Just wondering what kind of squad people would want to see, if they were to bear in mind that we ideally want to build for next years World Cup.

Based on current form who would you have and why?

My own opionion is too bring through some of the younger players and replace some of the oldies. Peacock and Morley Id have as trainers/advisors but not players.

Thoughts?

Firstly I'd have players playing in their natural positions. None of this Loose Forward playing at Scrum Half, and Stand Off playing on the Wing business we've sadly become accustomed to.

Agreed.

Also for got to mention originally, how many people would have Chase, or would rather have a younger "more British" option if they have one in mind?

surely lomax and mossop have to be musts in the squad aswell as charnley

I would like to see Houghton in as back up for Roby.

People may disagree but I feel Leon Pryce will play himself into the squad.

My current team would be....

Tomkins
Briscoe
Watkins/Goulding/Atkins/Bridge
Reed
Hall
Widdopp
Brough
Graham
Roby
Burgess
Hock/Westwood
Ellis
Lockers

Westwood/Hock
Mossop
McIlorum/Houghton/Burrow/Sinfield
Morley/Peacock

Pretty similar to this. IF Watkins can manage to get himself fit for the rest of the season would have him at centre, would have Charnley over Briscoe on the wing as well.
As for the forwards would possibly have Burgess at 13 and think Burrow should definately be on the bench as an impact player.
This is obviously without injuries.

couldnt agree more,sick and tired of seeing sinfield in the halfs as he doesnt offer anything barring kicking goals

would possibly have lomax in there aswell

One big positive at the moment is that it is hard to choose 2 wingers, because we have a few good ones!! Complete opposite of our usual position. Hall, you would imagine, is nailed on for 1 wing. He has all the attributes of a good winger and has a decent amount of size and power, add that to an amazing 4 nations last year and, barring injury, he has to play. The other wing is, for me, between Charnley and Briscoe. Both are young and both are great players with potential to get even better. I couldn't pick between them at the moment but they both deserve a shot at international level. Be interesting who McNamara goes with against the Exiles. I'd go with Hall and Charnley at the moment.

Tomkins
Hall
Reed
Watkins
Charnley
Chase
Brough
Graham
Roby
Peacock
Ellis
Burgess
O'Loughlin

Clark/Houghton
Mossop
Westwood
Morley

Apart from Peacock who will get in on the basis of being captain, that's probably the best team you could pick from what's available. Especially if you let them play a free flowing style instead of McNamara's usual boring one man bump.

Typical Rl fans picking players and giving no consideration to how the team will play.

To beat the Aussies you need to be able to break down their defence. This is done by either indavidual brilliance or kicking. Youneed a mix of players to do this. We have a great pack but all that can do is match the Aussies it is in the halves and the backs we have to compete.

My team would be

Tomkins
Hall
Watkins
Reed
Briscoe

Brough
Widdop


Graham
Roby
Peacock
Ellis
Burgess
Sinfield

Robinson / Burrows
Hock
Westwood
Crabtree

Two great kickers one left and one right, wingers that can catch and score tries. Strong centres. Powerful pack and 80 minute hooker with an interchange who can change a game in an instant.

A powerful hardworking bench with IMPACT who both can offload and let the halves hooker make some breaks

No Lockers? Glad you are not England coach. He is the player all the coaches pick out in super league as Wigans main man. He is awesome. Playing Sinfield is just suicide at 13.

The team I picked consists of Brough, Tomkins, Widdop and Roby who all have a good long kicking game along with Lockers who has a great short kicking game.

Tomkins

Hall
Watkins
Cudjoe
Briscoe/Charnley

Sinfield
Brough

Graham
Roby
Burgess
Ellis
Westwood
O'Loughlin

Robinson
Hock
Morley
Crabtree

Sinfield is a better attacking player than O'Loughlin and i would argue that his kicking game is as good as Broughs. His pin point accuracyb with kicks would be crucial to beating Australia.

O'Loughlin would get in any SL team and is good enough to play in the tournament BUT Sinfield offers more attacking options.

I would ideally like to see:

1. Tomkins
2. Charnley
3. Watkins
4. Reed
5. Hall
6. Widdop
7. Lomax
8. Graham
9. Roby
10. Burgess
11. Ellis
12. Wilkin
13. O'Loughlin

14. Tickle
15. Lynch
16. Mossop
17. Patrick

Fully agree its about time to ditch some of the old guard and bring in a lot more youngsters, I would also like to see players like Tickle and Lynch who have been overlooked in recent years given a chance to see what they can do.

For the first time in a very, very long time i am cautiously optimistic about an England/GB side. For years we have been equals in the pack but really struggled for backs, we now have decent competition in most positions.

I'm not saying we are actually going to win but for once i think we might actually have a chance.

My team (assuming everyone is fit)

Tomkins

Hall
Watkins
Reed
Charnley

Widdop
Brough

Graham
Roby
Mossop
Burgess
Ellis
O'Loughlin

Hock
Morley
Crabtree
Lomax

Assuming no injuries, which is pretty much impossible:

Tomkins

Charnley
Watkins
Reed
Hall

Widdop
Brough

Graham
Roby
Peacock
Burgess
Ellis
O'Loughlin

Lomax
Westwood
Hock
Carvell

Without NRL-based for Exiles games (obviously some of these could play themselves into full side):

Tomkins

Charnley
Watkins
Atkins
Hall

McGuire
Brough

Carvell
Roby
Peacock
Westwood
Jones-Buchanan
O'Loughlin

Lomax
Hock
Crabtree
Mossop

Mostly agree with this team.
I would definitely have Watkins at centre, probably charnley over briscoe as well. Burrow for me should be a must on the bench.
As for widdop not seen him or reed at all this year so unsure of these selections cannot really comment

I think what is interesting is from the numerous combinations of teams, we can also make a 2nd team that is pretty solid too, even some third string options look good...

Your team DG (which I agree with)

1 Tomkins - Jones-Bishop - Eden
2 Hall - Charnley
3 Reed - Cudjoe - Yeaman - Shenton - Bridge
4 Watkins - Atkins - Hardaker
5 Briscoe - George
6 Widdop - McGuire - Pryce
7 Brough - Lomax - Chase
8 Graham - Carvell - Hill
9 Roby - Houghton - Lunt
10 Peacock - Morley
11 Ellis - Heighington
12 S.Burgess - Tickle - Westerman
13 Sinfield - O'Loughlin -

R Burrow - Robinson - Clark
R Hock - Westwood (you can only have one maniac without common sense in the team for me!)
R Jones-Buchanan - Wilkin - Ablett
R Mossop - Crabtree - Patrick -

We certainly seem to have alot more depth than we've had previously, particularly in the backs.

I think I would add Jordan Turner and Andy Lynch to your list from Hull.

Turner has shown huge improvement since last season, and has been the stand out centre at the club this year (the other two have had injury problems, granted). I'd have him over a few on your list.

Lynch has been terrific too, playing huge minutes at a relentless pace. Again, I'd have him before a few on your list, and have every confidence he'd be capable against the Aussies.

I am confident we can avoid defeat to the Aussies and Kiwis this year.

The spine of the team picks itself imo, and looks the best we've had for a while.

1. Tomkins

6. Widdop
7. Brough

9. Roby

13. O'Loughlin


Obviously there will be injuries but with players like Chase, Pryce etc to come into contention then we might do a bit better than usual this year.

1. Tomkins
2.Hall
3.Watkins
4.Atkins
5.Charnley (Has been far superior to Bricoe this season)
6.Lomax
7.Brough
8.Graham
9.Roby
10.Peacock
11.Westwood
12.Burgess
13.Sinfield (I really would prefer to pick O'Loughlin but I dont think you can have just Brough for ingame kicking)

14.O'Loughlin
15.Morley
16.Henderson (If he's eligible he should play in my eyes)
17.Ellis

I think it's a competetive side that would beat NZ but more than likely same old same old against Aus.

Full squad would have good depth with people like Hock, BJB, Chase, Bridge and many more being unlucky to get my vote.

Whilst I think it will be the same results as always in the world cup, I really think we are begining to catch up.

Are people putting Widdop in their teams because he plays in the NRL or because you actually believe that he is the best option?

I don't follow the NRL too closely, so it's actually a proper question as opposed to one with an agenda.

From what I've seen of him he's having an excellent season.

Can't think of too many players in SL who have played as well.