Depends what you mean by we will be OK. If you mean we will get to the semis or final, and beat anyone apart from NZ and Australia I agree with you we will be OK, we are 3rd in the world and there is nobody like France, PNG that is close to threatening our 3rd spot.

If you mean we will beat the Kangaroos then no. The pack is more or less similar level to theirs, but the gulf in the halves and the outside backs is huge. Even our best two players (Tomkins and Roby) would not be first choice in the Kangaroos because they would be behind Billy Slater and Cameron Smith.

This is the same situation it has been for years. I don't see any evidence that England has upgraded its quality to close the gap. If we did then I'd be more hopeful. Sinfield is a great leader and a very good player but so was Farrell and Scully. I agree with you about having players of NRL standard, Hall, Briscoe would get NRL clubs easily but they wouldn't be close to the Kangaroos squad. Same with Jack Reed that plays there. They would just be decent but not top NRL players, like Carney was or Gleeson or Senior would have been, we haven't improved on that kind of player and some of our other centres being mentioned are not up to it.

Then just look at the halfbacks, the gulf there is a million miles. The only British halfback thats at their level is Briers, he would have won caps for the Kangaroos but he won't play for England.

The best we can hope for is something similar to the 2011 Four Nations or 2004 Tri Nations. Get a good win over NZ in there, and then make the final. The final will show us up as we are well behind them. NZ I think are better than us but they have a flakiness to them that the Aussies don't have, sometimes they don't turn up well prepared for international tournaments, other times they are red hot.

The types of players we will be using will be similar to those we had in 2011 and there was a big gap between us and the Aussies in that final, the Aussies were missing players too. We have struggled against the Exiles sometimes too which shows about where we are - good enough to compete against a random assortment of good NRL standard players but not good enough to beat the cream of the NRL.

That's not a slight on the England players though its just they will get creamed by the best, just like its not a slight on Man United to admit they would get ripped up by Barca.

Tomkins
Charnley
Reed
Watkins
Hall
Widdop
Lomax
Burgess
Roby
Graham
Ellis
Westwood
O'Loughlin

Crabtree
Hock
Mossop
Sinfield

England/GB have always been capable of beating Australia in one-off games, so if we get our first choice 17 versus theirs, then of course we have a chance.

The two big variables are team selection and injuries.

If we persist in playing Sinfield @ stand-off alongside Chase we're playing into Australia's hands. Likewise Ablett - shouldn't be anywhere near the squad, and Hock would be a useful squad player but the big teams will wind him up like a clock.

In terms of injuries if any one of Tomkins, Burgess, Graham or Westwood get sidelined or aren't fully fit we are really really gonna struggle ............ Australia can just call on their 2nd or 3rd choice with no major drama.

I am amazed that so many people have omitted Widdop. This could perhaps be due to not following the NRL though I guess.

England have always been capable of beating Australia in one-off games when they aren't decisive, that's true.

In major finals or deciding Tests in a three Test series though, the Aussies always win. Because the Aussies have been so dominant for so long they have a tendency to coast in non-decisive games some times which gives the opposition a chance but when it comes to a must win game they are on the ball. You need to have someone like Benji Marshall in the team to unlock them in a big game. Given what happened last time I think there will be no prisoners in this World Cup final, whether it be us or NZ against them, there will be payback for 2008 and a big scoreline. When they want to be ruthless they will just pummel the opposition.

McIllorum should be avoided...He works hard but has no real skills IMO plus he's niggly and the Aussie and Kiwis will target him..
Roby and Danny Houghton both better options...

Of course whilst it would be great for England to win, it doesn't mean we can't enjoy the comp if they don't. One of my all time favourite games of RL is still Tonga v NZ from 1995 at Wilderspool. This time we have Samoa v NZ at the HJ which should be a great occasion plus a qtr final. Overall there are 14 nations playing in 28 games at 21 venues in 4 countries. Its going to be a fascinating event.

Hookers should be Roby and Daryl Clarke

Roby and Burrow for me.

Minimum expectation for England has to be reaching the final. Though realistically, that's the maximum expectation too.

Well said that man. Got my interview about getting involved on Friday, looking forwards to it.

Some very encouraging ticket sales news: www.superleague.co.uk/article/27 ... es-benefit including: - 35,000 tickets have now gone for the Rugby League World Cup Final - We are clearly already attracting new fans to the game: 60% of ticket-buyers buyers for the tournament and 70% of our Wembley customers have never bought tickets for a major Rugby League match before. Have you got yours yet?

Some very encouraging ticket sales news: www.superleague.co.uk/article/27 ... es-benefit including: - 35,000 tickets have now gone for the Rugby League World Cup Final - We are clearly already attracting new fans to the game: 60% of ticket-buyers buyers for the tournament and 70% of our Wembley customers have never bought tickets for a major Rugby League match before. Have you got yours yet?

Any info on the non heartland areas, SW England, East Midlands etc etc?

How was the interview? Had mine today. Might get to meet up as I said I could do the Halliwell game in selected.