Following on for various threads on the mediocrity of SL GF and not renewing season tickets etc etc.
Can I just ask is anyone getting too excited over the forthcoming internationals in what is a basic one horse race.

Im not getting excited about the England Knights vs Wal/Fra

Because lets be fair. Would all these players be dropping like flies if we were playing Oz/NZ? I dont think so.

International (nothing) series.

usually go to a couple of international matches but will be giving it a miss this year, will watch on TV.

A lot of teams here with players well out of position...
for meAtkins[/del Ratchford
5. Hall
6. Sinfield
7. Chase/Myler
8. L.Burgess
9. McIlorum
10. Hill
11. Ellis
12. Ablett
13. O'Loughlin

14. Morley
15. Mossop
16. Hock
17. Burrow

If Ablett is picked over Watkins or Atkins at centre and if Sinfield in picked over Widdop at 6 I will continue to lose my faith in the England team going forward to a level where their even competing with the Aussies. At international level no one should really be playing out of position especially an average second rower playing . Thurston and Cronk would wet them selves laughing when they face Sinfield at 6 and the current NRL winning five eighth is sat on the bench. It says it all that our current captain is Jon Wilkin, shocking management from an inept coach.

If we had everybody to call on I'd go-

Tomkins
Charnley
Watkins
Reed
Hall
Sinfield
Widdop
Graham
Roby
Burgess
Ellis
Westwood
O'Loughlin

Subs
Hill
Crabtree
Hock
Burrow

Like I posted earlier I'd have a look at Hardaker at fullback in this series and Tomkins in the halfbacks. I'd like to have back up plans in place should anything happen to Tomkins and I'd also like to have that option of moving him to 7 against the Aussies/Kiwis.

Everyone fit:

Tomkins
Charnley
Reed
Atkins
Hall
Sinfield
Myler
Graham
Roby
Burgess
Hock
Westwood
O'Loughlin

Mossop
McIlorum
Ellis
Crabtree

McNamara will probably put chase, abblet, and Morley in there somewhere though

I thought Atkins and Westwood had pulled out?

Tomkins
Charnely
Reed
Watkins
Hall
Widdop
Briers/Lomax
Burgess
Roby
Crabtree
Westwood
Hock
Sinfield

Burrow
Lockers
Hill
L Burgess

Upcoming internationals ...

Ratchford/Tomkins
Charnley/Briscoe
Watkins
Ablett
Hall
Tomkins/Ratchford
Sinfield
Morley
McLlorum
Hill
Hock
Ellis
O'Loughlin

Subs... Burrow, L Burgess, Mossop and JJB/Farrell

For the World cup it would depend on form at the time but if it was this summer and all the players were fit I'd go with ...

Tomkins
Charnley/Briscoe
Watkins
Reed
Hall
Widdop
Sinfied
Graham
Roby
Crabtree
Burgess
Westwood
O'Loughlin

Burrow
Hill
Hock
Ellis

These autumn internationals are perfect to give some experience to younger players so my team would be:

FB Z.Hardaker
WG J.Charnley
CT S.Ratchford
CT K.Watkins
WG R.Hall
SO S.Tomkins
SH R.Myler
PR L.Burgess
HK M.McIlorum
PR C.Hill
2R B.Harrison
2R L.Farrell
LF S.O'Loughlin (c)

SUB1 K.Sinfield
SUB2 G.Hock
SUB3 A.Morley
SUB4 G.Ellis

My line up for the RLWC 2013 at present would be:

FB S.Tomkins
WG J.Charnley
CT R.Atkins
CT J.Reed
WG R.Hall
SO G.Widdop
SH * no stand out candidate which is concerning, someone needs a big 2013 to claim the jersey
PR S.Burgess
HK J.Roby
PR J.Graham
2R G.Hock
2R G.Ellis
LF S.O'Loughlin (c)

SUB1 K.Sinfield
SUB2 A.Morley
SUB3 C.Hill
SUB4 B.Westwood

Still think we'll see a NZ v Aussie final at O.T in November 2013 though.

Tomkins is without doubt better at 1, but for these internationals I'd have no problem with putting him in the halves and Hardaker at full back. Given what's available: (I assume my 4 props can be in any order, starting or bench matters not)

Hardaker
Briscoe
Watkins
Ablett
Hall

Sinfield
Tomkins

L. Burgess
McIlorum
Hill
Hock
Ellis
O'Loughlin

Harrison
Mossop
JJB
Burrow


With missing people fit, "Biter" comes in at prop, Roby at hooker, Atkins or Reed at 4 (I'm yet to be absolutely sure that Reed offers much more than happening to play in the NRL), Widdop at 6 (possibly therefore Sinfield to 13 but I recognise that would be unpopular on this board...) and I'd probably swap Luke Burgess out in place of Sam. I know Sam isn't a prop these days but meh, I would want Sinfield or O'Loughlin at 13. Could always use Hock as a prop and Burgess in the 2nd row, but that's a bit semantic really.

Sorry but can’t get too over excited at these internationals myself, they seem to be a bit of a poor stop-gap to next February rugby wise, but it’s better than the fat bellied 15 man mogadon that's coming up.