Jon Wilkin!?!

I never understand why rugby league fans get so upset about the England selection. You are basically arguing about who got included out of a few players of around similar ability who are well below the level of the Australians who will be their opposition in the only games that really matter. The players who are actually decent calibre with respect to the Aussies (Burrow, Hock, Hall, O'Loughlin, Roby, Sinfield, Tomkins) are all in.

But of course it gives us a chance to have a go at the international coach like we all did when the 'genius' Tony Smith picked Paul Sykes for the World Cup.

This squad should include players that haven't been tested at international level. There is no point in picking Morley or Westwood as you know where you are with them but you've got to give McClorum, Charnley, Hill, Ratchford et al a chance of mixing it with the best overseas players over here. There is no benefit in Lomax, Lunt and Rhys Evans etc running up a cricket score against Ireland as it just shows what they are capable of in super league. At the end of the day though the coach will pick the best players we have got and unfortunately they are a country mile behind those in the southern hemisphere.

You'd have been better posting this on the Wigan board, or even sending it direct to Famous by PM. The poor lad's all cut up.

Dont be daft. Your anti Wigan stance clouds your every post and makes you look stupid at times, you really are obsessed. I am an England fan who has regularly gone to games and I really couldnt care less what club players play for, I just want to see the best players picked.

There are far more fans than just Wigan fans that think this squad is laughable and little is to do with whatever Wigan players havent been picked, for the good of Wigan the less the better really. As an England fan I would like to see some sort of progress, some sign of McNamara learning from his mistakes and some sort of building towards the World Cup. However none of that is shown by this squad or anything that McNamara has said. Instead average players like Wilkin, who have shown time and again they are not international standard (and this season not even Saints standard listening to their fans), have been picked. Additionally too many over the hill and out of form players have been picked in this squad and most of these players are going to be even worse in 18 months time. Tonights game is also yet another prime example and Peacock, Sinfield, Ablett and Jones-Buchanan have again missed tackles for fun and made mistakes aplenty. Watching Warrington tonight Hill as a much better claim of a England place than someone like Wilkin or Jones-Buchanan and I would even say Peacock if we are building a team for 18 months time.

You've pretty much beat me to what I was about to say. How can you justify having as many Leeds players in the England squad as we've got? They've been an absolute shambles tonight.

In addition, how on earth isn't Chris Hill in even the Knights squad?!

He is developing into a damn fine player and has a great frame on him to bulk out even more. England certainly have some very good young forwards coming through who are big, mobile and fast which is just what we need against Australia and NZ.

Very much agreed. And if Westwood's injured, his identical twin brother had an outstanding game tonight!

the england knights sqaud looks like some one got bored half way through so just printed out last years selection.

i think chris hill is looking like your best prop, hopefully him and mossop can have plenty of battles in the future!

Because MacBanana is a bell of the highest order!

People who are football savvy, say that Harry Redknapp doesn't have a "plan B" for when things go wrong.
MacBanana doesn't even have a "plan A".

Chris Hill isn't in the Knights squad because Tony Smith told him not to pick him as he has a development plan for him. Hill will be a full internation in a year or two, so there is no need to cry over him not being selected for what is a pretty meaningless run against the Exiles.

Westwood booked in for hernia operation on Monday. Should be fit for Hull game.

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