Well done Jake well deserved, Scott you must try harder, if that’s possible, Danny your still the best.

Baffling Bennet, what’s the point of taking SOL

Connor in, but no Taylor

Normally I like to see as many of our players get international chances but this time i’m happy the squad is going to get a well deserved rest! Also over the coming weeks other teams still have beat from the east rescheduled games to fit in.

…. live from 9pm on BBC Two.

Which is the best timeslot RL has had for a long while, but sadly reports are not many tickets sold. Hope there is a late rally as last thing the game needs is casual veiwers flicking over and wondering why a ‘behind closed doors’ match is taking place

i can understand Scotty not being picked for a one off test. its not a series or tournament so a big squad is not needed. In addition to this the burgess twins have been in outstanding form in the NRL. If anything, Hill is the one that baffles - he's only been ok this year for Warrington, and i actually think Cooper has been better for them. If SOL plays lock, then sam b could well play as a prop as well, and it would be a 4 prop line up of sam, tom and george burgess, jimmy graham and Hill in reserve. Hill remember is a wayne bennett favourite and would have to lose a lot of form or get injured to be dropped.

Or bites the hand that feeds him

On Connor, i would get him in as a straight replacement for watkins. however i can see WB going for bateman out of position again alongside percival in the centres. the team would be better balanced with connor and percival in the centres and bateman, who i like as a player, reverting to the back row, possibly off the bench

Over 12000 sold already and anticipating a gate over 25K - possibly more than we will get for the First Test Match at the K Com Stadium on the 27th October, in the Test Series at the end of the season ????

12k sold in a 76k stadium though, and how many are free or discounted to get some sold? I'm all for taking RL to new areas but remain sceptical that flying all that way is worth it for a quarter full stadium

Haven't both countries already received a fee for going? It doesn't matter how many turn up. Money is already banked.

…. after all, supporters, in the true sense of the word, matter not, nowadays.

Of course supporters matter. The money has been made for us and will look to recoup it through support via TV, sponsorship and attendees over there.

We can't complain about not expanding or taking risks and then complain when we do.

Dont forget Scott Taylor playing with a shoulder injury.

Well done Jake Connor. Well deserved. I hope he gets a start at centre

Bennett will start with his World Cup final back 3 of Sam Burgess, Whitehead and SOL. Bennett has also likened Bateman to Jack Reed who Bennett consistently used as a defensive centre for both Engand and the Broncos so expect Percival to partner Bateman. A bench spot for Connor.

Don't get the picking of 5 props(not including Sam B.) plus several out of form club players are really fortunate to have made the 19. Bennett obviously puts past performance over current form.

Looks a strong squad to be fair, with a good mix of in-form players, hope Jake gets a starting spot

sika manu won't be called up for tonga for their test against samoa on the same date as they are going for an nrl only policy, due to the cost of flying superleague players over for one game. ben murdoch massila also affected

O'Loughlin was injured unfortunately, we actually started with Burgess at 13 and Currie at 2nd Row. I'm still bitter about that final, long way to go to lose, and I'm sure if we had SO'L, and a change at halfback and centre, we'd have won.



It's a 19-man, so I'd expect a prop to miss out on the 17 with S.Burgess in the 2nd row as you say. I'm not sure Bennett has picked many out of form, he's brought in Makinson, Thompson & Connor which is great, but you also have to ensure continuity with proven test match players & some versatility just in case (Ratchford), we can't throw 13 novices in there.

Taylor now in the squad, replacing the injured George Burgess.

Good news for taylor. I doubt he'll get a game but at least he knows he's in the mix and a break for him and connor will do them good. Been an absolute colossus for us this year and carried the pack on his own at times

Great that Scott is in the squad, even if he doesn't play he is still around the team and in Bennetts thoughts which is a positive. Very happy for Connor, I think he is probably my favourite player at the moment, very exciting with ball in hand, great vision and awareness and a decent kick as well, amazing when you think how young he is still, just needs to keep his temper in check.

It's a long time since I've seen a player with such confidence and such an array of talents as Jake Connor has, I can see him going to the NRL in a couple of years and doing really well over there. Hard to believe he's only 23

"The new Richard Whiting"

A smuch as I liked whiting, connor is several notches higher in quality terms

Wasn't my quote.