Shouldn't form count for something, though?

Eastmond was in very good form until his injury - hence why he was in the England squad and McGuire wasn't.

FWIW I'd have both in my team:

S Tomkins
R Atkins
M Shenton
C Bridge
R Hall
D McGuire
K Eastmond
J Graham
K Sinfield
A Morley
S Burgess
G Ellis
S O'Loughlin

J Roby
E Crabtree
A Lynch
J Tomkins

I'd pick on form personally and Eastmond has been too injury probe in his first full season to show any on a consistent basis. Both Eastmond and Myler have had up and down seasons this year whereas McGuire and Tomkins have shone.

i hope eastmond can get back to form between now and the end of the season then

i would pick pretty much the same team as you
except for maybe Atkins on the wing, because I've never seen him play there so not sure how he'd go?
no idea who id pick on the wing instead though


and i would personally like to see Ben Harrison play at loose forward, but then I've not really seen enough of O'Loughlin to say if he should play tbh

kieth senior for me is still the best in SL and could well be the key to leeds winning the challenge cup

McGuire was not drafted in to the last squad for a Injured Eastmond the squad was announced before Eastmond got Injured.McGuire then got Injured and was replaced by Brown.

You are right - the article I read referred to McGuire replacing Eastmond, I suppose it meant at 7 rather than in the squad. Apols.

.

I think that's a bit unfair - it's one ankle injury rather than him being injury prone. He played every game until that injury and was impressive.

I would agree, though, that if he doesn't find any form before the end of the year he'll be behind McGuire in the pecking order. He looked pretty dangerous at the weekend and scored a good try, albeit against a dreadful Bulls team.

After seeing him hobbling round at the Galpharm on semi-final day i was surprised he got back so quick.
FWIW i think both have to be in the squad and then it's down to mcbanana<shudders>.

Selection on the basis of form should always be the way forward.

But should that selection be based upon international form or Super League form?

If it's based upon international form, then McGuire does not warrant international selection.

Would you pick a team based upon how a player played in three or four games 12 months ago?

Saints fans used to apply the same blinkered club criteria when supporting and defending the selection of Sean Long as first choice halfback for GB, despite his overwhelming number of poor performances in international games over an extensive period of time. They'd point to his club form in Super League for St Helens, which is what you are now doing with McGuire who has performed overwhelmingly poorly for England in the RLWC08 and Four Nations 09.

If Australia applied NRL form guides as the sole criteria for selecting their teams, the likes of Lockyer, Fittler, Civoniceva and countless other Kangaroo players past and present wouldn't have chalked up half as many international appearances as they did. However, they are - and were - continuously selected on the basis of their international form and ability to step up several gears in rep games on a consistent basis.

Eastmond (if fit) and Tomkins have earned their opportunity as current first choice incumbents by performing better than McGuire in rep games in recent times.

Surprised you've discarded Widdop so soon after his quality debut. A quality you pre-warned me he would show (when I expressed doubts over the wisdom of his inclusion from his NRL reserve grade background) and you were proven correct.



This is something I'm hearing quite a lot and yet Peacock has once again been outstanding for Leeds this season up to his injury in Round 25 of 27, including lifting Leeds by their bootstraps at times throughout their run to the prestigious Challenge Cup Final.

To rule him out solely on the basis of a late season injury may yet prove a premature call.

That was largely before Tomkins had been operating at full back for Wigan.

Widdopp is a talent, no doubt, and (Tomkins aside) is better than any other full back available to us. I just think that Tomkins would be equally dangerous from that position and has more big game experience. I have no qualms about Widdop playing in the France game (if just to confirm his eligibility for us!) but I think McGuire's form warrants inclusion in the side.

I'd find a place for McGuire, Eastmond and Tomkins - that means Widdop misses out for me. When he's playing every week, he'll be able to press his claim a bit more.

IMO of course!

Problem I have with Tompkins at FB is his bulk size. He's a skinny little runt and will get muscled off the ball more often than not. He didnt look particularly good against us either there.

what do you mean by muscled off the ball? I think his defence is very strong actually.

Running back for it or if 2 players jump for the ball at the same time he will lose the majority of minor collisions. Webb on the other hand maybe short but he has a bit of bulk to him if that makes sence.

Tomkins coughed up a return carry in the recent Leeds game that Senior scored from one play later.

I know every full-back does it from time to time but I hope that's a lesson learned especially as the impact that caused the fumble was provided by Burrow.

On the positive side he rode Ablett's challenge well and was still up for the ensuing scrap had one developed. My type of International player.

Against the Aussies last year Tomkins really got in amongst them, something McGuire never looked like doing. Tomkins has also developed an absolute drill of a fend from somewhere which is making him a very dangerous runner indeed, despite the fact he can only step off his left.

Definately under "etc.."

lee briers after he lifts the challenge cup.

Who won it then?

Really still believe he should be contender.

Unlike richards, he produced in the big game.

still think this eh?

do ya? eh, DO YA?

Learnt how to spell his name correctly yet?

Funnily enough, a few more people are coming round to my way of think now.

Still think richards eh, that bag of nerves?

Not man of steel material.

Sinfield would have nailed those kicks.