i'm with everyone else on the gleeson front, he and goulding make a great right hand side pairing but i'm as dumbfounded as the rest of you all

this could be a bit embarrassing, looking at some of the players in the squad with no offence to the many players in there who do deserve it.

is it only me who thought deacon should be there? He is the form 7 in the league and he gives sam the space at full back.

We look appaulingly weak in the centres and I would seriously consider moving Joel to centre just to strenghten that area up, not looking forward to this series!

Outs

Clubb - Not agile or skillfull enough for international RL
Crabtree - Good last year, anonymous this year
Robinson - Rather of had Brough

Ins

Coley
Gleeson
Brough

I think at international you have to have that special something to beat the Aussies and with that players who are on form and already have partnerships built up.

1 - S.Tomkins
2 - Goulding
3 - Gleeson
4 - Atkins
5 - Hall
6 - Brown
7 - Brough
8 - Graham
9 - Lunt
10 - Morley
11 - Ellis
12 - J.Tomkins
13 - O'Loughlin

14 - Coley
15 - Fielden
16 - Burgess
17 - Roby

Depending on how that team played we could bring Cudjoe, Widdop or Briscoe in.

Tomkins
Hall
Atkins
Shenton
Briscoe
Widdop
Robinson

Morley
Roby
Graham
Ellis
Burgess
Locky

Fielden
Crabtree
Tomkins
Westwood

How Gleeson and Coley missed out is beyond me.

Is there another really good Tony Clubb I haven't seen play? I just don't understand Gleeson's omission.
If Clubb hadn't been born in Kent and therefore become something of a development success story he wouldn't be anywhere near this squad.

I thought Gleeson announced his international retirement a while back???

Brough has declared himself available for Scotland so you can't really pick him for England. This just goes to show how daft it is though. 2 years ago before the world cup he thought England wouldn't pick him so declared himself available for Scotland, whereas if he'd have been patient he'd have been picked this year.

Brough could have selected to represent England and only recently declared himself available for Scotland again. He will have been told he was not required for England prior to making himself available again for Scotland. Another odd choice by the coaching staff.

After being made to feel confident listening to McNamara on Boots and All the other week, I am now totally underwhelmed by that team.

Good solid and competitive pack, but the Kiwi's will smash you from 1-17 not just the pack.

Gutted for Gleese - Arguably MOM in the biggest game of the season aswel, had a great season but Tony Clubb goes instead? Can tell McNamara has been spending time with Pearce, reminds me of England taking Walcott with them in 2006 was it when he had never even played for Arsenal.

Chuffed for the other lads though, especially big Stu getting back in the fold. He deserves it massivly and anyone who doubts his passion just have a look at him lifting that trophy on Saturday night - he was over the moon.

Biggest cheer of the night though goes to Darrell Goulding. Demoted to squad number 24 made us all think he was in for reserve team action all season and shipped out on loan somewhere, yet he has finished the season as 2nd top try scorer and would have been first if he hadnt of been dropped in favour of Karl Pryce a few times. Hes finished the season in great form, scored some cracking tries along the way and fully deserves it.

Indeed, would certainly have had him in ahead of Brown or Robinson.

Happy for Goulding, disappointed for Gleeson, worried for England. Very weak squad at Centre and Half Backs. Robinson and Brown at HB is laughable. PNG will be a test for this squad nevermind the aussies and kiwis.

Oh yes, it's not like Leeds and Saints have had to put up for this for a number of years now is it?

widdop
goulding
westwood
ellis
hall
brown
s, tomkins
morley
roby
fielden
burgess
tomkins
o loughlin

griffin
graham
lunt
atkins

no i havnt gone mad...........i reckon we need 2 big centres, not 2 quick centres.
defence is the key.....and with westwood at centre we can get 80 minutes from him and use him as goal kicker.

atkins on bench is cover in case ellis needs switch to 2nd row.

but im still toying with the forwards tbh..........morley, fielden , graham , are all 60/70 minute guys , plus burgess can step into prop...........so maybe a 2nd rower on bench ?............or atkins starter, ellis back row, and joel on bench.

nice headache for the coach