What would your England team be at this stage of the season based on form and and proven ability? Burgess won't be around and Sinfield is likely to be captain. Not a lot of changes for me from the world cup; just Makinson and Shenton who have started the season on fire. I have probably missed some players who have made a strong start to the year.

1. Tomkins
2. Makinson
3. Shenton
4. Watkins
5. Hall
6. Widdop
7. Sinfield
8. Graham
9. Roby
10. G. Burgess
11. Ferres
12. Ablett
13. O'Loughlin

14. Burrow
15. Hill
16. Westwood
17. Amor/Walmsley

From Cas this season

Shenton
Daz Clark
Huby

1. - Lomax
2. - Briscoe
3. - Watkins
4. - Reed
5. - Hall
6. - Widdop
7. - Tomkins
8. - Graham
9. - Roby
10. - G Burgess
11. - Westwood
12. - Farrell
13. - O'Loughlin

14. - Hill
15. - Walmsley
16. - Hock (maybe)
17. - M Smith / Burrows

ferres hasn't found the form he had last year as yet, whether his enforced lay off will have an affect on him remains to be seen.
if you are picking players on form then ferres wouldn't be in for me.

I suspect McNamara would go for the same. Only a fool would say that no players from the team currently second in the table would be worthy of international recognition.

Even as a Leeds fan I've got to say no to having Burrow on the bench as your back-up hooker. Rather someone like Lunt or Clark got a shot.

Wingers we look pretty strong in depth, Hall, Briscoe, Charnley, Makinson. Also when he returns from injury I'm a fan of Lineham and Burgess at Wigan is coming along nicely but probably too soon to be selected this season end with the other options available.

With the options of Lomax and Hardaker (depending on his relationship with McNamara) at FB will Tomkins be used as a halve?

Props we look good in even with the loss of Sam Burgess with the two at Saints coming along really well in addition to Graham, George Burgess and Hill.

O'Loughlin is a nailed on for Loose, but his issues with injuries is a worry.

As I mentioned a few months ago, the second row is a worry, a few really good SL level players but ones capable of facing Aus & NZ? I'm not sure.

Lomax
Briscoe Watkins Shenton Charnley
Tomkins Widdop
Graham Roby Burgess (G)
Whitehead Ferres
O'Loughlin

Lunt Ablett Hill Walmsley

I actually feel like were a lot stronger in a lot of areas than we have been in a long time - second row is a real struggle, but virtually everywhere else we have options. The more choices the better.

1. Tomkins/Hardaker
2. Briscoe/Makinson
3. Watkins
4. Reed
5. Hall
6. Sinfield
7. Lomax
8. Burgess, G
9. Roby
10. Graham
11. Farrell
12. Ablett
13. O'Loughlin

14. Widdop
15. Hill
16. Westwood
17. Walmsley

Gotta laugh at whoever doesn't pick Daz Clark.

Ironic really, considering the back row has normally always been our strong area during the SL years.

If they keep on performing at the level they are currently, J Burgess & Bateman could both be in with a shout at making the squad.

From Saints, their opening front row of Amor, Roby and Walmsley are probably their strongest asset.

Lomax is a great player, but has a lot of competition for one shirt. I'd perhaps say the advantage he has is he's the best cleaning up kicks.

Swift and Makinson will miss out to established wingers, which I'd probably agree with.

IF he can get back on the pitch and Saints can get back on track, then Mark Percival [imay[/i well make a real claim before the end of the season.

It's almost sacrilege to say it, but currently Roby wouldn't be in the side on form; he seems to be struggling the last month or so.

I'm sure he'll come good, but I think he needs a rest.

Is there a better defensive full back than Hardaker at the minute? His one on one defence is outstanding. In fact, there can't be many (if any) better attacking full backs at the moment.

I couldn't pick the wingers. We have too many that would be tough to leave out.

Hall is a safe, reliable, solid England standard winger, however based on what I've seen Makinson, Briscoe and Burgess have that extra something. Burgess in particular is fearless and has the potential to be the best winger in SL. Having played in a WCC and probably appear in semi finals or finals this season I think he'll be ready.

I'd go:
1. Lomax/Hardaker
2. Briscoe
3. Watkins
4. Reed/Shenton (possibly Bateman who put his winger away time after time on Good Friday. You don't need to be fast when you can do that)
5. Hall
6. Tomkins
7. Widdop
8. Hill
9. Roby
10. Graham
11. Ferres
12 Farrell
13, O'loughlin/Sinfield
14. Clark
15. Huby
16. Bateman/Westerman (maybe being exposed to international RL might unleash his potential)
17. G burgess

I'd like to expose some younger players to give them experience for when we need to replace the older players. The ashes and home 4N are the ones we more likely to win and we need to find players to replace them with. This tournament should be used to throw some wildcard in such as Sneyd, Huby etc

Unfortunately we're likely to see more or less the same players as last year and and not making the final. Players such as Huby will be overlooked as they don't play for a glamour club. Mike Cooper will be in though...

England need to move away from the likes of Ben Westwood and choose Elliot Whitehead. He has all the attributes to be a top second rower and has an amazing try scoring record.
Westwood has been a very good player but is now past his best.

Jones is far more likely to be in contention than Percival. He's developing into a quality centre, why saints fans don't recognise it is beyond me - it's probably a year too early this year (which is why I left him out) but in the coming year or 2 he could make a real push for it.

That said 3-4 years down the line so could Percival

but then we said that about ste tyrer as well!

Can't comment too much on Whitehead this year but it has been my impression that he tends to be a bit of a showpony who can go missing defensively or shirk the hard work when the going gets tough.

Can't help feeing that Makinson is this year's Charnley. Devastating as a finisher at SL level but not big or strong enough to have any positive impact in top-line internationals, and defensively vulnerable. Burgess and Lineham on the other hand have potentially got the attributes to be international wingers along with Briscoe and Hall.

Agree Whitehead should be in the squad. Along with Ferres he's our best offloading second-row, but you can only really play one of them in the same team alongside a workhorse.

For a squad of 25 I'd choose

Hardaker, Lomax
Briscoe, Hall, J.Burgess
Watkins, Reed, Shenton
Widdop, Sinfield, Tomkins
Graham, G.Burgess, Amor, Hill, Crabtree
Roby, Clark, McIlorum
Ferres, Westwood, Ablett, Whitehead, Bateman, O'Loughlin

If Scott Taylor carries on the way he has been then he will be difficult to overlook

At the moment...

Tomkins
Briscoe
Watkins
Reed/Shenton (both solid, but I hope Percival can stay fit and improve, and Crooks gets a run at left centre for Hull, as a quality game-breaking left centre is the weak link in our backline.)
Hall
Widdop
Sinfield
Graham
Roby
Hill
Ablett
Farrell
Flanders

Clark (no-brainer IMO)
G Burgess
Walmsley
Westwood

In Hardaker, Lomax, Shaul, Makinson, Lineham, Charnley, Burgess, Cudjoe, Russell, BJB, Broughton etc we have some good depths in the backs. We're still lacking in the halves with Widdop and Sinfield get injured. Tomkins would slot in nicely but apart from him I don't have much faith in the other options at the moment. Our depth overall in the forwards is good, but we could really do with a back rower who can provide us a x factor. Someone mentioned Hock, but I'll be shocked if he ever plays for England again.

He'd be a certainty for any England squad I was picking. Cracking player.

Tomkins is no half back, he needs the space and also he struggles to play to pattens as he nees to roam and pop up anywhere. Widdop is in, no question, any player who is rated the best stand off in the NRL at the minute must be in. His kicking game is brilliant as well. Not sure who else we have with him though 7 must be the one position we do not have an contenders for that can do the job. Luke Robinson ???

Quote ="marshman777"Tomkins is no half back, he needs the space and also he struggles to play to pattens as he nees to roam and pop up anywhere. Widdop is in, no question, any player who is rated the best stand off in the NRL at the minute must be in. His kicking game is brilliant as well. Not sure who else we have with him though 7 must be the one position we do not have an contenders for that can do the job. Luke Robinson ???'" www.canberratimes.com.au/breakin ... 3745u.html?

Quote ="marshman777"Tomkins is no half back, he needs the space and also he struggles to play to pattens as he nees to roam and pop up anywhere. Widdop is in, no question, any player who is rated the best stand off in the NRL at the minute must be in. His kicking game is brilliant as well. Not sure who else we have with him though 7 must be the one position we do not have an contenders for that can do the job. Luke Robinson ???'" www.canberratimes.com.au/breakin ... 3745u.html?