I really can't understand the bagging that Farrell gets. The guy is a machine and had finished the season like a house on fire. He was quite easily the best forward on the field last night with 165 meters from 16 carries and he does this on a regular basis. He is a brilliant defender, makes breaks, scores trys, sets trys up yet the plaudits never quite seem to come his way.

One of the first names on the team sheet for me both at Wigan and for England (certainly after a slow start to the season).

Oh give us all a break and have a day off you sanctimonious príćk

5 pages and no one has mentioned Clark being completely dropped from the squad? Thought he was supposed to be better than Roby?? One season wonder or just an off season?

Bateman, Wardle, Ablett, Whitehead, Tomkins, from eligible players all make more, not that I am suggesting they should all be in the squad. Farrell is a cracking SL player but not big enough for international.

I'd play Alex Murphy & Andy Gregory before Smith.

Absolutely.Its a bit like Ablett for us, very underated but crucial for his club.A bit like Ablett though,im not overly convinced he is what we need in an international back rower however he should probably get a chance to prove people wrong this series.

Warrington ruined him this season. Trying to make him play a game that isn't anything like his natural style.

All of those had stints at centre though didn't they? (maybe not Whitehead). I think maybe he stands out to me for making breaks because tries often come next.
Yeah I'd have to say part of me agrees, and it's not really logical because he comes up against bigger men every week and does a number on them, but there's just something that says to me he is too small. I think he deserves his chance to actually start for England and show that he can do it. He's not just a workhorse forward he's got a very good skill set too.

He got his chance in the WC & did nowt. TBH I'm struggling for much better with those available. Ward & Currie in a couple of years should be shoe ins.

Do you know whether Steve McNamara even contacted him to see whether he was interested/eligible before he came to Leeds?

Otherwise, that comment is just a massive crock of horsesh*t. I can't say that I noticed Chris Heighington jumping up and down to point out his eligibility before he was actually selected.

There are players in that NZ squad who were born in Australia. Is anyone kicking off about their eligibility? Of course they aren't. The Kiwis are quite happy to select them, because they don't care where they were born as long as they qualify under the rules and they can help them win. Little Englander attitudes don't do anything for England's cause.

Do they?

Would genuinely be interested. If they have this year it must be on the amount of appearances but Farrell has had a couple of spells out injured.

Hardly played in the World Cup. He did get a shot last year in the four nations and went well.

Currie and Ward will do well to get to (and beyond) Farrells level. If they do then they'll have exceptional careers.

Ward is, IMO, already at Farrell's level. Prior to injury, his workrate and ability marked him out as one of the better back rowers in the competition and a shoe-in for the England squad.

I'm disappointed that Dom Manfredi and Oliver Gildart didn't make the squad.

Farrell was garbage last year for England, as was Joel Tomkins. Our backrow as a unit was incredibly poor compared to Aus/NZ. Farrell I think is just too small for internationals.

As for Sam. Someone asked if anybody had watched him play this year - well I have and he has been hugely disappointing. Last year he looked very good in spells and like a lot of people I hoped he'd improve. As it was he went backwards at a rate of knots. He should be in the team because he's got skills in creating space that nobody else has, but to claim he's been anywhere near Hardaker as a full back THIS year is ridiculous.

In terms of Smith, I don't have a problem if Gale is given first shot. That means you have somebody around who at least has some experience at 7 for England. I'd rather that than two complete tyros.