Sean O'Loughlin isn't as good as Wigan fans seem to think he is (nobody's that good....) and I'd take serious issue with him being the best player in Super League. I do like him as a player though and he might well be the best loose forward in Super League. I'd want him on the pitch for England in the Autumn. I would also want Sinfield and Sam Burgess on the pitch. Which is complicated.

However, what is clearly a bit of a nonsense is the poster above saying that some players shouldn't be selected becasue of past failures against the Aussies, but O'Loughlin should definitely play. I agree he should play, but your own logic dictates that he shouldn't. For me, this shows that your logic is flawed.

I guess, if I take it as gospel that the Aussi-based players have been playing well as people who care about the NRL have told me, I'd go with something like:

Tomkins
Charnley
Watkins
Cudjoe
Hall

Sinfield
Widdop

Graham
Roby
G. Burgess
S.Burgess
Ablett
O'Loughlin

Hill
T.Burgess
Hock
McIlorum

(McIlorum's frankly superb showing on the big occasion having finally won me over at the weekend).

I also don't really mind exactly what order that back row lines up in. Ablett has been superb this year, and in a match day 17 also gives you an option should there be an injury to one of your three quarters.

I could be tempted by the Hardaker at full back and Tomkins to half instead of Widdop idea. But resisted temptation for now.

The logic may be flawed but the point that I raised is there are a number of players tainted by past failure. O'Loughlin doesn't come into this as HE WAS INJURED AND THERFORE DIDN'T PLAY IN THE LAST WORLD CUP. He also played in the victorious 2006 team. So he hasn't failed against Australia.

2004 tri nations? for GB
2010 four nations?

Once off the bench in 2004 in a tournament that England won and he didn't play against Australia in 2010 Ben Westwood played at 13.

England didn't win the 2004 4 tri nations.

Roby or Mcilorum not Roby and Mcilorum imo, neither are impact hookers and we would be better with another forward on the bench.

As for Hardaker/Tomkins, id like to see us put Hardaker on the wing possibly in one of the warm up games see how we handle the switch of pushing him to FB, Tomkins to half, Ablett to Centre and Watkins to Wing

Quote ="Aboveusonlypie"Once off the bench in 2004 in a tournament that England won and he didn't play against Australia in 2010 Ben Westwood played at 13.'" He did play in 2010. So he has failed news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 142012.stm

Quote ="Aboveusonlypie"Once off the bench in 2004 in a tournament that England won and he didn't play against Australia in 2010 Ben Westwood played at 13.'" He did play in 2010. So he has failed news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 142012.stm

Oh dear, look at all those Wigan players. However didn't we manage to batter the Aussies with FIVE Wigan players? Must have been a poor ref!

Which tournament did we win? It certainly wasn't the one the Aussies were in. I distinctly recall a GB side (not England) including Sean O'Loughlin getting royally humped by Australia at Elland Road.

He definitely also played in 2010.

Oh, and he did indeed play in the win in Sydney in 2006. He also played in the subsequent mauling in Brisbane when the title was on the line. But only, to be fair, in one of the two beatings by the Kiwis in that hugely successful tour.

Can't say I've ever been particularly fussed for O'Loughlin, but then I don't watch Wigan all that often. To be honest I think ' cheap shot merchant' before I think 'best player in SL'. I also doubt Australia would pick someone who has only player twice in recent months.

That said, he's gonna be involved so I hope the hype surrounding him is proven and i'm able to reassess my opinion. Judging by most of the comments on here, we're mentally beaten already. I personally believe we have the players to win the WC. It's the coach thats a worry

We've got a decent record against the Kiwis on home soil. The final is a real possibility.

If we found ourselves in the final against Australia, they will be big favourites. But we can still approach the game with the right spirit and intensity. If we do that then Australia are still big favourites, but upsets happen in sport.

Mission: Improbable. Not Mission: Impossible

Pity Sinfield is in, when he was crowned best player in the world he literally became the most overrated player there's ever been. Should be nowhere near the England team.

Having someone in the halves who's so slow would be disastrous against the quality of Oz or NZ, he's not a patch on McM or Roby at 9 and clearly not good enough to play in the backrow.

I personally think that most good teams should have an organiser and a running flair player at halfback. He may not be the quickest, but he is the best controller of a game in SL. If you had anyone else in there, it'd be headless chickens out there

I do think now that's his best quality, an on field coach, but I do believe there's other players who can run a team and offer more than he does as a player.

Putting team loyalties aside I would have to agree it pains me to say it but we cannot afford any passengers against the ossies and nz

Are you suggesting Kevin Sinfield is a passenger? Really?

Putting team loyalties aside, he's the best game manager and leader in SL. Hence I would like him and O'Loughlin to be the key controllers around whom the players like Chase and Tomkins can do their funky shizzle. One thing we're not short of in the squad is pace.

Ok passenger was a bit strong but I would hope the international team would be picked on form not reputation Talk of the best leader ,manager in super league maybe the season before last yes .last season not so much remind me again what we won last season.

Who cares about England?

SBW is on his way over

If he feels like it and he doesn't get invited to any good parties in the meantime.

Great !!
Can't wait to watch big Sam flatten him again

Did that happen when it really counted?

No?

Thought not.

SBW by plenty it is then.

It happened alright & it'll happen again.
Counts or not he still knocked him on his jacksie

Now, Now Jeff don't be like that, you are probably the biggest advocate of wanting the International game to prosper and flourish on these forums are you not?

RL needs a very successful WC this year and I can't wait to see genuine world Class stars on these shores like Slater, Inglis, Thurston, Smith, Cronk and Gallen for Australia

SBW's inclusion for the Kiwis squad means that he is now their only genuine world class player that will be recognized by the neutrals in this country during the tournament, especially after Benji Marshall's decision to move to the Kick n Clap brigade.

I also look forward to seeing the improvements of England's NRL based players during the competition and what it will bring to our side

I hope that England play Australia in the final

Which players are you most looking forward to watching in the WC? and can you see any real future stars to look out for?

Are you going to catch the Kiwis game against PNG at headingley?

Will be a tasty game that, real physical.

'Jeff' is only interested in being 'right' so he really doesn't give a damn about England, despite his claims of "being a true RL fan by not being a club supporter". Just check the VT to see him hoping for a Aus v NZ final. 'Jeff' only cares about 1 in his world, the one who gets ignored in the real world......himself.........so it's vital his keyboard self is successful.....and if it isn't he just goes into hibernation until a period passes when he can think of a new argument and what he said previously might've been forgotten by other posters.