Last I heard Reed was ready to commit to Queensland, has he decided yet?

S.Tomkins
T.Briscoe
K.Yeaman
L.Cudjoe
J.McGillvary
G.Widdop
D.Brough
J.Graham
J.Roby
G.Carvell
G.Ellis
B.Westwood
S.O'Loughlin

J.Lomax/L.Robinson
A.Morley
L.Mossop
J.Tomkins

I still think were weak in the centres. We have some really good wingers in BJB, Charnley, Hall ... But the centres let us down thats why i'd go with partnerships. Think BJB is going to be quality so tempted to put him in but iys who you'd pair him with.

Carvell has been immense this year and deserves a starting place alongside Graham who will give us mobility whilst alongside Carvell. That then leaves an experienced head Morley playing alongside Mossop to help him along.

Roby should play most of the game imo so i'd go with Lomax to add something different near the end if we need a lift.

Joel for his veratility on the bench. If any of the backrowers underperform Wilkin should come straight in hes had an exceptional year for Saints.

dont make me chuckle

1. sam
2. hall
3. atkins
4. bridge
5. briscoe
6.myler
7. brough
8.morley
9.roby
10.graham
11.westwood
12. ellis
13. lockers

robinson
burgess
carvell
peacock

Seems a long shot that Reed will opt to play for England.

I don't want Jamie Peacock anywhere near the England 17.

Agreed mate... I'd definitely put Lomax in there as he brings something different. Roby is a machine and will probably play the full 80 mins anyway

Dont make me chuckle!!

Charnley is a year or two away currently for sure. Mossop has been a monster for Wigan this year and serious questions need to be asked if he is not in the England 17. I do think he will be picked tbh. McBanana was singing his praises a few weeks back.

As for Atkins.....



Hes got the physique no doubt, but his awareness is non existent. Good runner but a shocking defender and terrible hands.

Myler has improved i think, but is still pretty one dimensional as a player. He will be in contention in a year or so, but not just yet.

But as for Atkins....

Talk about picking a player of reputation, could any body tell me when was the last time Peacock had a good game, or even what year it was.

Seriously, people need to stop throwing NRL players in, just because they play in the NRL. You need established wing/centre, and halfback partnerships if you're going to be competitive. England don't spend enough time together and don't play enough games to develop partnerships of their own, and it's MADNESS to throw a pair of halfbacks who have never met each other into a game against Australia. Therefore, Gareth Widdop should not be selected, for that very reason. Shove him on the bench if you must, but he MUST NOT START.

Similarly, I like Kirk Yeaman very much, but Tom Briscoe isn't good enough, so I'd leave Yeaman out. I'd sooner see Atkins or Bridge alongside, say, Chris Riley, and you'd have to have rocks in your head to not consider a Joel Tomkins/Charnley partnership. Maybe it's too early, but they're going well.

As for halfbacks, I'm struggling to name an established English halfback partnership if I'm honest, and we've not had a decent one since Long and Pryce. It's a shame Briers is Welsh, as Richie Myler has at last found some form. It pains me to say it, but it's hard to look any further than the three at Huddersfield - Brown, Brough and Robinson.

The difference in Australia is that all the teams are coached - and seem to play - in very similar ways, so it's easier to put players from different clubs together. Here, teams play very differently from each other, and that's where our problem is, not quality of individual players.

Tomkins
Charnley
Bridge
Atkins
Briscoe
Widdop
Brough
Graham
Roby
Carvell
Westwood
Ellis
Lockers

Burrow
Joel
Mossop
Morley

When we play the Aussies and Kiwis we need to offload every tackle and give it to them, if we let them play and show them respect we will get tonked, if we are aggressive in defence and throw it about a bit in attack we will do ok, most times we have beaten the Aussies we have given to them as they 'don't like it up em'. Bit of biff at the start wouldn't go amiss either.

Kicking the ball dead to take out Slaters kick returns would help and pressure from the markers 'Jason Hooper style' on their kickers would help us.

No doubt with McBanana we will get hammered.

1 - Sam
2 - Charnley
3 - Joel
4 - Yeaman
5 - Briscoe
6 - Widdop
7 - Lomax/Brough
8 - Morley
9 - Roby
10 - Graham
11 - Ellis
12 - Westwood
13 - O'Loughlin

14 - Mason
15 - Carvell
16 - Mossop (2nd row)
17 - Bridge (Utility back)

Widdop is the only British stand off with any real quality. He's proving that he can hold his own against the very best in the world and it would be crazy to leave him out. Then to suggest leaving him out in favour of Kevin Brown is ridiculous. The idea of Brown as an international standard player is laughable. He's just not good enough and teams shouldn't be picked specifically on team partnerships. The combination of Brown, Brough and Robinson isn't even the best in Super League so to put them on the international stage would be crazy.
The best players in the best positions should make the side. If there is a partnership that could be good enough then it makes sense to give it a go but when the difference in quality means leaving out a very good player like Widdop in favour of an incredibly average player like Brown it just isn't worth it.

And you'd have Atkins or Bridge alongside Riley? You think that Chris Riley would be the best choice for England on the wing because he'll be playing alongside a team mate? It makes no sense to severely weaken the team just to pick club combinations.