I agree with every word of this. I slightly digress but the same could be said about the previous man of steel Danny Houghton. How he's not played for England is an absolute mystery.

Regarding the three quarters. Why has Atkins been constantly overlooked?

Am I right or is it a figment of my imagination, but didn't Atkins make the England team whilst still with Trinity?

Yes along with Ferres and Rooney.

Long time ago that, and he's played good rugby on recent years. He's certainly got the size to stand toe to toe with the Aussies

I think that was England knights? Not a full cap I'm afraid but I may be wrong.

It was the knights and all three got a mom awards.

Yesterdays Grand Final changed my mind on the Gale/Sneyd issue. Gale has appeared in one big game and was nowhere to be seen. Sneyd has been in two, at Wembley. One he rescued and the other he bossed.

Stick with what I said - Sneyd best option against Aussies

Sneyd has played in 3 at Wembley. 1 of which he was hauled off after a horror half hour.

Gale played behind a pack which made 18 handling errors yesterday. Eighteen, Jonathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk would have been on the losing side yesterday playing in a game with such damning statistics.

I agree that Sneyd also had a big game nightmare at Cas. Maybe there's a clue there ....

Hull were struggling in their first Sneyd Wembley final and he pulled out a forty-twenty that turned the game. He cemented his big-game status by a match-winning peformance this year. Perhaps Gale isn't at the big-game level yet.

Having said that, Gale could have kicked ten forty-twenties and your forwards would have spilled the ball on the second tackle each time.

Woudn't select either; even before yesterday's game the obvious choice was McGuire.

Even with my loathing of everything Leeds RL he is still the best English half by far.

Definitely shone yesterday.