McShane has been good this year.

As has Daz Clark who I think has kicked on again in quality. He just barely gets a mention now since Sky seem to only be able to concentrate on a handful of players at a time. It's like they want to promote a handful of "stars" and don't mention 85% of the league'a players (fans get swept up in that too).

McShane is behind Hodgson, Clark, Roby and possibly Houghton.

Greg Eden will also be nowhere near the England team. Despite finishing trys for fun this year, he is well behind Hall and McGilvary.

James Roby should be in the squad imo. He looks refreshed when I see him and it seems to have been forgotten just how good the guy is. I'd be tempted to start him with Hodgson on the bench. He may play in the NRL but he didn't crack any pots in last years four nations.

I think Eden will be in the training squad but not in the squad that travels.

At FB Hardaker is the obvious choice with Ratchford backup.

Ratchford should be no where near, he's gash.

Ratchford's utility might be the thing that gets him in there. It can be invaluable with a small squad and a lot of games in a short period.

And Clark for that matter - or at least he's been gash.

And yet all the other players you've mentioned can't even look good in what you call a league weakening on quality.

So if they can't perform well at a SL level, why should they be considered for international recognition when they aren't in form? I know it's a team sport but there has to be some fairness. You can't have your cake and eat it both ways. Surely if they are such quality a weakening league should be a piece of wee-wee.

People also picking on size, Burgess and Makinson aren't particularly big or strong.

McShane is playing well in a team playing well, so therefore why not pick the players playing well, to create a team playing well, who are full of confidence and riding a crest of a wave. McShane is also named in the Elite Training Squad again, so I'm glad experts in rugby league are recognising how good he's been.

Roby won't be around forever, Clark hasn't pulled up any trees. Houghton is an outstanding player and should be in consideration.

You mean the England style of play where it's more of a forward battle than exciting, freedom of play. Sorry but our forward pack can compete with anyone but having people who understand each other's games and play together is vitally important.

No use having players who see each other for 3 times a season for a catch-up, and then training for 3 weeks ahead of a tournament.

Yes, the England style of play which is much more focused on playing percentage rugby through the middle, which Hall and McGillvary are much more suited for than Eden. They're also both proven at international level and generally just all round better players than Eden.

I dont think they do struggle to look good.

Because you arent going to pick all the players from one team. Cas don't have enough english players to do so and there are better players out there.

Powell has created the best squad he can under the constraints of the salary cap and who has become available, those arent restrictions Bennett faces, If you think given the option Powell wouldnt jettison McShane for Roby or Hodgson or Clark in a heartbeat or swap Eden for Burgess you are nuts.

Houghton is the best tackling hooker alongside Roby, not just the number but the quality. He's made half the errors Mcshane has, he makes over a metre more per carry than McShane, he misses far fewer tackles than McShane and doesn't go missing when the chips are down.
mcshane should be nowhere near the England squad, he's simply not good enough, if he gets in front of Houghton who IMO has being short changed it's ludicrous.
So far who has played at hooker the last couple of years hasn't impressed, Clarke or Hodgson for that matter haven't done anything of note in an England jersey. Clarke is a glorified scoot merchant, misses too many tackles and makes too many errors.

Houghton would at least take some of the work load off the forwards in the tackling stakes for his spell and I think he should be used as a starter. Roby or Hodgson coming on to spell him.

It should be pointed out that Hodgson isn't playing anywhere near as well as he was last year.

It should also be pointed out that the much-vaunted English forwards generally get smashed by Australia's 'weaker' pack when it matters.

You've conveniently ignored other stats that don't suit. McShane has more clean breaks, nearly 4 times as many assists, more offloads, twice as many tackle busts. The day the Aussies pick a hooker just because he is a tackling machine is the day we might stand a chance. A hooker is an extra half back these days. Houghton is a head down workhorse. Great SL mind.