I’d much prefer games against France to the make belief All Stars fixture. It’s not a fixture that will overly test us but it gets the players together and the main benefit is the development opportunity it gives the French.

I see the long term international calendar plan has been put back until the new year now. Let’s hope that’s because a good plan takes time and not because they’re struggling to get the NRL to commit to more than the odd one off international here and there. I suspect it’ll be more towards the latter.

There'll be no NRL players available for this game v France so it will be an opportunity for Waney so try some new faces in his line up. It will be interesting to see if he goes for players who at the season's end are never available or new faces with the talent to improve.

Would probably pick the team below for the 2023 squad. Newman, Dodd, Oledski and KPP should be phased in straight away with eyes on the likes of Gannon, Havard, Lewis, Nicholson etc for 2025. Hope there are some fixtures against Southern hemisphere opposition at the end of next year. I personally think a Six Nations comp with Tonga, Samoa and Fiji would be a fantastic route for the game to go down. A streamlined World Cup maybe has a place but I wonder whether a 16 team comp is rugby league trying to be something it's not.

Welsby
Makinson
Newman
Farnworth
Young
Williams
Dodd
Burgess
Leeming
Oledski
KPP
Bateman
Radley

Thompson
Walmsley
Ackers
Batchelor

No NRL based players will be available so it will be Super League only selection. Also no English players based at Catalans
will be selected.

Welsby,
Makinson, Newman, Wardle, Burgess,
Williams (c) Dodd,
Oledski, Ackers, Walmsley,
Farrell, Batchelor,
Cameron Smith.

Hill, Lees, Gannon, Harry Smith.

I think you might see Liam Byrne in that team next season and definitely KPP. I am not sure what benefit there is to selecting players who will be in their mid-thirties by the time the next World Cup comes around.

Add Knowles to that list as well.

Yes i'll be there. They've got the fixture details out nice and early, so we dont have any reason to complain we didnt know about it (got to be honest one of my biggest gripes in the past about lack of marketing etc with the RFL)

I think its NickyKiss who also comments in a similar way to how i see things. We need to see the long term international calendar, and it be meaningful.

I think the majority of fans appreciate that a mid-season test(s) are only likely to be v France or Scotland / Wales / Ireland etc, as there is no way that the NRL would sanction an international side coming over or any of their players for that matter

So we make the best of it we can and get the valuable time together as an England team, start building some combinations (admittedly we are missing 5 or 6 players who play NRL) but use it as something to build on and get the French team some experience too. if the IMG takeover goes well, why not build in a short international calendar into the season where we play 2 or 3 tests. RU can fit in the 6 nations and Autumn internationals whilst they play their season, so could be something that we look at, but squad numbers would also need to be considered and subsequent salary cap implications if running with bigger squads?

So as a starter its a positive we've got a game in early and running off the success of the world cup. And, as i posted earlier i'd like to see a tour of some form at the end of the season

I think France is ideal following a World Cup year for a mid season test.

It helps them and is hopefully part of the rebuilding process for England. The year after and following years building towards the 25 WC I would like to see us play one of the Pacific Island nations.

In regards venue I’ve never been to Warrington’s “new” stadium prior to the Tonga v Samoa semi but I thought it was a cracking rugby stadium.

It is a great stadium.
WE need more internationals thats for sure,at least this one is soon after the World cup and will help with rebuilding towards the next.
If we could play at least 1 test series a year would be fantastic.

And Morgan Smithies.

I wouldn't include Makinson, Walmsey Farrell, or Hill. We need to be building towards the 2025 World Cup in France.

I agree.

Will be interesting to see what happens with Farnworth over the next few years.

I’ve a feeling Union will come calling but he also has a desire to play fullback, which could have significant implications for the England set up.