I think for a proven player such as Sinfield, whose performance hinges greatly on motivating and leading a team not just the core rugby skills, form is not so much an issue.

Don't get me wrong, it's still a concern, but you don't drop the captain just because he's had 4 or 5 mediocre club games.

On the flip side, I'd hope a less proven/successful player with fewer traits to their game wouldn't get the nod if their form slipped massively.

It's to easy to say "he's not playing well, he shouldn't be picked', when in reality there are more factors to take into consideration.

maybe the same reason that he has picked JJB and Burrow which is nothing to do with form.

My worry is that he has picked him and will play him at centre (which is not his best position) and then will drop him for his love children like ablett and wilkin.

How is it nothing to do with form. Why has everyone who played for Leeds suddenly become off form? Up until the last 4 games Leeds were unbeaten in 8 and with winning their two games in hand would have been joint top of the league. A poor performance against Hudds, an unlucky loss against Wigan and two close losses v St’s and away at an in form Hull and all of a sudden they are off-form. Win those two games in hand and Leeds are 3rd. Out of Leeds last 12 games only 5 are against top 8 sides. It is easily conceivable that leeds win all of those. They do that they have more league points than Wigan did last year.

If you look at form other than over the last month Leeds are one of the top form teams.

Can you please stop it with the facts, they just get in the way Smokey. When picking the national squad you know we should only look at the last couple of weeks, thats how we'll build a good side.

So your "facts" are that Buroow et al have only been playing badly for four weeks. My facts are that Lunt and Houghton have been playing consistently well all season. So on form they should still be ahead of Burrow

Theres a big argument for Lunt or Houghton to be in ahead of Burrow I agree, but theres also a big argument that Burrow is and has been a proven game changer and match winner at the highest level in domestic RL, so should he get dropped because of a few off weeks? I think thats more what Smokey is alluding to

DP

McBanana picks Widdop (NRL quality) to warm the bench pretty much, he certainly wasn't going to pick Brough. Hes got his Squad regardless of what he spouts about picking form players, bar one or two, unfortunately. If there is any half back injuries hes going to be foobarrded for a good kicker! as hes not picked the best infield kicker, I honestly don't think McBanana likes any potential aggro which he might feel he'll get from Danny, it was mentioned on Backchat.

Ferres has been in great form, so was picked on form (I honestly thought this was less likely than Brough mind) and I'm astounded that neither Houghton or Lunt have made it in though. And why pick Morley, match practice!? Bet hes injured before the WC.

My views on McBanana are coloured by a number of things
I want England to win the World Cup becuase it will be huge boost for RL in this country and i believe will revitalise the international scene.

I dont think Mc B should have got the job in the first place. He was hardly a roaring success at Bradford ( and yes i know about the problems he inherited etc).

I was told by a young player from Bradford that all the players thought he was difficult to work with. He made the game very complicated and gave long team talks on tactics etc that went above the players heads so much so that, " we used to stop listening to him". They then went and did there own thing. If players like that ignored Mc B then god knows what some of the big names in the England squad think of him.

additionally i do not see anything new coming from Mc B in terms of the team selection, tactics or strategy that fills me with any confidence.

What will Mc B learn from playing Roby or Morley. Morley is NOT international standard now , he should not be in the WC squad so why pick him.

Roby is great player and should be in the WC squad but just coming back from injury and playing straight away is not a good thing. Why not play another hooker who might end up playing in the World cup if someone picks up an injury.

Why is there only one centre in the team. You dont use a big game like this to try out utility players , you should be looking for settled wing and centre combos so they can be ready and battle hardened. Does anyone think that Hardaker or Ferres will be number one choice for a centre berth?

Failing in the world cup wuill be a real set back to RL in this country, winning it could well be the springboard to the game getting the recognition it deserves.

Is Mc B the man for the job. I dont think so.

Did Lunt play well when Hudds had 43 points put on them by Bradford? When they lost to Salford? when they were stretched by Widnes? Did Houghton play well when Hull lost by 30 points to Leeds, when they drew with London? When they lost 36-16 to Widnes? When they lost at home to Hull KR?

No player plays well all season, it is ridiculous that some people are pretending a team in the position leeds are in can have had their major players off form for a meaningful period of time. If Sinfield has been as bad as some Hudds fans are pretending Leeds simply wouldnt be in the position they are.

Exactly

He is contradictory all over the park
Either he is testing fringe players or picking old favourites

If Feres plays ill be surprised, I'll be less surprised if he plays at centre!
Is there really no other centre able to take up that other spot?
Of course there is but they aren't picked? Why not? To keep a core of players together? Then why pick Ferres?

He is demonstrably without a firm plan and at this stage it's just plain depressing

there's always one player who gets picked on form, just so people can throw their names in the ring when the discussion inevitably leads to which players are picked on form.

it has proved that the England squad is NOT picked on form but on reputation.
the fact that neither Houghton or lunt have been chosen despite being the best 2 number 9's at the moment but roby, who has been Injured for 2 months has, likewise morley. good players for sure but form players??

brough was never going to be picked,as McNamara decided that chase,mcguire,sinfield and myler were his half backs months ago regardless of form.