So much better than anything we have that he was in the dream team above Carmont and also selected on the short list for MOS above Sam Tomkins.... oh wait...

( post!)

Considering he's the most improved player in SL this season and was up with the very best performers in the competition on the last few months, I'm glad that will happen. If you can't see Atkins is now a very good player the you're too bias/bitter to comment.

I still don't think Atkins is the real deal if I'm honest. I think he's probably the best left centre in SL, but I'm not sure that will translate to International RL.

He was shut down very easily against Leeds last week, and if they playoffs was a step up in intensity, you can times that again by whatever. I'm more than happy for him to prove me wrong like.

Lee Briers asked Atkins on twitter early last week when he was joining up with the England squad. Atkins reply was " I'm not , i'm not playing " .

Reed and Bridge at centre for me in the 4 nations.

Atkins isn't in the training squad. Playing the form centre in SL would be too much like common sense for McBanana.

I dont think his game has suffered to that degree but as a centre he is not in the class of Atkins, Shenton, Carmont etc. He would not make the England team as a centre. As a second row he is a better player so i do think him moving position might have cost him the starting second row position for England but i do think he would make the squad if he has not gone by then.

Hope you are joking about that.

England squad englandrl.co.uk/team/england-men Knights squad englandrl.co.uk/englandrl.php?id=705

England squad englandrl.co.uk/team/england-men Knights squad englandrl.co.uk/englandrl.php?id=705

If Bridge doesn't get picked for England, has Tony Smith cost him his international place?

To be fair about Joel, if your replacement centre options are Goulding and Marsh, you'd get more joy out of just about anyone in that position. Joels been decent but for me doesnt have the natural ball skills for a top class centre.

The 4 nations squad and Knights squad are announced tomorrow, the players find out today.

Didnt Joel play in the last England game?
How can anyone have cost him his place then?

Alfie - Good point to make a point regarding Bridge and Smith
At certain times coaches need to pick players in positions out of neccessity(sp) and Madges hand was forced.
It had very little to do with Hoffman and a lot to do with Gleeson

Atkins is one of my favourite Wire players but he would be out of his depth against the Aussies, so would Bridge, so would Riley, the only Warrington players that I think could cut it in their respective positions are Morley, Carvell and Westwood.

Much as people on here hate Martin Gleeson that's one of the things that marked him out from the competition, Gleeson played well against Australia, better than the likes of Senior, Connolly and Newlove ever did, so its a shame to see him stuck without a club now because he was a rare British outside back that had actual international quality.

In fact since the start of the SL era I would only say Robinson, Carney and Gleeson have been up to the Aussies level in the outside backs.

not buying into all this coach costing a player his place in the england side. A coach's job is to pick a team that he thinks will win his club the match, the coach's wont be giving a seconds thought about international games, and rightly so. If the player is good enough the national coach will spot his talents and pick him, thats his job after all. just sayin like

I disagree. I think with Inglis injured and the wrong selections at centre to replace him, centre is the weakest position in that current Aussie 4 Nations squad. Atkins has got better and better every week and, for me, was the stand-out SL player in August and September. His defence is now very good and he's realising how big he is so has got an edge with ball in hand. I think he'd do well in this 4 Nations.

I agree with all the rest of your post.

Improved from what though? McBanana has obviously seen enough of him at international level to know he won't cut it.