Joel Monaghan for Meli

1. Brett Hodgson (Warrington)
2. Pat Richards (Wigan)
3. George Carmont (Wigan)
4. DARRELL MILLARD (Catalan)
5. JOEL MONAGHAN (Warrington)
6. SCOTT DUREAU (Catalan)
7. MICHAEL DOBSON (Hull KR)
8. Tony Puletua (St Helens)
9. MICHAEL MONAGHAN (Warrington)
10. Mark O'Meley (Hull)
11. Iosia Soliola (St Helens)
12. Willie Manu (Hull)
13. STEVE MENZIES (Catalan)

14. **prop**
15. ANTHONY LAFFRANCHI (St Helens)
16. Kylie Leuluai (Leeds)
17. Thomas Leuluai (Wigan)

waterhouse

as above but with Sam Moa (Hull FC) as the replacement prop

Kaufausi at the Broncos would be a good interchange prop and Southern at Wakey would be a good backrower.

I would have promoted Danny Houghton to the elite squad been outstanding last season and has started this season well, better all-around player than Mcllorum IMO.

Not sure how Atkins is not in the squad should be in before Yeaman that's for sure.

Exiles team for would be:

Hodgson
Richards Carmont Millard J Monnaghan
Dureau Dobson
TP M Monnaghan O'Meely
Delaney Waterhouse
Menzies

T. Leuluai, Kaufausi, Soliola, K. Leuluai

Atkins is clearly England's best centre, so his lack of involvement pretty much has to because of the issues in his personal life that made him request he wasn't selected for the previous series. There is no way he could be left out of both squads given his form last season and this.

What are Morley and Peacock doing? Why haven't they retired yet? I think it's very, very silly they've been selected and accepted the call ups. Why couldn't they let someone else who will actually still be playing when the next meaningful series is played?

And Gareth Hock? What is going on there? He was an utter mess last season when he returned and completely disrupted Wigan's tilt at the title, so is 5 games this season enough to be selected for England now? He must have been outstanding in those?

Not sure how Atkins has been left out of the squad, he's a quality player.

Also not that I condone it but if we are in the business of taking players that are not English then we should try get Brett Delaney. He is one of the best second rowers in the league. It is an area where we do have a lot of dept though.

JP and Morley wont retire till after the World Cup but with no real end of season competition I wouldnt bother playing them against the Exiles. The need to preserved as much as possible before the World Cup. They are the best 2 props in SL. Prop isnt a position where you need to develop combinations with your outside man like you would as a hooker/half back or wing/centre.

Going from that squad what do you think the England team will be against the exiles? I'd go:

Tomkins
Hall Watkins Yeaman Briscoe
McGuire Brough
JP Roby Morley
Westwood JJB
Sinfield

Mcllorum, Carvell, Mossop, Hock

Imo Sinfield needs to play loose against Australia next year or not at all. Man for man we are not as good as them so there is no point in trying to beat them at there own game. We need to be tactically different if we are to beat them and a ball playing 13 over a direct 13 is he way to go imo.

Sinfield is a stand off that wears the number 13. Always has been. He's just too small to play loose forward against Oz and New Zealand

Tomkins
Hall
Watkins
Hardaker
Charnley
Chase
Brough
Peacock
Roby
Mossop
Westwood
Wilkin
O'Loughlin

Burrow
Hock
Carvell
Morley

Thats why he should play! A direct 13 doesnt work, this has been proven time after time. Sinfield has never been allowed to play his traditional Leeds game when playing for GB/England. I agree Sinfield is too small to play as a 'natural' 13 if you want that kind of player go with O'loughlian. For me he has to play 13 or not at all. I would also make him captain but thats a different issue!

In the World Cup I would go:

Tomkins
Hall Watkins Reed Briscoe
Widdop Brough
Graham Roby JP
Burgess Ellis
Sinfield

Burrow, Morley, Westwood, Carvell

Lots of scoots from dummy half with burrow and roby. 2 good kickers with the ability to control the game in Sinfield and Brough and a 6 who has played consistently well in the NRL! A quality set of forwards 3 of whom a currently ripping it up in the NRL. A bench that offers us different options all over pitch.