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.

To be fair, against Samoa Percival would have been opposite Leilua, who is probably the strongest centre in the game ATM. On the whole our outside backs aren't big or strong enough, which is why the default will be to pick those who are big enough, even if they're not in form.

A month ago I wouldn't have had him anyway near our reserve side. He has put in some decent performances recently though, but still a long way off playing for England. As you say, his defence is woeful at times. It's not his physicality that's an issue particularly, but it's his inability to read the game, & his positional awareness that let's him down.

I'm convinced that's what Bennett will go with too, hence why he played Zak there in the Samoa game.

Whilst Zak has been easily the best FB in SL this season, he still doesn't look completely convincing with ball in hand to pick the right option. Should Widdop play there, a half in great form, it may give our attack more impetus, whilst not losing us anything in defence as he does have experience playing there in the past.

Not saying that is what I'd go with, but that's how I think Bennett may be looking at it.

Hardaker was poor at Penrith and hardly got any game time at all last year.
He looked like a boy playing against men.
He will not worry either Oz or NZ and they may even target him in attack.

Lomax is definitely going to be in there somewhere, whether people like it or not.

Sam Tomkins may have a future somewhere in an England shirt but it certainly won't be at fullback in this World Cup. He is struggling for pace and mobility and if that doesn't come back then he won't have a future as a fullback even at superleague level.

As things stand Hardaker should be at fullback with probably Ratchford providing some utility back up. I'd go Widdop and Gale in the halves as Williams form has gone totally west. A player I'd still be considering for the squad would be James Roby. He looks to be in good form for St Helens and his experience could be very handy.