According to the BBC Wilkin is claiming to be in the form of his life.

rlhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/15290003.stmrl

I should really have a dig at him, but I can't muster the enthusiasm even to take the p%ss out of a Stains player.

Forgot he'd picked Ellis in the squad - In which case id drop heightingon for him....looks alot stronger then.

Wilkin is nothing more than a "Flat Track Bully"
The only thing noticeable about him in regards to this seasons GF is his newspaper article, I can't remember him doing anything more than tackle in the final, he definitely didn't want the ball that often

He would never get in any international side of mine unless he has distant Scottish. Welsh or Irish parentage

Sorry to say this but anyone who isn't picking heighington at least in the 17 needs to spend some time watching some NRL games.

Sam
Hall
Reed
Yeaman
Briscoe
Widdop
Chase
Morley
Roby
Graham
Westwood
Ellis
Heighington

Sinfield
Peacock
Carvell
J J-B

That's from the squad he picked, but I'd like to have seen Mossop in that squad. And I think it's time Peacock ended his international career. Not saying he's bad, I'd just like to see some younger lads in that squad.

Who is this Sam everyone keeps referring too? Bob Sam? John Sam? Dave Sam? Phil Sam? Who does this 'Sam' guy play for??

Any ticket updates? Can we pay on the day?

It shows how you little you know about what Wilkin contributes. Remember the Exiles game? Wilkin was one of the two players who made a clean break (the other being James Graham). He tackles his heart out regardless of who he is playing for, always ending a match at the top end of tackles completed. His support play is excellent and he can pull off some tremendous passes. All these things are positives. Just because he doesn't do 'big hits' doesn't mean he isn't of value. His weaknesses are lack of pace, inconsistent kicking (sometimes fantastic; sometimes atrocious) and occasional lack of discipline leading to a penalty.

Did joel not go the full length to score or was i watching something else, there is no way you can try and say wilkin is one of the first players to put hes hand up and take a big drive when its needed because hes not the kind of player. yeah he is a good defender but you have westwood and elis who can tackle for a day if they needed to. and we don't need another play making forward if sinfield is going to be played anywhere.

Against aus and new zealand you know your going to be starting your set deep in your own half so you need as much forward power to get out of there or you will start conceding points.

I don't know what Joel Tomkins has to do with a discussion about Jon Wilkin?

Ah. I forgot about that. So that is three clean breaks then by the England team.

I'm not Wilkins biggest fan by any means, but I think he had a very good season for Saints and must have been close to being their player of the season. The fact that Gareth Hock had his brain fart and Lockers was unavailable made him an automatic England choice IMO.

Getting back on track, I still don't like the idea of starting with a loose forward at stand off, and only one prop on the bench.

I was waiting for a bite off a Saints fan, I don't think you have got my point.

Wilkin is a decent SL player, he might tackle his heart out but so did Malcolm Alker. You say he has a good passing game and his kicking might get a bit wayward, that proves my point about him ar5ing around thinking he's Wally lewis and he's a 'cherry on the cake' type of player, yes very good in a team on top but he won't be driving the ball out of his own 20 and making yards as he also lacks size too.

Against Aus we need players like Ellis and Westwood playing second row like their lives depend on it, Wilkin is a decent player in SL but not International IMO, it's not Wigan bias as I wouldn't of had Joel Tomkins in before him after this last season where he has been sulking all season, maybe would have had Hock before him if he was a bit fitter.

It's not anti Saints either as I think Roby and Graham always step up to International level.

agreed

based on his season, I think Wilkin deserves his spot in the 17, i've been very impressed with him