I would say Sam Burgess is a better back rower than prop and would play him in the Gallen role for England.

If we can get all our players fit and available for selection then competing with Australia is the least we should be doing with the current bunch.Its our lack of depth and the Australians huge depth in quality that is our undoing but hasn't it always been the case?

As ECT says, any team can compete and win on any one off game but in the big games and moments the best teams always tend to shine through.Which they have for over 3 decades.With Burgess,Graham Roby,Hall,Widdop and Tomkins in their prime at next years world cup and throw in very good seasoned pros in Hock,Westwood and Ellis we can be quietly confident of having a good go,which is all we can expect.

Lets hope so.
The Game needs a shot in the arm at International level and that means a competitive
English team with a genuine chance of taking the World Cup.

Thank god for Fijians!

Graham
Roby
Burgess
Westwood
Hock
O'loughlian

Thats a pretty decent pack imo but is it better than what we had 5,6,7years ago?

Fielden
Newton/Roby
JP
Ellis
Farrell
Sculthorpe

With Burgess, Hock and Morley on the bench. I think there was a bit more quality in depth mid 2000s than there is now.

Wellens
Carney
Gleeson
Senior
Raynor
Pryce
Long

Is not as good as our potential backline in my opinion.

Tomkins
Briscoe/Charnley
Atkins
Reed
Hall
Widdop
McGuire

Vinaka

The GB/England packs been better than the Ausie pack for years but they do everything tough and off the backfoot because while the Ausies have World class halfbacks controlling them we've got makeshift and out of position good domestic players struggling to do that job for us.

That is a Myth in my opinion.
Dominant forwards set up the play for Halfbacks and even average Halfbacks can make something happen if given the space by the forwards.
The old adage is Forwards win games and the Backs decide by how many.

Man for man it does not stack up.
The fact Englands Halves have been ordinary is a fair point, it does no mean that England's forwards have been better.
They have never shown any dominance other than in one dead rubber years ago.
Did Burgess, Ellis or Graham win the Dally M award this year for their position?

Cam Smith
Paul Gallen
Matt Scott
Luke Lewis

Which equivalent English players are better?

Poor back line defence and a poor kick and chase has killed our chances every game. That and not been able to cope with the pressure of an arm wrestle.

PNG v Australia won by a Fijian. Sums it up. Australia should not be allowed to call themselves Australia.

Can't see why you cannot play SOO and play for Fiji/New Zealand. If you're born in Fiji but brought up in Queensland, you are both a Fijian and a Queenslander. It would help the interantional game no end

PNG Prime Minister's XIII v Australian Prime Minister's XIII won by a try to a Fijian born Australian RL junior.

What's Rangi Chase's junior club again?