But Sam Tomkins does??? on what grounds?

He's a Wigan player Meast, obviously

You won't ruin him, hell do just fine.

Dale plays for Bradford I believe, it would be relevent had I ever thouught Ferguson was World Class - good player on his day all the same.

I actually feel a bit sorry for you so I won't tell you just how good Max Jowitt looks at the moment as you may explode.

As a Wakey fan it's great to even have a player (Johnstone) be talked about for a potential spot, especially as he's one we've brought through ourselves through very troubled times for the club. Johnstone has improved massively and looks like he could go a very long way in the game, there's quite a number with much more experience playing well though so if he needed to wait another year then so be it...would be nice to see him called in to train with the squad though as recognition for how well he's played, providing he holds his form until the end of the season.

I strongly feel though (for the future and a few years down the line) that we have a much better potential international player in Max Jowitt. What he's done this season for an 18 year old is nothing short of sensational...we don't get to see many out of the real top draw come through the ranks at Wakey but have still produced three of Super Leagues all time great players in Ellis, Westwood and Brough...I watched all those three plenty of times at academy level right through and at this stage of his career Max is very much on a par with all three of those if not a fair bit in front...full back can be such an unforgiving role but he is the complete full back already...not a halfback turned ful back like many these days, just an out and out 100% full back with all the natural talent in the world....If he carries on progressing like he has been, he's a certainty for future honours for me...

Well done Wakefield on producing 3 decent players (plus possible 2 more) in 20-odd years.

I'd like us to give first shot to the majority of the successful squad of last November with maybe a couple of exceptions. Smith springs to mind first, despite his decent performance in the last Test I think we have better players who are more deserving of a run. Wouldn't surprise me to see Brown selected considering Betts' involvement and would like Williams to remain in the squad.

Before considering 'fringe' players we have Sam Tomkins, Jack Reed and Sam Burgess to come back in, all of whom are certain starters if they are playing to their capabilities. That said I think Manfredi, Currie and Scott Taylor should be seriously considered for squad selection at this stage. Long season to come though.

As much as i agree that the likes of Johnstone and Jowett at Wakefield have shown lots of potential, i think it's a poor do when we talk up 18/19 year old kids up as internationals, we are all guilty of it, as fans, let's leave the kids to develop and not throw them straight into an international team on the back of a few good games for their clubs.
If they are good enough then they will still be good enough in 2/3 years time, and despite how good they are they are not bound to have developed mentally or physically by 18.
They have potential yes, but let them develop before talking them up.

And can Wakefield really claim to have "produced" Danny Brough? yes he was at their academy, but developed in the national leagues at Dewsbury, York and Cas,and also played a major role for Hull before signing for wakey, i wouldn't say that was "producing" a player as such.

And to answer the question upthread, no, of course Sam Tomkins shouldn't have an automatic place; no-one should. Obviously, it's contingent on him showing full fitness and decent form for his club first, as it would be for any player. As a Wigan fan, I am frankly a bit worried about him after such a long injury, some players are never quite the same after such a lengthy lay-off. But if he is playing OK, it's hard to imagine he won't be in the starting 13.

My original comment was about Widdop, and the assumption that on his current form (and I haven't seen his last couple of games, where I gather he was pretty good) merits an automatic place.

Very funny, almost 62 - 0 funny.

nothing is THAT funny

I haven't watched Widdop but as others have said, Bennett will hold the NRL based contingent in higher regard from the start so we best get used to that.Its more a matter of who will partner Widdop as to whether he will be selected imo, not saying thats right, just the way it is likely to be.Just as others are coming up with names in the front row who are playing well when the Burgess brothers are not in best form, they are nailed on too in the Bennett regime.

61 is funnier. That's how many years it's been since Warrington won a league title

But anyway back to England fringe players...

Does playing for a teams academy side not count then now? It was obvious in that season when they ran that great Leeds team so close and lost out in the grand final that he was a player with a massive future...he's obviously had issues right the way through his career which is why he took a bit longer to break in at the top level...I watched that academy side home and away and it was pretty obvious then Broughs ability...