How excited are we by the the world cup being over here this year?? The way I look at it is there is two sides to the competition, one being the battlefor the title, between Australia, NZ and England. The other being a great opporutinity to spread the game and hopefully develop in a few of these 'minor' countries, so that soon enough there wll be more than three potential winners. One things for sure we can't keep moaning about the lack of national press coverage and spreading of the game etc, if the hardcore fans of the game can't get enthusiastic about having the World Cup in our own country.

Also, if were were playing the World Cup final next weekend, who would be in your 17? At the moment mine is as follows, but I'm sure it will change several times over the course of the season:

1. Tomkins.
2. Charnley.
3. Reed.
4. Atkins.
5. Hall
6. Widdop.
7. Myler.
8. Kopczak
9. Roby
10. Westwood
11. Ellis
12. Hock.
13. Sinfield.
14. Burrow
15. O'loughlin.
16. Hill
17. Crabtree

Ended up really struggling for props!

Kopczaks welsh mate

1. Tomkins
2. Charnley
3. Watkins
4. Reed/Atkins
5. Hall
6. Sinfield
7. Widdop
8. Morley
9. Roby
10. Graham
11. Ellis
12. Westwood
13. O'Loughlin

14. Burrow
15. Crabtree
16. Ablett
17. Mossop

Difficult to pick a team at this moment in time not sure who will break through but here goes

1 Tomkins
2 Charnley
3 Watkins
4 Atkins
5 Hall

6 Sinfield
7 Myler/Widdop/Maguire not sure

8 Morley
9 Roby
10 Graham

11 Ellis
12 S Burgess
13 O'Loughlin

14 burrow
15 Crabtree
16 Ablett
17 unsure which prop here.

More or less this except I'd drop Mossop, move Westwood to the bench and have Burgess (S) start in the second row.

Ellis is crocked these days.

He's also been a no-show (despite his selections) at international level over the past few seasons.

Shouldn't be anywhere near the squad.

1. Tomkins

2. Hardaker
3. Watkins
4. Reed
5. Hall

6. Sinfield
7. Widdop

8. S. Burgess
9. Roby
10. Graham
11. Ellis
12. Westwood
13. O'Loughlin

14. Burrow
15. Hock
16. Hill
17. Ablett

Ratchford, Charnley, Atkins, McGuire, Brough, Crabtree, Carvell, Ferres, JJB, Tickle in contention depending on form and injuries. Maybe Lomax, D.Clark, Bateman if they kick on this season, and JP if he reverses his retirement.

1. Tomkins

2. Charnley
3. Watkins
4. Reed
5. Ryan

6. Widdop
7. McGuire

8. S. Burgess
9. Roby
10. Graham
11. Ellis
12. Westwood
13. Sinfield

14. Burrow
15. Mossop
16. Crabtree
17. Ablett

18. Atkins
19. Brough
20. Tickle
22. Hardaker
23. L. Burgess
24. T. Burgess
25. G. Burgess

Agree.......and selecting Morley is a rather pathetic reflection of GB's strength at international level if this old timer is the best we can do at prop.

Don't worry. Singleton will soon displace him

Not if he moves back to Leeds and languishes in the reserves until he's 30

Agreed, it emphasises a complete lack of options for the national team at prop. There's James Graham and erm... yeah, exactly

I bloody knew I'd missed someone! I was struggling over the last bench spot and I knew there was someone obvious I was missing!

Interesting to see nobody pick Chase, who has just beaten one of the best teams in the league almost single-handedly.

Nobody chose Benji Marshall or Adam Blair either.

I don't get your point, they are not available for selection in the England team?

1 Tomkins
2 Charnley
3 Watkins
4 Reed
5 Hall
6 Sinfield
7 Widdop
8 Graham
9 Roby
10 Carvell
11 Westwood
12 Ellis
13 S Burgess

14 Crabtree
15 Ablett
16 Burrow
17 Hock

18 Hardaker
19 T Briscoe
20 Atkins
21 Myler
22 Hill
23 Mcllorum
24 Bateman

Anyone think Fielden could have a shot at the squad if he keeps his current form up?

I've noticed that this thread has been posted on the Wire, Wigan and Saints boards too. Of the dozens of responses, precisely none of them chose Chase either. Anyone would think that nobody wants him in the team.

There looks to be a few promising surprises this year so i'm holding my prediction off until later in the season. Our outside backs look decent for once though.

1. Tomkins
2. Watkins
3. Atkins
4. Reed
5. Hall
6. Sinfield
7. Widdop
8. Morley
9. Roby
10. Graham
11. Ellis
12. Westwood
13. S.Burgess

14. Burrow
15. Crabtree
16. Hock
17. O'Loughlin

1. Tomkins
2. Atkins
3. Watkins
4. Reed/Ablett
5. Hall
6. Sinfield
7. McGuire/Widdop
8. Hill
9. Roby
10. S.Burgess
11. Ellis
12. Westwood
13. O'Loughlin

14. Burrow
15. Graham
16. Bailey
17. Ablett/Hock