I get the impression that Roby will be in for shoulder surgery on Monday morning. Every game I have seen him play he has been having problems with his left arm. I am surprised that nobody has picked Whitehead in the second row.
In a selfish way I hope that no wire players get anywhere near the squad. Hill has played too many games and Ratch and Clarke look like they need a decent off season. I heard Phil Clarke mention that we have been suffering from unexplained underperfomance syndrome which I thought was a crock but when you actually look into it it sort of makes sense. I think we need to get the aussies back early and get all the players back at training together early. Last year our full squad probably did not train together until mid Jan due to internationals and woody did a runner to add more problems.
Give all the caps to Leeds, Wigan and saints and let them have the pre season disturbance. I think this could have a big impact on Leeds next season.

Sorry. Just read a few have mentioned Whitehead.

Roby has been incredible this year again.

Rumours that quite a few players are going to miss this series. It's said Hardaker will manage the semi and a possible final if Leeds get there but will need ACL surgery. Walmsley is rumoured to be well and truly done and being brought back for the semi as a desperate roll of the last chance saloon dice and he'll miss out too. Tomkins too is said to not want to play as he wants to be fit for next year and Wakins the same. Roby clearly has a problem with his arm/shoulder but will no doubt finish the season for Saints before visiting a doctor as they always do.

How much of the above is true is of course outside of my knowledge but I doubt you'll see all those who should be available sticking their hands up for this one.

He's been [ireally[/i good hasn't he? Arguably one of the best hookers in the competition.

A player staying home and staying fit whilst the rest of the team go on their end of season holidays is usually an indicator of whether they'll get picked for the national side, and Daryl went to Ibiza last week. So Roby and Hodgson it is, which I've no qualms with.

He's been superb...his all round game is fabulous....his distribution, his dummy half runs, he kicks well from Dummy half ....40/20's, and pressure relieving kicks at the right time too.

He looks like he's played in the NRL all his life...he looks calm and relaxed on the field...he is the closest player I have seen to Michael Monaghan.

I honestly believe if Clark had shown his man of steel form and Hodgson playing like he has been, right under the nose of Mcnamara, Roby wouldn't have been selected.

and they'd have gone nuts over at the red V.
they believe the sky hype that making 62 tackles in a game is world class hooking....

Batemans a top player but Currie is a lot more talented, bigger, faster and far better disciplined. Batemans played in a very good Wigan team while Currie as excelled in a very poor season at the wire. Currie over Bateman for me.

Bateman has been Wigan's player of the season and will get under the Aussie's skin.

Yeah Bateman is well ahead of Currie at the moment.

Aren't we playing New Zealand?

I think.it's about time that he started picking the team he feels can win.next world cup or compete in it fitness and injuries permitting currie Bateman whitehead etc use the internationals to hey them set and have time to play together n maybe tinker based on form at the time. Sinfield is gone if Roby is still best hooked we have at wc then we're in trouble Westwood olaughlin won't be around its time for us to make the switch complete overhaul of team I think in the backs were Ok with youth but the squad in general needs more youth in it to take us forward

I hope the England back row is better than last year, when it was by far the weakest of the big teams.

No way, can you see and England team without the golden child Sam playing ?

I'd like to see a second row partnership of Bateman/Farrell

Last night, I was impressed with Bateman. I thought he looked dangerous, throughout.
Farrell seemed to get some of that "pizzazz" back to his game, too.

I've not seen enough of Les Cats to give enough of an opinion on Whitehead.
I like Ferres (as a SL player). He'll just get found out at International level, just like Shenton (centre...and I'm a hue fan) was. Shame, really.

or golden boy roby with his 80 tackles..79 of them coming as 5th man in pushing the bloke over...christ help eddies right arm next season