Is Burgess playing prop for Souths?
Play him 13, I say, in the pseudo prop role.

Pick from Graham, Mossop, Crabtree, Burgess, Lynch plus the old timers of Morley and Peacock for the 5 prop slots (3 two start, 2 on the bench).
O'Loughlin, Ellis, Westwood and Manu for the 3 2nd row slots (2 start, one on the bench).
One or two hookers from a pretty good selection.
That pack must be able to do some damage, mustn't it!?

Plus, with our currnet crop of back we are starting to see some physicality come in, with the like of Watkins, Hall and others being excellent atheletes.

burgess has played both prop and 2nd row this season mate but even in the 2nd row he was still playing like a prop in the middle where he does more damage than outwide.

its harsh on who would be dropped as they are qaulity players and all of them are playing really good rugby but out of those who you suggest i would probably drop lynch ( but i do think he is a qaulity player who is very under rated in superleague).

well i would play o'loughlin at 13 and then it would be a choice out of westwood, manu, heighington ( too many have judged him on the attempted tackle on trex in the 4nations he is no doubt on par with ellis in the tigers side just not as many mins), hock and larne patrick. not sure who i would pick out of them depends on training i guess.

reed is holding hes own agains't the aussies best. Well its a battle between watkins and atkins, i just think atkins lose's so much confiedence when he isn't more physically domienent than hes opposition where as watkins has confiedence in hes stepping and looks so confiedent defending against fast strong oposition.

What he ^ said. Would like to see Houghton in there somewhere but dont see where at mo.

Roby, Burrow and Henderson will provide stiff competetion.

Agreed

I'd have Bill Sonnys team definately.

The only decisions that would be made within that would be Charnley for Briscoe depending on form, and Hock for a number of second rowers, Manu/Patrick etc, but again all dependant on form.

We have a selection of maybe four wingers that can do the job and so we CAN pick on end of season form, at the moment Hall and Charnley are front runners, but you cant ignore the likes of McGillvaray

same goes for centres - which is the strongest options I ever remember, with Atkins, Watkins, Reed, Cudjoe all possessing the physicality, athleticism and skill to take the Aussies on

Good times.

People have been moaning that we should move on and stop picking the likes of Morley and Peacock, yet some want to pick Andy Lynch who'l be 34 by the WC and has never really been that d about playing for his country.

Anyway my team would be:

Tomkins
BJB/McGilvery
Watkins
Reed
Hall
Widdop/Chase/Gaskell
Brough/McGuire
Graham
Roby
Peacock
Ellis
Westwood
Burgess

Burrow
Mossop
Morley
Patrick/Hock

You mean unlike the usual "Erm like Erm like" from the dark side?

Nah, not quite, but I would go with

Tomkins

McGilvary
Cudjoe
Lawrence
George

Brown
Brough

Crabtree
Robinson
Patrick
Ellis
Burgess
Lunt



In all seriousness, I do think that Brough, Crabtree, Robinson and Patrick should be hovering around the squad

Threads like this just show that, apart from a few positions, no one can really agree on the 'best' team. Who'd be England coach, eh?? He'll never do anything right!!

1 - Tomkins
2 - Hall
3 - Reed
4 - Atkins
5 - Charnley
6 - Widdop / McGuire
7 - Brough
8 - Graham
9 - Roby
10 - Peacock (because macca will pick him!)
11 - Ellis
12 - Westwood
13 - Burgess

14 - Morley
15 - Tickle
16 - Mossop
17 - Widdop / McGuire

If Brough were ever to step up he would have done it by now. He is 29 now and has never done it, I dont think he will do it now. Danny Brough is a similar type of player to Rangi Chase, does some spectacular things, does some very very good things, but has played in squads for which excuses are made. When Brough has one of his fairly regular poor games, or one of his poor runs of games excuses are made for him and other players are blamed. There is a reason Brough has never got a gig at one of the top four, and that is he just isnt good enough. Either we stick with Sinfield who is a better player or we can look to one of the younger halfbacks.

Agree that Watkins and Reed should have those two centre spots sewn up.

I disagree about Brough.
He is one of the few halfbacks who can and will defend and he has a world class kicking game and an excellent rugby brain.
The one think that he's never had until recently, is the chance to play behind a quality pack.
IMO the reason that he never played top level international RL is because he spent so much of his career at unfashionable clubs ie Wakefield and Cas.
He may well have missed his chance, being 29, but the guy is a quality half back and much better than some of Englands recent choices.

I can't believe some people in this thread are not selecting Reed! He has been in great form at the start of the NRL season and was one of Englands best performers in the four nations.