Just on Pryce.....lots of talk about tensions between St Helens and Leeds players from the WC, I have nothing to base it on, but Im wondering if poor form wasn't the only reason he is sitting out this series.

Whilst I agree to some degree, what makes anyone think that this bunch will be anymore competitive than the last crop who've gone by?
Something that just occurred to me then.. everyones always moaning the standard of SL is going backwards

Shaun Briscoe (Hull Kingston Rovers, Wigan St Patricks)
Ryan Hall (Leeds, Oulton Raiders)
Kyle Eastmond (St Helens, Oldham St Annes)
Michael Shenton (Castleford Tigers, Upton)
Lee Smith (Leeds, Drighlington)
Danny McGuire (Leeds, East Leeds)
Richard Myler (Salford City Reds, Halton West Bank)
Adrian Morley (Warrington Wolves, Eccles)
Scott Moore (Huddersfield Giants, Blackbrook)
Jamie Peacock (Leeds, Stanningley Rangers) (captain)
Gareth Ellis (Wests Tigers, Castleford Lock Lane)
Sam Burgess (Bradford Bulls, Dewsbury Moor)
Kevin Sinfield (Leeds, Waterhead)

James Graham (St Helens, Blackbrook)
Garreth Carvell (Warrington Wolves, Stanningley)
Sean O’Loughlin (Wigan Warriors, Wigan St Patricks)
James Roby (St Helens, Blackbrook)

The old players you KNOW are no good.

These new players, who knows, maybe among them there is a personality disorder in there that makes one of them play like a god at test level.

Which rules are they going to apply? The ultra-quick double-refereed NRL rules, the slow as Paul Wellens in concrete with 10 second play the balls like Super League or a middle ground?

Does it really matter? Either way England loses and complains.

1. Smith
2. Fox
3. Shenton
4. Eastmond.
5. Hall
6. McGuire
7. Myler

8. Morley
9. Moore
10. Peacock
11. Ellis
12. Westwood
13. O'loughlin

14. Roby
15. Graham
16. Burgess
17. Crabtree

Everyone has their opinions, but i think thats got a good mix of pace in the backline and mobility in the backrow with a lot of grunt and go forward up front.

Cant really drop McGuire or Myler who were good against france (fair enough a poor french team).

Wish people would stop putting Ellis in the centre, totally negates what he is good at and thats work rate, carrying the ball, offloading and defence.

I've got no complaints with the squad.

That pack looks powerful and mobile and should be able to go toe to toe with the Aussies and Kiwis.

We all know we're a country mile behind Australia in the backs, so as League Freak says we might as well give some of these young lads who've shown a bit of potential a go rather than stick with players we already know aren't good enough.

Eastmond's future is as a halfback, but I'd wait until he's got a season under his belt playing first receiver for Saints before throwing him in the deep end, particularly as I think McGuire and Tomkins would make a decent combo, and as Myler is knocking about as well. He'll be useful to have around though and could well figure in the three-quarters.

One thing our backline will have that it's not had for ages is pace, but we'll still be lacking the size and explosive power the antipodeans have in that department.

Should be an interesting series. I just hope we see vast improvements in our organisation in both attack and defence, which was frankly comical in the World Cup.

It's an interesting squad to say the least. The omission of several names is a brave step and I'm glad Smith had the nerve to do it.

Looking at the squad itself, it seems to me that for the first time in a long while a GB/England coach is putting together a team that will play to his system instead of trying to fit a system round the players.

I still don't think England will do anything in this tournament, but hopefully they won't embarrass themselves

Number 2.

Whilst i'm quite happy with the squad picked you have to think we're going to get destroyed outwide. We've alot of lttle uns in that squad who will come up against some powerful centres from Australia and New Zealand.

Sinfield to do the kicking?

Bridge, Eastmond, Myler, Sinfield, Smith, Sykes and Tomkins can all kick goals. Amirite?

"Sam Burgess (Bradford Bulls, Dewsbury Moor)

Kyle Eastmond (St Helens, Oldham St Annes)

James Graham (St Helens, Blackbrook)

Sam Tomkins (Wigan Warriors, Wigan St Patricks)

interesting....pick a team out of that!"

I did but I don't think 4 men stand a chance to be honest

Why doesnt Matt Diskin ever get a look in, Leeds fans could tell me better but what ive seen this season hes had a great season and in my view probably the best hooker in SL this season, cant believe he didnt get picked, or is there a valid reason for this.

news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 282558.stm Something on the BBC website that doesn't seem to have been discussed on this thread yet - the squad for the game against Wales being different to the squad for the 4 Nations. Fine, this gives the Leeds & Saints players a week off after the GF but to me this seems a bit of a gamble by Tony Smith. The lack of cohesion between the players in the World Cup squad (mainly Leeds & Saints!!!) was blatantly obvious and surely it would have been better for England's prospects in the 4 Nations to have the tournament squad using the Wales game as a warm up. Regardless of the quality of individual players in the squad, I think the decision to give the Leeds & Saints players a week off could well come back to bite Tony Smith on the backside. On the brightside I guess that means I'll see what will be a warm-up for the final at The Stoop next weekend!

news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 282558.stm Something on the BBC website that doesn't seem to have been discussed on this thread yet - the squad for the game against Wales being different to the squad for the 4 Nations. Fine, this gives the Leeds & Saints players a week off after the GF but to me this seems a bit of a gamble by Tony Smith. The lack of cohesion between the players in the World Cup squad (mainly Leeds & Saints!!!) was blatantly obvious and surely it would have been better for England's prospects in the 4 Nations to have the tournament squad using the Wales game as a warm up. Regardless of the quality of individual players in the squad, I think the decision to give the Leeds & Saints players a week off could well come back to bite Tony Smith on the backside. On the brightside I guess that means I'll see what will be a warm-up for the final at The Stoop next weekend!