Bowen
Charnley
Goulding
Sarginson
Burgess
Green
Smith
Taylor
Mcilorum
Flower
Hughes
Farrell
Oloughlin

Powell
Bateman
Crosby/Dudson
Pettybourne

My fear of clubb being caught out in defence or not being effective in attack is far greater than my worry that the back row will lack in size. Hughes will have to step up but has shown signs of the wigan style aggression necessary in big games. As people have said, really missing HH now. I would have crosby over dudson, but wouldnt complain either way. The second row choices are key for me.

The amount of people questioning Green's position is just hysterical.

Based on Powell's contribution in a friendly against NZW Reserves you think he should replace the guy who won MoM in the GF? Two games ago?

Fully agree. One poor showing against Huddersfield doesn't take away the great work he did last year on games when it mattered most.

Thankfully Wane will share the same view.

Puzzling some of the team selections on here, you'd think some of the people started watching rugby 4 weeks ago.

I dare some people to question me over their selection choices?!

Braindead springs to mind.

Which choices? Player wise?

Green was really quiet/poor before the play offs and many were calling for him dropped then too. Powell has had two very great games v Hudds and NZ so I don't think it's that surprising that many, including myself, think he's likely to have a better game than Green next week. No one should be undroppable, least of all someone who has yet to find form for us on a consistant basis

Let's put it this way, Bowen, Green and Pettybourne would all play without a doubt.

I'd go

FB 26 Hampshire
RW 2 Charnley
RC 3 Goulding
LC 23 Sarginson
LW 32 Burgess
SO 19 Powell
SH 7 Smith
P 8 Taylor
H 9 McIlorum
P 16 Dudson
SR 10 Flower
SR 12 Farrell
LF 13 O'Loughlin

S 15 Tomkins
S 17 Crosby
S 22 Pettybourne
S 25 Bateman

Hampshire just impresses me every time he takes the field. I'm sure Bowen will be the better option once he's settled in but we don't have that luxury for the WCC, we need our very best team out for that one game. Sarginson and Burgess should go without saying IMO, I don't really see any big advantage Thornley has over either. Powell over Green is obviously a bold move but Powell's an out and out half IMO and his form is far better than Green's. Flower in the back row because neither Clubb nor Hughes fill me with much confidence, we need a reliable defender there, preferably with a bit of size to offset Farrell and Bateman being quite small, so Flower's my man. Reluctantly picked Tomkins on the bench because McIlorum looks out of sorts and he's the only other specialist hooker we have. Just to add I fully expect Wane to pick Bowen at FB, Green at SO, Clubb at SR and Powell benched.

Green was excellent in all the big games WHEN IT MATTERED. Green and Smith are the settled half back partnership. Green was man of the match in the season's biggest game. And you think an untried youngster on the basis of one league game at hooker should play in the world championship?

Have you lost the plot?

Bowen
Charnley
Goulding
Sarginson
Burgess
Green
Smith
Flower
McLlorum
Taylor
Farrell
Hughes
O'loughlin

Pettybourne
Dudson
Bateman
Powell/Crosby

I think the majority is nailed on tbh. I actually think Wane will start Clubb at SR and Hughes Bench.

Also be interesting to see whether Wane will revert to his big game selection choice from last year of 4 forwards on the bench which we may need against the Roosters, if he does it'll be extremely harsh on Powell but he'll get plenty game time this year.

Why are you so convinced I'm basing all my views on one game of Powell's? This 'untried youngster' has played 20 games in the first team and I've seen all of them, plus a few for the reserves.

I'd love to have your faith that Green is simply a big game player on the basis of him putting in three good games at the end of last year despite being distinctly average before that, but I think the simple fact is that either by luck or design he hit form at the right time last year, and Powell has hit form at the right time this year. My evidence ? He played in the halves v Leigh and set up two tries (one with a pass, one with a chip), he had a good stint at hooker v Saints, a great game v Hudds at hooker when everyone else struggled, and then a superb performance today.

If Green had a long history of big performances when it matters then I'd agree with you, but he doesn't, we're talking about three games four months ago. FWIW I do think Wane will run with Green at SO and Powell off the bench, it's just not the team I'd pick. At the end of the day I think Sam Powell is the better player right now so he should get the spot, if that means I've lost the plot then so be it.