should england stick with the older members of the world cup squad or try and use the next few years to get younger partnerships formed?

It should be bye bye to Sinfield, Burrow, O'Loughlin and Westwood at the very least.

Anyone over 30 to be honest.

The Aussies are getting older too.Maybe if we stick while they reorganise?

Agreed.time to start building for the next WC now.

that includes the decision on the coach too.if mcnamara stays then it for the next four year cycle same with skipper.we have made progress these last few years and we need to keep that going.

There is a very strong nucleus building towards the 4 nations and any chances should be gradual.

I guess a lot will depend on what happens with McNamara and Sinfield.

But the foundations are there to build towards 2017.

I think on the back of that performance we should give them next years 4 nations and go hell for leather to finally get an international series victory and that monkey off our backs.

After that, 2 full years building a squad towards the WC in 2017.

What works out quite ideal for us if we go that way is 2015 should be a full GB tour of Australia giving the coach an opportunity to try lots of players and combinations and use that to build a squad in 2016 for 2017.

Imagine a Great Britain tour, and no Danny Brough picked.



Melt down I tell yee.

As an aside, if we do have a GB tour next year, i wonder if any of the Australian based "Scots" or "Irish" would throw their hat in the ring for selection?

Realistically for the 2017 World Cup only Sinfield, Burrow, Westwood and O'Loughlin will not make it from the current squad. Graham will be around 32 so should be ok and Roby 31 ish, so aslong as he does not lose his sharpness he will be fine.

For 2014 Four Nations I would select our best available side and include all of the above, should their form warrant selection. After that is apparently the GB tour so the next time England play would be 2016, a year before the next World Cup.

For 2016 I would start to introduce some new players into the squad. It looks like we will need a new half back to replace Sinfield (Myler, Ratchford, Chase, Matty Smith are current options). There is also an option to move Tomkins to 6 as we have some decent fullbacks in Hardaker and Lomax who could fill in. Wouldn't be surprised to see Tomkins at 6 for the Warriors as they also have Kevin Locke.

Jack Reed would probably come in for Cudjoe with Watkins in the other centre although I expect Ben Crooks to be a top SL player in the next couple of years and could challenge. Wingers will be two from Hall, Charnley and Briscoe but there's also Lineham who could come into the mix.

Front row of Graham, Hill, G Burgess for definite with, at present either Mossop or Tom Burgess to make up the 4.

Sam Burgess to 13 to replace O'Loughlin with possibly Ferres and Farrell in the second row. Second row is where we are weakest IMO but the likes of John Bateman, Stevie Ward could be options if they keep developing. I also like Simon Grix from Warrington who could be an option if he decides to switch from Ireland.

At 9 Roby should still make it with McIlorum and possibly Clark from Cas to come into the reckoning.

Poss team for 2017;

1. Tomkins
2. Charnley
3. Watkins
4. Reed
5. Hall
6. Widdop
7. Myler
8. Graham
9. Roby
10. Hill
11. Ferres
12. Farrell
13. S Burgess
14. McIlorum/Clark (if he continues to develop)
15. Grix
16. G Burgess
17. T Burgess/Mossop

Pick the best side available for all competitive fixtures. International caps shouldn't be given away on unfulfilled potential.

no point discussing who will be playing for england in 4 years. Where were half our team 4 years ago? Not international standard thats for sure. If the team looks like anything we can predict now, then I think we won't be sucessful. Its new players coming through, and players really improving that will make a sucessful team in the future. Yes the core of the squad will still be playing, but I want players to come in and overtake the current options and push the quality up

I'm hoping that the likes of Williams, Hampshire, Burgess, Gildart, Sutcliffe, Percival, Thornley etc, etc etc will be pushing for places in four years time. They may not be quite ready but they should be in the reckoning.

And if this world cup proves anything, that doesn't necessarily mean players from our current acadamies. More and more have emigrated over the years to Aus, so no doubt some of the NRL current youngsters will have British/English nationality also in order to play for the country.

Generally successful teams, in any sport, are built on continuity. No doubt some players over the next 4 years will push their way into the squad but, in theory anyway, 75% of the players that played in this years WC will be even better come 2017.

Look at the Australian team. At least 75% of that team have been in the test team for the last 4 years and they have added the odd few such as Fifita and Papali. DCE played on the Four Nations tour in 2011, albeit only against Wales, but now look at him, arguably the best number 7 in the world.

Players need the opportunity to gain experience at International level so it is no good getting to 2017 and throwing loads of players into World Cup Squad.

Add the likes of Bateman,Ward,Currie (he may suddenly become English

),Lineham,Crooks,Baldwinson,Singleton and Walmesley to that list.All look like they could be pushing if they keep progressing for the next few years.

I actually feel quite positive on our future for the first time in many years despite the naging at the back of my mind saying this was a missed opportunity.

I always call the Stick or Twist pub in town Stick and Twist.

I hope so. A GB team with Blanch and Richards on the wings instead of Charnley and Hall we'll slaughter everyone...

There isn't a single NRL based player from the Scotland, Wales or Ireland squads at this World Cup that would make a GB touring party.

Don't know about any others, without looking at the squads, but I would definitely take Rory Kostjasyn before any hooker in super league other than Roby. And as you would normally take two, that would put him up there.

I dont think it would be beyond the realms of possibility for Peter Wallace to appear in the squad either.

When I first read this thread I thought go for the new broom approach, but I now agree with Smokey - go all out to be as good as possible for the Tri Nations next year. Giving the Aussies a real go in a big game will do more for the credibility of the international game here than anything else.

In terms of changes, Reed would be a better attacking option than Cudjoe, who also seems prone to errors. Apart from that the only change I'd look at in the backs is if Tomkins moves to 6/7 for the Warriors, then I'd make the same move for England with someone like Hardaker at the back.

What we do need to dig up are better reserve forwards. ATM we have Roby, Graham, 2 x Burgess, Hill and O'Loughlin who are definitely of the required quality. IMO we need at least another two standout forwards, because the others are passable at best. Hopefully T Burgess can kick on, but we really need another second row and prop on the bench better than we had in the WC.

We also desperately need a better reserve hooker, although it would be ideal if Roby could modify his game/pace himself to play for 80 minutes.

If everyone is fit, there's no reason why England can't at least be competitive for several years. But we do need to recognise that in some areas we just aren't good enough yet - decision making under pressure, error rates, kicking game are all areas where England need to be better. We also need to recognise that out of the WC squad, there are some very definite weak links which need to be plugged.

If only McNamara's call to Cherry-Evans had gone differently....

Unlike the World Cup, the Tri/Four Nations often see's a couple of players withdraw to rest injuries or have minor op's in time for the new season. Along with a couple of players north of 30 perhaps calling it a day if they want to concentrate on their remaining club careers. So that should open up a few spots for newer faces in the squad in 2014.

True, the number of players playing with heavy strapping would suggest that had it been any tournament other than the world cup then there would have been some significant absences.
Inglis & Slater to name but two.