Completely agree. I look at the squad with a certain amount of trepidation but I suppose we (again) have to give him the benefit of the doubt until we crash out of the tournement in fourth place...!

However, when you look at the team, I suppose you have to take into account the fact that we're not working to the full salary cap this year and... oh... hang on...

There doesn't seem to be much international experience in the backs... I suppose he's been brought in to bring the younger players through and his legecy will be seen in years to come... I'm sure I've heard that before as well.

If, as has been suggested, this is the worst team to leave these shores (nothing like being positive! They'll probably go and win it now) is that a damnation on Macca or the players who he has available? A sign of the way this season has gone is the fact the the Rhino's have only one player representing them.

Everyone will come up with a different squad if they were asked to name one. Obviously McNamara will have more facts to hand to base his selections on. Who is carry injuries etc, who coped or didn't cope with the last tour. Huddersfield were in good form at the back end of the year which probably played a part in his thinking.

I don't agree with all the selections but at the same time there could be some reasons for those selections that I'm not aware of. I don't think the changes I would make in my imaginary team would make a significant difference to our chances though!

Does anyone apart from McNamara rate Griffin above the likes of Lynch, Scruton, Carvell, Coley or even Bailey?

The best I can pick from a bad bunch :

Widdop
Briscoe
Shenton
Atkins
Hall
Brown
Tomkins
Graham
Robinson
Morley
Ellis
Westwood
Burgess

Roby
Fielden
Harrison
J tomkins

Maybe he is being biased... let's face it we've been down to the bare bones at times this year and every player on more than one leg has had to do shed loads of work. So, he's doing us a favour in letting our guys have a rest!

Good call.

Would certainly bring some animal to the side and upset the oppo.

Probably upset James Graham more though...

Not saying hello to James Graham would probably upset him these days. He's turned into a petulant crybaby lately. Such a shame to see arguably the best prop in the league reduced to the moaning kn0bhead he's been in recent weeks, who was lucky not to be given 10 minutes in the Grand Final for his hissy fit.

I agree though about Bailey. As much as I can't stand the guy, he would have been another better choice than Griffin.

Bailey's had an excellent season - and he does his job well - Look at how he wound Radford up when Leeds played Hull.


If everbody was fully fit, what would your team be then?

Widdop
Briscoe
Bridge
Atkins
Hall
Tomkins
Eastmond
Peacock
Roby/Diskin ( England's worst position)
Graham
Burgess
Ellis
O'Loughlin - I only left him out of my other team by Mistake !!!!!

Roby/Diskin
Morley
Lynch
Fielden

Crabtree
J Tomkins
B Harrison
B Westwood
Shenton
Goulding
Burrow
This will be controversial - has Deacon retired from international????? Without Eastmond we are crying out for a 7.
Bailey

Bully Boxer makes a very valid point in that he speaks of Huddersfield being in form at the end of the season and players being picked on the back of that fact. Whilst I must admit I was surprised at the inclusion of Darrel Griffin, how many times have squads left these shores with players having been picked on reputation rather than being in form and gone overseas and got erm............... smashed. Now I am not saying that this tour will be different but isnt it right that players in form are given a chance?.

I personally for one wouldnt pick James Graham because he is a spoilt brat who acts like a four year old stamping his feet and back chatting the referee, the Aussie refs will have a field day if he repeats his antics whilst on tour.

As has been mentioned in this thread previosly everyone will have a view on the squad but picking players in form should always be the way.

You wouldn't pick the best prop we have?

No matter whether he moans to the ref or not, we need him.

If Sinfield was fit would you leave him out too? He's the biggest moaner in SL but he'd be a welcome addition to a poor England squad.

Bailey is a wind up merchant supreme. It's his job, is controlled with it and is actually exceptional at doing so. Would love to see him doing it for us and add the nasty element we lack.

Fully fit:

Widdop
Briscoe
Gleeson
Atkins (would still be Senior but he's retired)
Hall
McGuire
Eastmond
Moz
Roby
Peacock
Ellis
Burgess
O'Loughlin

Fielden
Graham
Burrow/Pryce
Westwood

I had considered Pryce as a centre given his size and handling skills and the lack of existing quality there.

James Graham is simply becoming a parody of himself. He needs to stop the dummy spitting, it's pathetic.

No Sam Tomkins?? I'd put Widdop on the wing or at centre to accomodate Tomkins - he's one of our best attacking threat (in fact probably the best)

Gleeson would be a good shout, and I totally agree with you on Bailey. He's so frustrating to watch against your team- but that's often the sign of a good player.

I'd like to see Flanagan in the squad too but with the amount of backrowers we have you can see why he's been left out.

As I've said before, Bailey has the Joe Grima, Kurt Sorenson, Neil Cowie, Barrie Mac factor - sheer bloody annoyance but very good at what they set out to achieve; disruption. To draw in and experienced guy like Radders in the first few minutes it's cleverer than many gave him credit for. Bailey against Anthony Watmough would be bums on seats stuff. And I'm sure Billy Slater would be his usual chopsy self.

Whoops left out old Sam. Yeah, Tomkins fullback and Widdop anywhere else in the backline. Seen very little of the guy but not many decent poms get big raps in the NRL like this lad seems to. Worthy of a spot.

As for Flanagan, again not seen a great deal of him. Interesting that he is deemed surplus as Wigan yet with the right structure around him is flying. Hmmm

I would rate a lot more of the props than that above Griffin

does seem a strange inclusion given some of names left out. But from a selfish club perspective I'm quite happy all our lads have been overlooked as we have another big turnover in playing staff and we need as long a pre-season as possible to try and gel the team.

He has been playing at 7 lately and Brough at 9.

See, I don't think that's right. I think SL was a much tougher competition 6 years ago because of the imports. I also think that younger players at the time needed to push that much harder to break into SL teams which leads to better players. The worst thing the RFL did was increase the number of teams while decreasing the number of available players.

The smartest thing to be done, if the RFL want to have a competitive England/GB team is to scrap quotas and amend the salary cap so that clubs that produce their own players are rewarded and have are able to keep hold of the young players they produce.

Shocker. Sh!te coach picks a e squad.

Where is the surprise?

Anyway, he is Englands' problem now.

Seen Flanagan a few times on Aussie TV. Not had a great season and it would be right to say he's sunk a little bit recently without trace...Ellis and Sam have looked the part though, but the Rabbito's have been using Sam at number 8 these last few games...and he's looked OK there.

And hence everyone's 'problem'.

This apathy towards the national side doesn't help. Indicative at times of the collective national psyche. Or therein lack of.

Nope. Indicative of the fact that I am Scottish and could not give a stuff about the fortunes of the England side.

So not "everyone's problem" at all. How insular.

Not for mine. The top 4 teams along in this years semi's were far far stronger than the 2004 models.



It happened at Leeds and to a degree Wigan. It's about clubs chosing to have faith or otherwise. Your point remains correct though.



Agreed with the first part. But the bun fight that would ensue with amending the salary cap for rewarding those retaining home produced players could be a 'mare. May have merits though, but for me, a simple reduction of any non EU qualified/overseas players to 2 or 3 would hit the spot. In other words eligible to play for any of the home nations, or you are in said bracket. Of course, there are employment laws but for too long these sort of issues have blighted the game and let the tail wag the dog. It could be sorted with some smart research and implementation.

But the RFL haven't the sweetbreads to do it.

For those of us in England it is. Since you identify you aren't interested, jog on with your external unvalued Scottish opinions.

Not allowed an opinion now because I am Scottish?

Great argument!

97% of your opinions on here have zero value to anyone, a quick hands up would indicate that.

That you simply use England as your bangwagon to further have a chip at Steve Mac merely demonstrates what a narcissist you are.

So from that viewpoint it's probably best your half empty glass, remains even more half empty the other side of Hadrians wall.

Hadrians.