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.

Seems to be. I wouldn't ascribe to much logic or deep thought to the RFL's decisions.

Seriously, can you think of any of the Celtic players who would get into a first choice 17 over the English players?

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.