Also just looking at the squad...how the f*ck has Paul Sykes got in before Gleeson ATEOTD even if Smith doesnt like Gleeson, hes the best option we have on that , what an idiot

To be fair to Bridge, it wasn't as if Gleeson was running rings round him in the semi-final was it? He hasn't been picked for the team just a train-on squad.

At least Smith is showing a willingness to try something new, previous coaches had stuck with the same faces on too many occasions, such as when Noble picked Harris against the Aussies ahead of a young Danny McGuire who had ripped up super league all season.

Players such as Shenton, Atkins, Eastmond, Welham and even Bridge are likely to have more of an international future at centre than Gleeson who hasn't stood out in the Wigan team really if people are honest.

Well done to Sam and Sean who deserve their selection. Not sure if Prescott is representing Ireland but he is the one Wigan player who I think possibly deserves a call-up as he's been excellent whenever I've seen him, but unfortunately prop is England's strongest position (and centre England's weakest).

Gillmour should play in the ahead of Bridge imo

Shocking, end of, we need to look to the future but not by getting massacred time and time again.

I agree Gleeson has not been on top form but his defence has been excellent since his move to Wigan and this is what we need against the Aussies/Kiwi's.

I have a lot of respect for him as a club coach but internationally I am not convinced at all.

Stop going on about bridge. he is only in the train on squad and wont make the final cut for the 4 nations.

The problem though with trying to judge an England/GB coach is that its difficult to know how well they are really doing due to the total imbalance in power in the international game. Until we have a set up where several teams are regularly competing at international level the England coach whoever they are is going to look like the messiah when we play France, Wales, Ireland et al. but is then going to look like an inept fool who shouldn't be near the job when we play Australia and New Zealand. You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

Same with selections really we can debate all day who should and should not be in but at the moment whoever we select will beat France & the others and will lose (possibly embarrassingly so) to Aus & NZ.

But that won't stop me cheering for whoever is playing in the England shirts during any internationals.

So we're looking at a team of:

Mathers, Penny, Bridge, Johnson, Riley, ah balls to it you get the idea.

How Bridge, Harrison or Westwood are anywhere near an International squad is shocking imo.

So I make that 2 out of 9 eligible players in our normal 17 to make the squad at a time when English RL has never been so bad? Perhaps IL should get on to Tony Smith and tell him how good he thinks our squad is.

I just hope Maurie Fa'asavalu doesn't get picked. It's a disgrace he was ever picked cos he'd lived over here :/ Does it just sum up the talent of this country when we have to rely on foreigners who 'qualify' to play for us

Excellent post

I just think it's wrong, call me old fashioned but he wasn't born in this country and has no ancestry from here. I wouldn't agree with Pat Ritchards playing for GB either

Pat does have ancestry though. I have no issue there, it is when you qualify on residency that it's wrong imo

So much so that I understand his own sister was born in Ireland before the family emigrated! Just how Irish does he need to be?