The league table represents how well a team has performed over the course of a season, not the relative form of its respective England eligible players

An international coach who picks players on the basis of where their team finished in the league table is in the wrong job.

Incidentally, which of the smattering of England qualified players at Huddersfield, Hull KR and Wakefield made such overwhelming cases for their inclusion but were omitted? Arguably the best players at each of these clubs this season have been Antipodean.

it was about 8 weeks which isn't massive, however just to put your mind at rest, higham's already been told theres about 2/3 other hookers ahead of him in the squad.

What a kerfuffle over nothing!!!!

It dosn't matter who Tony Smith picks for the England side the team will not beat the Aussies!!

They may put up a show against the Kiwis and probably beat France.

Most people, I suggest, would probably agree so why worry and get upset over something that is inevitable?

Cudjoe's a possible, but Mason?? You've got to be kidding, he's been good for the Giants but there's a hell of a lot of talent in our front row already and I reckon Peacock, Morley, Graham, Carvell, Burgess etc are way ahead in the pecking order.
Welhams not as good a centre as Bridge

Brough, Ferguson, Moore, Blaymire and Snitch have all had great seasons. Out of those four Brough is the only one who would've endangered the actual line up but all could've easily been added to the train on squad in place of Bridge or Harrison (Who?!).

Cudjoe's front-on defence simply isn't good enough at international level. The big athletic specimens Australia have in their backline would run over him then go back and run around him again just for fun.

Challenge cup medal winner, England Train on squad, and also despite wire finishing the lofty position of tenth in the league, he's one of the players, along riley, mitchell and cooper who we've had many plaudits from other teams coming on to our board applauding us on his talent, cos he's fooking great.


Didn't Brough finish the season injured? is that something that hasn't cleared up or is it a slightly more longstanding problem?

Huddersfield choked in the play-offs and were never in the game at Wembley, but there were very consistent in beating "lessor" teams throughout the season to ensure a good league position, but usually failing in the big games against teams like Leeds.

And their star player is Australian.

Cudjoe hasn't really performed in the big games and was embarrassed in the Challenge Cup semi-final by Meli as I remember.
Mason is a decent prop who has had a great season but is unlucky to be in a position where England are strong with Morley, Peacock, Graham, Crabtree, LMS etc.
I agree with you in that Welham would be worth a spot in a train-on squad but disagree that he is a better player than Bridge.
Ferguson at Wakey is a good player and similar to Harrison in many ways but again in my opinion not as good.

Who else should have been picked for the squad ahead of the Warrington contingent?

The last three, no freakin chance.
The former 2 are unlucky, both had decent seasons, personally I think Harrison will become a better player than Ferguson, we'll obviously differ on that one

Does Brett Hodgson qualify to play for England yet?

Not sure why Cudjoe(to gain experience) and Wild aren't in the train on squad. I can see why Harrison is in there. He's been great when i've seen him and can gain a lot from it. Higham, Clarke, Tickle and Westwood can only be there as back up.

You cannot just put down the finishing position of, for example, Huddersfield on the shoulders of the overseas players. It is about various factors, including the coach. The league table does reflect the team performance and in the past we have heard of players not being selected because, as a team, he was not part of a higher achieving side.

I'm not interested in who 'should' have been picked. I am highlighting that the coach has picked more players from his own team than the rest of the other available teams combined so far. It woudn't surprise me at all if most of them don't make it, I'd be shocked if they don't mostly miss out in fact, but it till seems to me that he is abusing his position as head coach of England to try and develop his club players and help his club side and I think that's out of order.

We'll see but don't hold your breath, its difficult when you only see them 3 or 4 times a season granted and i have no wish to have a go at Ben.

Fergy will play for GB/England of that i have no doubt.

If there are 3 in front of him then why pick him? He's just not needed, although it would certainly help Warrington if the player were to gain experience of the International set up even if realistically he has no chance of representing his country this time.

Shame Ricky Bibey got injured then, he would’ve been a shoe in.


Brough did get injured (50-50 for the play off match). Don't get me wrong I'm quite glad he has missed out so that he can spend the off season resting so he can come back chomping at the bit next year.

Ferguson is another who has plaudits from rival supporters (even Huddersfield fans!) and caught Leeds interest when they came for Pitts!