I wonder what McNamara is going to say when asked why he's left one of the best props in the world out. Are they going to acknowledge Graham ed up earlier in the week so is been punished or sweep the whole incident under the rug

With regards to the centres, when the 24 man squad was first named I thought it was a specialist centre short (I'd have picked another centre over Briscoe - waste of a pick when there are utility players like Hardaker who can play if there are injuries). You'd imagine that if Jack Reed was fit he'd have been in, and I have to say Goulding has been excellent for the last 2 years, I rate him better in defence than either Cudjoe or Watkins tbh.

The issue we have got is those 4 centres all play no. 3, on the right. We don't have an international standard specialist left-sided centre. It's a completely different skill set to play on the opposite side of the field than you are used to, both in defensive positioning and passing the ball quickly.

Westwood should be sitting out the start of the season for his GF display (should have been a 3-4 game club ban). Lets hope the lucky boy can clean his act up and keep a level head this weekend.

He has done everything right? The proof of that will be the result at the weekend. If we get hammered, has he really handled this well? Dropping his best prop to punish him isn't a good idea. You mention the semi finals, who is to say England are going to reach the semi finals?

The players he brings in are not good enough at this level and will not contribute what Graham would have done. If they can't play him because of what he's done, then drop him from the squad. What does dropping him from one game do exactly? England get hammered by Australia, Graham walks back in for the easier games? What is the punishment in that?

Pathetic and pointless. What on earth is he going to do from the bench?

If you are going to drop players like Graham you might as well do it against a side like Australia where unless a major upset occurs... England are nailed on to lose anyway.

Far better to use him in the other games where at least there is a more likely chance of winning.

you would assume that James Graham was looking forward to playing in this particular game, to get stuck into his mates from Down Under and continue to prove he is the best in the world. Therefore it will be a big punishment for him personally that he is not to be involved.

Q. The proof of that will be the result at the weekend. If we get hammered, has he really handled this well?

A. No, the proof will be at the end of England’s involvement in the tournament – the weekend is just one game


Q. Dropping his best prop to punish him isn't a good idea. You mention the semi finals, who is to say England are going to reach the semi finals?

A. Treating his best prop the same as his worst demonstrates strength of character. England will make the semi finals, we all know that (but if they don’t I suppose it will be good news for the competitiveness of international rugby league which we all agree will be great news, won’t it!)


Q. The players he brings in are not good enough at this level and will not contribute what Graham would have done. If they can't play him because of what he's done, then drop him from the squad. What does dropping him from one game do exactly?

A. It proves that the management team and McNamara has balls – so many people would be critical if he had no squad discipline, now we are critical when he does. My personal opinion is that this discipline will pay off over the course of the tournament


Q. England get hammered by Australia, Graham walks back in for the easier games? What is the punishment in that?

A. The punishment is that he has been dropped from the England team for the opening game of the World Cup – surely he is hurting from that, he should be. He will force his way back and he will play a role in the important games later in the tournament and I bet he will be up for it

Everyone is understandably focussing on the absence of Graham and it is a shock and a savage blow to the team.

But I think McIlorum is just as big a loss given the way he played in the play-offs and especially the grand final.

Would have liked him on from the start against Cameron Smith with Roby coming off the bench.

Not a great way to start a World cup campaign is it ?

Play him and you get disharmony within the group and you get the 08 fiasco again. Mcnamara has done the right thing. One player alone won't make that much of a difference whether we beat the Aussies or not, we have to play as a team and play for one another.

Graham will come back and be even more hungry now, he will play to redeem himself, and his coach and team mates.

Not sure mate but it's true. From the horses mouth so to speak.

Faz is an 80 minute player and a fantastic one at that. I agree that I wouldn't have him on the bench as its a waste. I fear he's not quite big enough for test level but we'll see. He is very good at finding a hold in the defensive line so hopefully he'll cause some problems against a tiring defence.

As for the whole team it would be Chase and Cudjoe to miss out for me. Widdop to start in the halves with Burrow on the bench.