remember who the current england fullback is :

gareth "ive played 2 nrl games" widdop

<s>

this compares to nsw's jarred hayne

You mean the part about him trying to "convince" the player to join England couldn't possibly have been made up by the Aussie press?

That's the way I see it because in all honesty I can't for one second see Steve McNamara "contacting Gareth Ellis, as well as assistant coach Royce Simmons, in a bid to convince the 28-year-old to represent the English" when we already have better backrowers available. I doubt he has even enquired.

Heighington inquired about playing for England years ago and was told he wasn't required. It sounds to me like he's trying to play a bit 'hard to get' this time round, coqueetishly hoping he'll get a go.

He's alright - nothing special really. But again, if you want England's defence to stand up against Australia then having more players from the NRL is good. Ellis and Burgess plus the likes of O'Loughlin, Flanagan and Heighington do indeed make England's back row a relative strength. People dismissing Flanagan based on what he did before joining Wests are idiots - he's done very well IMO, and should definitely be in the England squad.

Mateo is an interesting one. I know he's England qualified through parentage. Just not sure where he'd play. Again though, if he was up for it I'd definitely have a look at him because somewhere in the backs he'd improve the team. Then again - sadly - so would virtually any NRL player.

My NRL knowledge is limited but, principle and pride in the jersey aside, when I looked on the Tigers' sites and forums, Heightington seems regarded as a much superior player to Flanaghan?

he is superior to flanagan.

not eliis though