Going on historical evidence you would have to say he is right! Sad as it is. Best hope is another Southern France club joining Sl where at leastthey have a fanbase to amke a go of it. Can anyone think of anywhere outside our heartlands that has the capacity to attract 8k crowds on a regular basis? Even historic clubs with strong fanbases and corproate links can't independently financially survive at the moment.

Agreed, a 'marquee player' system should be brought in. Would let teams with a bit of cash like Wigan, Wire, Widnes and Leeds spend a bit. Would improve the profile of the game and even the clubs that can't afford it should be able to spend above the salary cap for one player, but only in the season after posting a profit.

At the same time Australia and New Zealand have been winning trophies with dubious connections for years.

pick your england 34 man squad and england captain. sorry if im wrong but dont kno if its 32 or 34 man squad.

1. S.tomkins
2 R.Hall
3 Atkins
4 Reed
5 T.Briscoe
6 Widdop
7 Brough
8 Graham
9 Roby
10 Crabtree
11 Westwood
12 Ellis
13 S.Burgess
14 Burrows
15 Broughton
16 carvell
17 cudjoe
18 Lomax
19 Charnley
20 Harrison
21 R.Bailey
22 Jones buchanon
23 Mossop
24 chase
25 henderson
26 patrick
27 Tickle
28 riley
29 Ratchford
30 mcclorum
31 goulding
32 hock
33 smith
34 o loughlin

captain would be roby or burgess

I think if Watkins plays consistently till the world cup, he will be first choice centre.

1- s tomkins
2 - r hall
3 - watkins
4 - atkins
5 - charnley
6 - widdop
7 - brough
8 - carvell
9 - roby
10 - graham
11 - ellis
12 - westwood
13 - s burgess
14 - crabtree
15 - mcillorum
16 - l burgess
17 - hill

18 - heighington
19 - reed
20 - mossop
21 - goulding
22 - ratchford
23 - farrell
24 - sinfield
25 - hardaker
26 - tickle
27 - watts
28 - chase
29 - riley
30 - o'loughlin
31 - lomax
32 - harrison
33 - bateman
34 - jjb

1-17 what i would start and the rotations behind them oh and captain would be jammer

1. Sam Tomkins
2. Josh Charnley
3. Jack Reed
4. Ryan Atkins
5. Ryan Hall
6. Gareth Widdop
7. Danny Brough
8. James Graham
9. James Roby
10. Sam Burgess
11. Gareth Ellis
12. Gareth Hock
13. Sean O'Loughlin

14. Luke Robinson
15. Lee Mossop
16. Eorl Crabtree
17. Ben Westwood

18. Andy Lynch
19. Chris Hill
20. LMS
21. Gareth Carvell
22. Larne Patrick
23. Jon Wilkin
24. Liam Farrell
25. Danny Tickle
26. Jonny Lomax
27. Rob Burrow
28. Stefan Ratchford
29. Tom Briscoe
30. Jodie Broughton
31. Chris Bridge
32. Darrel Goulding
33. Michael McIllorum
34. Chris Heighington

34

?!? Squad sizes for the actual tournament will be 22-25 men, probably after most nations cut down a 40 man train on squad

I think the train on squad is probably what he was referring to.

The top 25 players in form come the end of 2013 season who are fully fit and eligible with adequate cover in each position

2014 Would love to see a GB tour down under
1 Game v PNG in Port Moresby
2 Games in NZ (Auckland and Wellington)
3 Game Ashes series in Oz (Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane)

I'd be far more interested in watching that than another 4 nations.

Glad to see folks are behind Widdop getting a start in the halves. He's been in very good form this season, and has quietly gone about his business often being overshadowed by the fact he plays alongside Smith, Slater and Cronk.

I dont think him being used off the bench, as he has been in the past is the best way to utilise him.

People sometimes speak about the importance of the "triangle" (of halfback, hooker and fullback.)

With Widdop, Tomkins and a decent hooker (IMO McIllorum) I believe we have the best "triangle" in an England/GB for a number of years. All These guys have a pretty complete game with speed, the ability to kick etc

I 100% believe, we have an England Team that can compete with Australia/NZ and could possibly win the world cup. What we dont have is the strength and depth they have, so lets hope we have an injury free tournament.

Did you know that McBanana is the head coach? Although nice logic it won't happen

Widdop can't play 7.

Can't be bothered to do a full train on squad, don't they normally take 25?

Tomkins
Briscoe
Watkins
Reed
Charnley
Widdop
Brough
Graham
Roby
Burgess
Hock
Westwood
Ellis

Mossop
O'Loughlin
Carvell
Robinson

Heighington
Hall
Tickle
Houghton
Lomax
Crabtree
Hill
Atkins

But McNamara will pick:

Tomkins
Hall
Atkins
Reed
Charnley
Sinfield
Chase
Graham
Roby
Burgess
Hock
Ellis
O'Loughlin

Westwood
Robinson
Crabtree
Morley

Heighington's finished imo.

And Atkins is better than Reed.

thank you been saying all season reed is looking average this year and i put widdop as a 6.

also cant believe i am the only one to put luke burgess in he has been immense this year i would go as far as saying he has been better than sam

Atkins is great at club level but looks awful whenever he plays for England, Including the exiles game last week.

Luke's been more consistent but he makes stupid mistakes now and again.

A fit Sam Burgess would get in any side.

The 2013 world cup might be a year too early for George but he looks like he could be some player.

Who knows how players will develop over the next year. 4 or 5 guys who havn't even been considered might have storming seasons. Too early to pick an accurate squad.

That would be brilliant.

25 man squad for me would be:

1. Sam Tomkins
2. Ryan Hall
3. Jack Reed
4. Ryan Atkins
5. Tom Briscoe
6. Gareth Widdop
7. Jonny Lomax
8. James Graham (c)
9. James Roby
10. Sam Burgess
11. Gareth Ellis
12. Gareth Hock
13. Sean O'Loughlin

14. Luke Burgess
15. Eorl Crabtree
16. Ben Westwood
17. Jon Wilkin

18. Josh Charnley
19. Kallum Watkins
20. Lee Mossop
21. LMS
22. Chris Hill
23. JJB
24. Michael McIlorum
25. Danny Brough/Matty Smith

Saints fan?

1. Sam Tomkins
2. Charnley
3. Reed
4. Atkins
5. Hall
6. Widdop
7. Brough
8. Sam Burgess
9. Roby
10. Graham
11. Ellis
12. Westwood
13. O'Loughlin

14. Crabtree
15. Mossop
16. Hock
17. Robinson

18. Ratchford
19. Cudjoe/Broughton
20. Goulding
21. Watkins
22. Briscoe
23. Chase
24. Lomax
25. Carvell
26. McIlorum
27. Hill
28. Tickle
29. Jones-Buchanon
30. Sinfield
31. Patrick
32. Luke Burgess
33. Farrell
34. Burrow

At the moment.