It's meaningless rhetoric. James Clare and omari caro are "stars" according to the Bradford press this week. I had to laugh.

Clare is a good player.

I'd rather have Clare around the squad the Hitchcox.

I'd rather have Clare then Hitchcox, flynn and Monnas, sadly he left when we have carney and denny , had the carney saga reared it's ugly head 4 months sooner, Clare would still be at Cas in think.

But is he really a " star"

I am dismayed by the callous indifference to the tragic fate of England born Jack Reed, as expressed by the posters on this thread

I'm no fan and I don't like the Broncos much, but Reed has been a very solid performer for them for the last couple of seasons. He seldom has a poor game and is indeed a very good defender, which is plenty enough to get him into Aussie good books, of course.

Reed's a very good player, just not quick enough to be in the very top echelon of centres. If it hadn't been for his injuries he'd have been an England regular for several years.

At best it sounds like his England career (if you can call it that) is over.

He will need to manage the issue every off season so I doubt he'll be turning out for us which is a real shame as he's a good player.

It now looks like England having to turn to Kallum Watkins and Daniel Sarginson to replace the Rt. Honourable Jack Reed.

Watkins isn't deserving of a spot.

Quite right, but with Reed missing if we leave Watkins out we are looking pretty thread bare in the centres. Hopefully he can book his ideas up in the second half of the season because we really will need him at his best to match the Kiwis and Aussies in the three quarters.

I really don't want us to have to go down the Bateman 'make shift' centre route.

Reed is the starting centre for Brisbane. I'd say that's probably better credentials than playing for England to be honest, especially with McNamara choosing the team.

It would be a great shame if he couldn't get back to full fitness as he is a talent. His style of play probably doesn't lend itself well to a shoulder injury.

England's right edge should be Cudjoe and McGillvary, both are in fine form, despite the giants' slump, and work well together.
Saves having to 'gel' 2 unaccustomed players to try and get a partnership to work, this partnership does work, if it hadn't have been for this partnership we would be really struggling!

I agree Cudjoe should be given a spot and I'd like to see Atkins given another go at international level