I think a lot has to come down to who plays 6 really.

If Brough was our only decent kicking option out of hand then it will become too predictable and there would be too much pressure on him, but if Sinfield was there to share kicking duties then we may benefit far more.

Does Widdop have a strong enough long range kicking game? Does Chase have a strong enough long range kicking game?

If the answer to either question is yes and that particular player does start at 6 then I can't see why we would need Sinfield at 13 for his kicking game

Only in terms of kicking. Lockers passing game is far superior. He is much stronger with ball in hand, he is great at backing up, he is one of the best defenders England has.

Added to the fact that Sinfield has generally been a flop at international level, Lockers hasn't played against Aus for a few years because of injury.

Simple answer to it for me:

Can you imagine Aus or NZ picking Sinfield at 13? No.

O'Loughlin? Yes.

He's the best Loose in the country, so should be at 13. Only other choice for me is Burgess.

So true.

1 S.Tomkins
2 Hall
3 Atkins - without doubt best centre in comp imo
4 Reed
5 Charnley
6 Lomax
7 Brough
8 Graham
9 Roby
10 Hock
11 Westwood
12 Burgess
13 Sinfield
subs
Crabtree
henderson
Cudjoe
Patrick

1. S Tomkins
2. Charnley / Briscoe
3. Reed
4. Atkins / Watkins
5. Hall
6. Lomax (Not seen enough of Widdop)
7. Brough
8. Graham
9. Roby
10. Mossop
11. Ellis
12. Burgess
13. O'Loughlin

14. McIlorum, Henderson, Houghton or a utility player.
15. Crabtree
16. Prescott
17. Hock

Sinfield is a far superior passer to O'loughlin, he is much more creative, and better offloader. O'loughlin is much bigger, stronger, better runner of the ball and a better defender.

There is nothing O'loughlin offers which cant be made up elsewhere in the pack, there is plenty Sinfield offers which cant be covered elsewhere in the pack, not least his utility.

O'loughlin would be my 3rd choice at Loose after Sinfield and Burgess.

Tomkins
Briscoe
Reed
Watkins
Hall
Widdop
Sinfield
Graham
Roby
Lynch
Ellis
Westwood
Burgess

Burrow
Crabtree
Hock
Mossop

Honourable mentions for Pryce, Mcguire, Houghton, Atkins, Charnley, Yeaman, O'loughlin, Ablett, Henderson, who will likely be in and around.

Big pack, lots of impact, Burrow and Roby buzzing around the ruck, Sinfield providing utility and direction, Widdop linking and running, Tomkins chiming in to the line and acting as the extra halfback and lots of variability to change things up if needs be.

Brough?

I don't like the idea of Sinfield in the halves again...

I don't know what Danny Houghton needs to do to get in the England squad, he is one of the most consistant performers in super league. Also whilst I agree that Charnley has had the edge over Briscoe this season, I would have Briscoe in ahead of Hall. Hall is a great winger don't get me wrong but Briscoe offers something different in that he can score a try out of nothing (as shown on saturday). If were going to beat the Aussies we need to start taking more risks, and stop relying on the usual formula.

O'Loughlin is one of the best passers in Super League. Sinfield a very good passer too but 'far superior' is well wide of the mark.

O'Loughlin offers more out of the two in the forwards, Sinfield offers more in the halves.

There's nothing that Sinfield offers that couldn't be made up elsewhere in the pack, other than his kicking, but with Brough, Tomkins and Roby also in the squad there is no reason why Sinfield's kicking would be the trump card.

Brough is only 2 years younger than Sinfield, he isnt the next young thing. He is a fairly decent player, who played for some pretty average teams and was bombed out of the only club he tasted a modicum of success with.

Either we go with Sinfield or throw it to one of the youngsters.

None of Brough or Tomkins play in the pack. Roby isnt an international kicker by any stretch. Roby is an outstanding player, a real talent, a level above either Sinfield or O'loughlin but that isnt one of the strings to his bow. Sinfield speed and range of passing is far superior to O'loughlins. O'loughlin can run some nice set moves and has a facet to his game most forwards of his ilk dont have in that respect, but Sinfield is superior in that aspect.

I agree Sinfield offers more in the halves, If i were picking the side he would be in the halves, Burgess imo is the best of the three and the 13 jersey is his right now but if you wanted to move Burgess further up then O'loughlin would be the next in line

Sinfield shouldn't be in the team he has proven he can't play at international level so why pick him? He's only good for his kicking and maybe leadership abilities but there are plenty of leaders in the team so that doesn't matter

Not at all. I have lost count of the times Lockers has thrown superb passes to our wingers to put them in the corner from nothing. Lockers is always a key part of our attacking line and is much better at that than Sinfield.

Either way, I'm confident Lockers will be picked. He is the best 13 in the comp right now and Burgess needs to be in his best position. So many coaches have picked lockers out as the best 13 in the comp, he is just so much better than Sinfield I don't know why I am bothering to argue about it.

Sinfield has proved time and time again he is useless at international level. End of.

Great at Leeds though, against the aussies? Not a chance! They probably laugh when we pick sinfield in our team.