The Fiji team they beat are nothing like as strong as this WC squad. The PNG players in the NRL are in the average to plodder range in NRL terms. Mead's a reserve, Aiton hasn't played NRL for years, Segeyaro is a bench player as is Baptiste (very much number 2 behind Hodgson). Don't get me wrong, England really need PNG to aim up and make them play as well as they can for as long as they can. But don't pretend anyone serious about winning the WC would or should worry about playing them. If England get beaten by PNG it will be a disgrace, and if we really struggle then you can write us off as serious contenders.

That is unfair. Mead is hardly an "average to plodder." At Brisbane he is competing behind full back Darius Boyd (QLD and Australia) huge winger Corey Oates (QLD) and goal kicking winger Jordan Kahu (NZ Kiwis) for a first grade spot. David Mead is a great player who should have gone to another club, or stayed at the Titans, in order to get the recognition he deserves. Segyaro is a bench player now but he plays very well and is an above average hooker. Baptiste is the bench hooker at Canberra but is still a good player. I can't see one average to plodder in that list except possibly Aiton. Yet I note that you omit mention of Nene Macdonald who is a regular and very successful winger for St. George, and who is also a very good centre -- on his displays so far Macdonald has been superior to either of the England centres. You also don't mention PNG winger Justin Olam who was signed by the Melbourne Storm, but is competing for a place in the first team with two of the three best wingers in the NRL in Vunivalu and Addo-Carr. Also winger Garry Lo, who was injured against USA and may not play on Sunday, is an outstanding talent.

So basically Mead is a reserve like I said then? I quite like him as a player, but he's clearly not quite top shelf. I certainly couldn't see him starting in any of the sides likely to be in the top 8 next year, injuries aside.

I didn't mention Macdonald because for the Dragons this year he was utter gash with bad errors every time I saw him play. Are you suggesting he'd be in the top twenty outside backs in the NRL? If not then he's at best average. And why would I mention a winger who - for whatever reason - doesn't make first grade, or another who has until this season reached the dizzying heights of playing for Sheffield Eagles?

Put it this way, there's not a single PNG player who would get into the Australia or NZ squads, or Tonga's (except maybe one of the hookers). So explain to me again why they're so to be feared? I don't have a problem with them competing and making England work hard, but if England really struggle then that's a clear indication we're light years behind Aus, NZ or even Tonga.

David Mead has played 160 NRL games.
half a dozen of the England side wouldn't make an NRL side.

Really???!

Totally agree with this. Like NK, I've seen both Gleeson and Gildhart first hand many times and I've been making the comparison constantly. His footwork is different to the ones you mention, SC. It's difficult to fully explain but, like Gleason, it's deceptive. Almost like they make space over a very short area, often when there seems to be no space there. He's a genuine winger's centre too. Those you mentioned are all good centres but I have no doubts whatsoever that Gildhart will be an international centre sooner rather than later. He simply has that extra class.

still changing the halves which at this stage should have been decided for me

I agree in principal but if its clearly not working and you stumble on something better then go for it.

Lets not forget we stuck by Rangi Chase playing with Sinfield all the last WC until the semi even when it clearly wasn't gelling. We reverted to Widdop and Sinfield for the Semi and got one of the best performances of this decade from England.

Give over. I know it's popular to bag England, but I bet every one of them has had an NRL offer.

Some of the fringe backs may struggle to be fair, not as many as half a dozen mind.The forwards would all make an NRL team no trouble imo.

Samoa have plenty of NRL apps between them too, England would have pumped them by 20+ this morning had they played them. I'm expecting a comfortable win for the English on Sunday.

Percival wont i think be considered until he proves he can cut out the errors.

He topped the SL charts with 51 last season.

Thats more than 2 errors a game.

At international level you cant afford to have a centre doing that with regularity.

Nearest other players to him were Albert Kelly with 43 then Greg Eden with 39.

Be fair, we have Newcastle, the Titans and Tigpies in the comp. Based on 2017 performances, I don't think there are too many of the England squad that wouldn't have got a run with one of those three if they were available.

That crowd

What crowd?! Shocking