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.

Jamie Shaul could think himself slightly unlucky to not make the squad in terms of the FB position.

Dan Sarginson?

Well spotted.

I'd no idea he was born in Australia.

London accent suggests he moved to the UK a while ago.

That makes him an immigrant.

Kick him out!
No Regards.
Theresa May, Lots of Tories, Farage, UKIP, several Labour MP's and over half the population of the UK!

I forgot about him, did he put his hand up?

I would have thought he was on the brink of origin selection.

Ferres ruled out of the England squad with a calf injury and Stevie Ward called into the squad.

Seen a few not happy about this on twitter because Ward plays for Leeds and we had a bad year. One or two thought Matty Ashurst should have been given a go

I saw on the VT and the Wakey board that it's mostly Wakefield fans with their small town chips on their shoulders. Only issue with the squad they have is that they're 3 Leeds players in and Leeds have had a poor season......not hearing any moans about the Burgess boys from South Sydney or McGillivery from Hudds mind you.

Ward will have been a stand by chosen by Bennett so it's natural he steps in if that's the case.

Good for him but doubtful he will get a place in the 17 barring a few injuries. He will be a fixture over the coming years though i'm sure and that is probably why Bennett has brought him in for the experience.

Spot on, whilst we want to win this 4 Nations their also has to be some thought about years ahead especially with the World Cup next year with regards to the squad and that's where Ward comes in as a much stronger candidate to be a regular in future years.

In a way I hope Ward isn't picked/needed for the matches against NZ and Australia and he wouldn't be ready to be facing that level of competition at his point in his comeback, but if he can feature against France in the warmup match (depending if the likes of Bateman & Farrell are given more rest post GF) and maybe even Scotland then that's a good experience for him.