Gareth Widdop

Peter Fox
Leon Pryce
Chris Bridge
Ryan Hall

Sam Tomkins
Kyle Eastmond

James Graham
Kevin Sinfield
Adrian Morley
Gareth Ellis
Sam Burgess
Sean O'loughlin

-----------------------------------

James Roby
Andy Lynch - if he refuses to play then Fielden.
Joel Tomkins
Eorl Crabtree

That would be my first choice 17. Gareth Widdop is the best option we have at fullback. He at least has some pace, excellent footwork and is a good support player. Peter Fox and Ryan Hall played very well in the Four Nations and deserve to be included. Chris Bridge and Leon Pryce could hopefully offer us some threat out wide. There's no point just going for a defensive option, we have to play some good Rugby League. Chris Bridge can come back in field from time to time and Pryce can at least cause some problems with his footwork and ability to drift in between defenders. Tomkins and Eastmond worked last time - they stay. McGuire is a poor defender at club level and was ripped to shreds at the DW stadium last year. The forwards pick themselves. Lockers is the best 13 in the country. And finally I think the bench is the best we've got. Eorl Crabtree had a fanastic tournament whenever called upon and he for some reason puts a bit of doubt in the Aussie forwards. Lynch has been excellent at Bradford and Roby is a better player than Lunt. Joel Tomkins has been the best back row forward in the league IMO and deserves a spot above Westwood and Harrison.

Widdop cant get a game for Melbourne, so I don't think he is ready to be thrown in against the Aussies and Kiwis. Definately in the squad, but not in the first 17 for me. Personally, I would go with Pryce at FB, but that wont happen. Wellens is playing as well as ever, but the lack of pace that gets shown up in every international tournament will mean he misses out. Sean Briscoe isnt good enough IMO, but will probably get the nod in the absence of all other options.

Tomkins is currently starring at fullback for the top team in England, but his long term future is presumably at no6 so he should play there. McGuire has proven time and time again that he cant hack it against the Aussies. He may be in the form of his life for Leeds, but he proved last year that he just cant do it when it matters. I think now it is probably more a psychological problem for him than anything else.

Seeing as everyone else is naming players from their own club - I am going to nominate Jonny Lomax as an outsider for the squad.

Sinfield and Roby to share hooker spot like last year.
O'Loughlin at 13.

Briscoe (Sean)
Briscoe (Tom)
Bridge
Shenton
Hall
Tomkins
Eastmond
Morley
Sinfield
Graham
Ellis
Burgess
O Loughlin

Roby
Crabtree
Lynch
Tomkins (Joel)

Eastmonds are considerably better and he's played one game less.

My team would be:

Widdop
Hall
Atkins
Bridge
Broughton/Cudjoe
Sam Tomkins
Eastmond
Graham
Sinfield
Morley
Ellis
Westwood
Burgess

Bench: Lynch, Fielden, J Tomkins, Roby.

1. Sam T (Sceptical initially about his move to FB, but has been outstanding there. IMO he is tough enough to handle the Aussies. Very brave and excellent defence)
2. Widdop (Took his opportunity very well against the French, see no reason for him not to be given another shot)
3. Gleeson (Has got his detractors, but for my money the best English centre available. Great footwork, good with ball in hand and strong in defence.
4. Atkins (Big Unit who has impresses me toward the back end of this year.
5. Hall (perhaps not set the world alight like last year but has the size and is a great finisher)
6. McGuire (I feel he could work very well with Eastmond.
7. Eastmond (Class act this lad, would work well with McGuire on his shoulder)
8. Morley (Skipper on reputation alone. Brutal in the tackle and tireless in attack)
9. Roby (Previously regarded as a one trick pony by myself. Has proven me wrong completely. Saints best player IMO and my second candidate for MOS. Nice lad too!)
10. Graham (can’t stand the bloke personally, but is the best go forward player in SL by a distance)
11. Ellis (Basing this purely on word of mouth TBH as I have not seen much of him this year. But if reports are correct then he is playing very, very well for West’s)
12. Burgess (Offers everything you want from a modern forward. Has the respect of the antipodeans)
13. O'Loughlin (Best 13 by a country mile. Has become the complete package this year, truly)

14. Ben Harrison (only seen this lad a few times this season, but I am very impressed. Puts it about and skilful for a big lad)
15. Coley (Has been outstanding this year for us. Tough and aggressive. Prone to the odd brain fart, but who isn’t?. Some of the hits he has put in the year have been frightening).
16. J. Tomkins (Stacks of pace, good footwork and aggressive)
17. Westwood (Has matured into a very good player this year. Likes the tough stuff and his kicking of late has impressed me

How the majority put Atkins in before Bridge beggars belief.
Bridge never finds touch, Atkins never finds his winger.
I said it at the start of the year and I still believe it to be true; Atkins will never make a top class centre and unless the guy learns positional sense and how to put his winger through and not the touchie, he's just a great athlete with no natural centre skills. I can understand the debate between Gleeson and Bridge, personally I'd take the latter being much younger but Atkins?? I dont know what game some watch.

Has he now? I've not seen much of him as he's been injured for a few of the games I've seen Wigan play this year but he was absolutely shocking against Huddersfield.

He was shocking against the Giants. However, that is only one game in a long season.

Apart from this blip (Which has been commented on by many wigan fans) he has been truely oustanding this year.

He has also never let GB or England down in the past.

1. Widdop
2. Hall
3. Bridge
4. Yeaman
5. T. Briscoe
6. S. Tomkins
7. Eastmond
8. Graham
9. Roby
10. Morley
11. Ellis
12. Burgess
13. O'Loughlin

14. Sinfield
15. J. Tomkins
16. Crabtree
17. Lynch

Squad: S.Briscoe, Fox, Gleeson, Houghton, Westwood, McGuire, Harrison, Carvell.

1. Widdop
2. Hall
3. Bridge
4. Gleeson
5. Fox
6. S. Tomkins
7. Eastmond
8. Graham
9. Sinfield
10. Morley
11. Ellis
12. Burgess
13. O'Loughlin

14. Roby
15. J. Tomkins
16. K. Mason
17. Bailey

Got to rough em up up the middle. Bailey and Mason to get them wound up

Widdop
Briscoe
Shenton
Atkins
Hall
Tomkins
Eastmond
Morley
Sinfield
Graham
Burgess
Ellis
O'Loughlin

Westwood
Roby
Harrison
Coley/Lynch/Scruton

Seriously????????

I'd go with

Widdop
Fox/Riley
Pryce
Atkins (Hasn't Bridge got a serious shoulder injury)
Hall
Tomkins
McGuire
Morley (C)
Sinfield (VC)
Graham
Ellis
Burgess
Flanders

Roby
Westwood
Harrison
Crabtree

1 Widdop
2 Hall
3 Bridge
4 Atkins
5 Briscoe
6 Tomkins
7 Eastmond
8 Morley
9 Roby
10 Graham
11 Ellis
12 Westwood
13 O'Loughlin

14 Burgess
15 Crabtree
16 Pryce
17 Sinfield

Bridge was thought to be out for the season, but has made a quicker than expected recovery and could play against Hull this Friday.