I think Watkins problem defensively is the same one that troubled England in the last four nations

Poor second row support inside him leaving him having to cover inside and out

Bridge is a far better player than Atkins, let us hope his knees are sorted now.....if so, he is the answer to one selection headache.

Atkins has been poor for us this season anyway.

If you think Brough a player who I have watched from being 17 and always liked is an international quality HB you have clearly lost your mind.

I'll put it simple, he doesn't have a big match mentality and never has. Only once in his whole career has he stood up and played in a big match and that was for Hull in the CCup final IMO.

Other than that he flops, usually down to loss of composure rather than effort.

The Aussies in particular would eat him alive and you would see none of his undoubted skills just a petulant and rattled player out of his depth.

McNamara may be daft but he isn't that daft.

I don't think Atkins will be anywhere near the World Cup squad.

My centres for the WC squad assuming all are fit would be Watkins, Reed and Goulding with additional cover provided by Ablett who I would pick as a backrower.

Leroy Cudjoe is the best all round english centre. He has been uniformly excellent the last two years, even when the Giants were imploding, and allies deceptive strength with decent pace, fine ball skills and great defensive positioning. Defensively he also does a great job of positioning the player inside him, which is the channel where we've often been exposed at international level.

Cudjoe has really improved since his last England performance against Aus. His defence has improved and looks a better centre than Reed and Atkins to me. He also played well in the internationals last year. I think he needs to learn how to put his winger away better, but that area of his game isn't poor.

Watkins and Cudjoe would be my centres. Both 6'3/6'4, great pace, great feet and decent hands.

According to each of the clubs websites, Kallum Watkins is 2 stone lighter than Leroy Cudjoe! That surprised me. Kallum looks heavier than 14st these days.



They look pretty similar to me. Maybe Leeds havent weighed him in the last 2 years since he bulked up

@ Vastman

If Brough played for any other club you'd love him
If you'd watched him play in the last three years (which you clearly haven't) you'd love him

Yea that's why he's picking the ice cool,never loses it Rang Chase.

Two from three between Reed, Watkins and Cudjoe for me. Atkins breathing down their necks though - let's see how they all get on this season...along with the others!

Eorl Crabtree managed to catch chris bridge after he'd made a break last season! Not enough pace- and too niggly a player.
Cudjoe has one of the best tackling techniques I've seen. Great handling skills and can leap like a salmon.
I'd also like to see goulding given a go.

One thing I'd like to see is picking centres who are a threat with the ball, and know how to pass to their winger. 'Defensive' centres are pointless at international level. I don't think SL's best are anywhere as good as the best Aussies, but at least they offer a threat.

Reed sadly went backwards last year, and first look suggests he'll struggle again (although the Broncos are so bad its quite hard to judge).

I'm glad others have picked up on the fact that our forwards aren't somehow exempt from blame with respect to getting hammered by Aus. England's off-the ball work in both attack and defence is vastly inferior to Australia.

BTW Jamie Lyon was far and away the best centre in the NRL last year. If you want a young centre to learn from watching, get a highlights clip of Lyon and see how he absolutely terrorised defences at times, without being either massive or lightning quick.

I agree. Charnley does not look the same player when Goulding is not playing, especially defensively. Goulding is very underated and is excellant defensively and has very good hands. Our right hand side defense is notably worse when he doesnt play. Technically he is the best English centre in SL but he lacks the athleicism of say an Atkins but saying that he is also a damn site stronger than people/other fans may think. If England had created a chance for the centre to set up his winger I would want Goulding to be there everytime as he will, an Atkins would find the linesman or throw a forward pass and England cannot afford to waste the few chances that they will get at that level.

Where did I defend the selection of Chase - the point as it clearly needs spelling out is that IMO Brough is not an International, not whether Chase is.

1: No I wouldn't.

2: I know Broughy as well as anyone and have seen him play since he was 17. And he is IMO the most skilful S/H in SL and improves every year. However he is who he is and he has never changed in that respect. He simply goes to bits in most big games or has done to date. Even if he could do it against the ANZACS once what chance 3 in a row - none. Fans look for excitement but coaches look for consistency at top level. Danny chokes because he gets too emotional which is great at club level or you can channel it but it won't impress the Aussies.

I agree there is no player massively better available but then IMO he isn't massively better than them either, not at top level anyway.

Just my opinion on him and always has been.