will be a two year ban like chase

I wouldn't have Hardaker for England now. We need committed players, he's had too many chances.

Lots of rebuilding to be done between now and the next world cup. I reckon:

OUT IN

1 Widdop - Lomax
2 McGillvary - Manfredi
3 Watkins
4 Bateman - Percival
5 Hall - Eden
6 Brown - Williams
7 Gale - Sneyd
8 Graham - Walmsley
9 Hodgson
10 Hill - S.Burgess
11 Whitehead - Currie
12 S.Burgess - Bateman
13 O'Loughlin - Ward

14 T.Burgess
15 Roby - Clark
16 Walmsley - Taylor
17 Heighington - Farrell

Mind, that would still probably be a bit of a dad's army by 2021. It will be interesting to see who comes through to replace our outgoing top players.

Lomax is not up to it at International level, Eden also isn't International class. The players that need to be looked at for England are Jack Walker, Tom Johnstone, Dom Manfredi, Gildart, Sutcliffe, Shaul, Sneyd, Ward, Savelio (if he improves in the NRL), Watts.

There is some good talent there that needs to be looked at

Id like to see wholesale changes to both coaching and playing staff. Give the head coach spot to McDermott and have Powell, Radford, and Chester as assistants. Totally strip the current squad apart and start again. Pick young upcoming talents (under 23) and have a large squad. Spend the next 4 years building and developing this new squad, getting them fully prepared for the next world cup and the one beyond that. International rugby needs to become the pinnacle of our sport, the current setup is too short-termist

Oh, ok. What's the point in the Great Britain tour then? It's just a name change for no reason.

He's not played in over a year after Rangi Chase destroyed his knee & there's rumours he could have to retire.



Tom Davies though, he's got the potential IMO.

It's a crying shame the struggles Dom Manfredi is going through. He could've pressed Hall very hard for his spot had it not been for the terrible injury problems he's suffered. He has that size and strength needed for internationals but is quicker then either of our current wingers. It's ironic really that without his injury in 2016, we may not have seen McGillvary in an England shirt. I'm pretty sure he'd have started last years Four Nations ahead of him in the pecking order after his extraordinary form up until his injury.

As things stand him ever playing the game again would be a triumph so to see him get back to that level may be a bridge too far.

One player that seems to have gone under the radar is Joe Greenwood. I think he'll be thereabouts in the next few seasons.

No, I can't. But I assumed that the decision to play as Great Britain was in order to create the possibility of that happening. If, as you say, we can basically do the same as England cricket and include those players anyway, there's not really any need to not play as England.

It seems like muddled thinking to bring GB back for one year and then have them disappear again for who knows how long.

I believe that the phrase "Muddled Thinking" is carved above the doorways at the RFL.

We need more players to come through every year. That's basically the difference between us and Australia. Thurston and Cronk retire and Morgan is already ready and Munster not far off, with the likes of Ivan Cleary not far behind. Ditto when Slater quits there are already 4 or 5 better options than the best English full back.

Twas ever thus.