I'd suggest the needs of the game in this country (a long-awaited Test win against Australia for instance) outweigh overly-precious parochial sentiments that don't sit too well with, erm... parochials



The game in this country is dying on it's @rse because Super League cannot provide sufficient media attention. It needs to take advantage of those rare international moments broadcast on Terrestrial TV in front of much bigger audiences than those tuning into Sky on Thursday evenings.

As long as those NRL-based players I listed above meet the selection criteria as laid down by the rules.

Why select inferior players from an inferior competition for international duty when you have access to better players from the best competition?

fair enough, find me a bunch of NRL players willing to improve us or better than whatwe have and we can talk.



I'm sorry but the likes of Mcqueen, Heighington etc... don't cut it.imo of course

just to add- maybe we should get a sabotage team set up down under to pick out some future beast international potential south sea islanders and get them to pledge their allegiance to her majesty and all that before the Aussies take them

Isn't that what the Aussies do with Kiwis like Tamou, and the Kiwis do with Tongans like Kata?



For what it's worth I don't disagree with Williams point that an international victory could give our game the kick in the backside it needs (as well as maybe getting the Aussies to take internationals seriously).

I'm just not convinced that any of the aussies we have been linked with our an improvement. Brett Morris is a crock, Hodkinson is basically Matty Smith and McQueen is a workhorse backrow, same with Heighington, decent player but shouldn't hold up the likes of Ward, Watts, Taylor etc.

I'm still not convinced winning a Four Nations tournament will give the boost to the game people hope it will (not a long term one anyway). We beat New Zealand in a series last year with them coming in as reigning 4 Nations champions and what's it really done?

Because beating Australia means so much to long time RL supporters because of the constant beatings they've had to endure at the hands of them I think they're overestimating what further reaching impact it would have, especially when you'd get a section of English RL 'fans' coming up with excuses for why Australia lost to an English team at least half filled with players from that sub standard Super Dooper League.

I agree I don't think it will have any effect on the game.

If the lists of SL-based England teams promoted by people on these forums are anything to go by, I've already found them and the talking is over and done with



You are of course entitled to your opinion but McQueen in particular, I'd take him over any of our SL-based second row options any day of the week. His loss to Souths hasn't gone unnoticed either. They've been poor since the likes of he moved elsewhere, while the return of Sam Burgess has made no difference to them whatsoever as they remain poor by NRL standards.

Give it a week or two and the usual suspects will appear with their old chestnuts proclaiming England a great chance alongside their strong pack of world-beating forwards leading the way because they are way better than those Aussie forwards... a line which has been repeated ad nauseam for as long as I can recall.

The only positive I can think of is... Wayne Bennett.

PS: If Watkins is selected on the basis of his form guide in the Sack-Of-S**t 8's (qualifiers lol) against the likes of Fev and Batley, England may as well not bother turning up.

I don't think he will be picked because of his form in the qualifiers, it's the rather more sad position of Lack of other options.

That's true. I've become so frustrated at Watkins' lack of progress over the last 3 or 4 seasons. I don't think he deserves to be in the national team. There's been times where I don't think he's warranted selection for Leeds either. He hugely lacks any kind of aggression.

Actually, make that less than an hour since I posted the above.

Someone has already posted this load of tosh on the VT...

[i"The best England pack we can put out can definitely do a job on that Aussie pack, we've got great options at 9 (though still not Smiths level) and if players like Watkins and Hall are at their best, we can match their outside backs"[/i

I don't know whether to laugh or cry

Are you seriously suggesting there isn't a single England qualified player throughout the entirety of SL who hasn't performed better than the can't-be-@rsed tripe that Watkins has served up this season?

Heighington is shot. He was at snail pace throughout the GF. I'd have Joe Burgess in the team as he has played NRL, meaning he can read the play in defence, and he is a super runner. Hardaker has looked anything but a strong defender for the Panthers - he's one of the outside backs most easily shrugged off in the NRL. How much of that is down to his lack of conditioning due to messing around for Leeds I've no idea, but that's where he's at right now.

On that note I think people underestimate the simple physicality of the NRL consistently, particularly at the top end. IMO the gap has widened considerably on that score - hence WCC being blowouts and rubbish not-NRL quality halfbacks looking like world beaters. In fact in a lot of ways I'd say SL is further away in standard than it has been for years.

No I didn't say that there have been but there isn't a great depth in quality centres is my point.

I'd like to see Percival from saints get a go in the centre.

I think the point with Walkins is the guys who could take his place are either unproven or proven not to be good enough, you pick Walkins who has played at a high level and hope Bennett can sort him out.

It's is kinda sad that even worse than the Halves we have struggled to put more than one good centre on the pitch for as long as I can remember. Perhaps 2 if you give gleeson the benefit of the doubt but then who was next in line if he or Senior got injured.

[url=http://www.loverugbyleague.com/news_23780-gower-in-the-mix-for-england.html[uWhat about David Gower?[/u[/url

Not needed imo. There will be several good props miss out on selection, we are well stocked in that department. Shame Bennett can't find a gun Centre or world class half back to commit, that is where we seriously lack quality.

maybe the RFL should look at forming an NRL franchise, similar to the warriors, or the Catalans. Base it in Aus and give the best players the opportunity to compete out there.

To "revive" international RL between England/GB and Australia our competition has to produce the vast majority (if not all of) a team that can beat a team from the Australian competition. Not 13 Australian products of the NRL with a British grandparent. As unlikely as that is to happen in what is left of my lifetime that's the fact.
I personaly would rather forget RL exists than watch a national "English" team of Australians not good enough for their own team. Why would the Aussies care? They already have "mate against mate" in Origin.

If we're miles behind the NRL then that's what needs fixing and you won't do that by sticking a load of NRL Australians in England shirts. Neither will you restore any credibility to the international game.
If we can't fix it (and things only look to be getting worse) then we have to accept that RL in England is what it is.

[url=http://www.rugby-league.com/article/38688/four-uncapped-players-named-in-england--man-squad-?[uNot an Aussie-born in sight among the squad of 24![/u[/url

Good.

Probably because non of those suggested were better options and talk of including multi capped Kangaroos in the Morris brothers was laughable.

I'd have taken a punt on Blake Austin.

Jonny Lomax? Can't argue with rest of squad

You'd prefer the serial miscreant instead?

Shame that Stevie Ward missed so much of the season. Hope Kevin Brown gets a game.

Didn't say who I preferred just think Lomax is a show pony may as well pick Jordan Tansey.

Why don't you say who you'd prefer instead?

No point slagging off a selection unless you're prepared to justify it with a better alternative.