So i'm right then

People are debating the merits of certain players chosen in the squad against some that have been left out. Personally I am willing to allow the coach to choose the squad he thinks can give us the best outcome and will support whoever is chosen. However having said that I can't see any merit whatsoever in the incusion of Lee Smith. He is a decent player who is playing well but despite what his new employers (Wasps) are willing to allow he is no longer a RL player, he won't be available for any future internationals. His inclusion is a waste of time when we according to the coach who selected him are looking to develop a group of young players into the side to take us into the next World Cup.

Tony Smith selected Sam Tomkins for the mid season game against France to allow him to gain the experience of being in an international set up (Smith stated this in interviews at the time). In Richard Owen we have a promising young full back who at present looks likely to be second in line after Briscoe in the coming years. The same principle should have been applied and Richard Owen not Lee Smith should be in the squad. He will be available for RL internationals in the next few years, unlike Smith, and this would have been the perfect opportunity to give the lad a bit of international experience.

But Owen is injured. So he's not available. If he was I think he would have been selected, I can't see any other player that could fill in as well as he could at full back if Briscoe picked up an injury.

Personally I'm happy seeing players picked on form through the season rather than the names that normally get picked and then don't play well. Lee Smith played well in the world cup, and has played well all season. Its an end of season tournament, so I don't have a problem with him being picked.

The one I am a bit miffed about is Myler. He hasn't played for ages, and in the Salford team Ratchford has had the better form through the whole season, not just at the start of it. You can't drop 1 player due to form and then pick another that hasn't been playing!

I hadn't actually thought of Ellis being played at centre, but that could be a good call to try and stop their outside backs. It would mean our pack could have O'Loughlin and Burgess at second row for good defence and size, and Ellis is an 80 minute player in the NRL I believe, so could switch to the second row to rest other players, so we aren't losing size in the pack.

We have a young full back in Aussie making a huge impression.

In their equivalent of the reserve competition yes. And if he'd been picked do you think he'd do anything against australia and NZ? lets wait for him to get a few games in the NRL to see how he handles them first.

Its like Vievers getting called up for the England 24 picking that other lad

Shaun Briscoe
Peter Fox
Michael Shenton
Lee Smith
Ryan Hall
Sam Tomkins
Richard Myler
Jamie Peacock
Scott Moore
James Graham
Gareth Ellis
Sean O’Loughlin
Kevin Sinfield

Sam Burgess
Adrian Morley
Kyle Eastmond
Earl Crabtree

Didnt say we should have picked him.

Just said we have a good youngster in aussie winning the toyota cup player of the year.

ah right sorry, when you said that I thought you were meaning pick him.

IMO if we start with both Myler and Tomkins.We should start with peacock and morley to give them early protection

Totally agree. Paul Sykes is utter gash.

How has Wilkin made the squad over JJB???

From that squad id go...

1. Shaun Briscoe
2. Peter Fox
3. Kyle Eastmond
4. Michael Shenton
5. Ryan Hall
6. Danny Mcguire
7. Sam Tomkins
8. Jamie Peacock
9. Scott More
10. Adrian Morley
11. Gareth Ellis
12. Sean O'Loughlin
13.Kevin Sinfield (i am not a huge fan but IMO we are going to need his kicking game)

14. James Roby
15. Gareth Carvell
16. James Graham
17. Sam Burgess

Pointless inclusion smith said the squad was about planning for the next world cup why include a player that is going to rugby union

Its embarrassing to the game

Pretty much what i'd go for, though i really have a feeling TS will go with Myler at 7 and McGuire at 6. I just cant see he's included Myler unless he's got plans for his special boy, as he can't have been named on form over the past few months.

The Aussies on the other hand have missed some names out purely because of playoff form, look at the squad list and look at the lack of dragons and titans

Shaun Briscoe
Peter Fox
Gareth Ellis
Lee Smith
Ryan Hall
Danny McGuire
Sam Tomkins
James Graham
James Roby
Adrian Morley
Sam Burgess
Jamie Peacock
Sean O'Loughlin

Subs
Scott Moore
Gareth Carvell
Eorl Crabree
Kyle Eastmond/Kevin Sinfield