over Buderus for me.

Jason Smith was outstanding for 2 seasons then was injured for 2 seasons after knees up mrs Fielden got him.

Albert and Dallas both better wingers than Donald.

Fairleigh played for Saints not Wigan, so its Saints 9, Wigan 8

But Terry O'Connor, Barrie McDermott and Offiah all played for Wigan too.

Granted McDermott only for a short spell. But surely the other two would be classed as Wigan players?

Or is it because Offiah and McDermott only played for Wigan pre-SL?? But O'Connor played for Wigan in the SL.

In the light of the criticisms I have received on this thread, I have made some modifications to my selections, notably inserting Richard Swain and Darren Albert in place of Daniel Buderus and Scott Donald, and noting the correct club affiliations of David Fairleigh and Terence O'Connor.

Because Henry Paul was at his career peak in Super League, and Stacey Jones wasn't, I regard the performances of Henry Paul in Super League as superior to those of Stacey Jones. Overall in an evaluation of each person's life career, Stacey may well come in ahead of Henry.

Steve Renouf was not at his career peak in Super League, but still was better than his main rival for the position, Matt Gidley, in my opinion.

Now here is the revised teamsIMPORTS

Brent Webb (Leeds)

Leslie Vainikolo (Bradford)
Jamie Lyon (St Helens)
Steve Renouf (Wigan)
Darren Albert (St Helens)

Trent Barrett (Wigan)
Henry Paul (Wigan)

Jason Cayless (St Helens)
Richard Swain (Hull)
David Fairleigh (St Helens)
Jim Dymock (London)
David Furner (Wigan)
Jason Smith (Hull)


BenchBRITISH

Kris Radlinski (Wigan)

Jason Robinson (Wigan)
Paul Newlove (St Helens)
Gary Connolly (Wigan)
Martin Offiah (London)

Danny McGuire (Leeds)
Sean Long (St Helens)

Stuart Fielden (Bradford)
Keiron Cunningham (St Helens)
James Graham (St Helens)
Andrew Farrell (Wigan)
Jamie Peacock (Bradford)
Paul Sculthorpe (St Helens)

Bench:

Barrie McDermott (Leeds)
Terry O'Connor (Wigan)
Adrian Morley (Leeds)
James Roby (St Helens)