Full squad: Ablett, Atkins, Briscoe, S.Burgess, Burrow, Charnley, Chase, Cudjoe, Ellis, Graham, Hall, Hardaker, Hill, Hock, JJB, Mcllorum,Morley, Mossop, Myler, O'Loughlin, Sinfield, Tomkins, Watkins, Westwood



why pick graham when he's going to get banned

Picked Graham probably before the GF.
I can also see Westwood withdrawing so he can get fit as he's clearly not 100% with his knee.

Based on the remaining 22, I'd have; (can't decide on right centre)
Tomkins
Hall (Cudjoe/Watkins) Atkins Briscoe
Chase Myler
Burgess Burrow Hill
Hock Ellis
O'Loughlin
Bench - Sinfield Morley Mossop JJB

picked graham before the grand final??? lol


the squad was announced this morning....if mcnamara can't select a replacement in the 2 days since the grand final then its another reason why he should'nt be picking the team....

1 Tomkins
2 Charnley
3 Hardaker
4 Watkins
5 Hall
6 Chase
7 Myler
8 S.Burgess
9 McIlorum
10 Mossop
11 Ellis
12 Hock
13 O'Loughlin
S Burrow
S Hill
S Ablett
S JJB

I've left Westwood and Graham out as they probably won't play.

Bit worried about how weak the team looks when you takea few players out, I think it looks very, very strong with Reed, Brough, Widdop, Graham, L.Burgess, Westwood, Ratchford & Roby added to it though.

Possibly because he hasn't actually been banned yet?

We all know it's highly likely that he will get a lengthy ban, but until he receives it he is technically available. I suppose it will also mean that the England games will count towards any ban he may get if he can show he would have been selected.

Luke Burgess?

why would mcnamara want these games to count towards his ban?? surely its better for england if he misses a further 3 NRL games??? why pick a 24 man squad knowing only 23 of them can be played??....as usually we've missed the chance to have a look at someone else!

1. Tomkins (or Hardaker if Tomkins isn't fit)
2. Charnley
3. Watkins
4. Atkins
5. Hall
6. Sinfield
7. Myler
8. Burgess
9. McIlorum
10. Morley
11. Ellis
12. Westwood (if Westwood out - then Hock starts, JJB to bench)
13. O'Loughlin

14. Burrow
15. Hill
16. Hock
17. Graham (Mossop if Graham is suspended)

Am surprised there's no Roby, is he injured? I would have preferred to have the 1,6,7 & 9 playing in these games that are going to play in the World Cup next year.

roby has been rested

I can see Tomkins withdrawing from the squad, as a Wigan fan I would much rather he just had a long offseason to recover instead of playing meaningless friendlies.

Good job he is playing an international tournament then, I would hope he has enough respect for the England shirt and the Welsh and French players not to treat them as second class, and a competitive tournament against them as a meaningless friendly.

More the issue he's obviously injured, and that playing him anyway probably isn't the best idea long or short term.



1. Hardaker (Tomkins)
2. Charnley/Briscoe
3. Watkins (Reed maybe)
4. Atkins
5. Hall
6. Sinfield (Widdop)
7. Chase/Myler (Brough)
8. Burgess
9. McIlorum (Roby)
10. Hill
11. Ellis
12. Ablett (Westwood)
13. O'Loughlin

14. Morley (Graham)
15. Mossop
16. Hock
17. Burrow

With straight swaps for the (players) next year, as my hope atm.

Without being too disrepectful to Wales and France, these fixtures do give Mr Macnamara an ideal opportunity to try some of the fringe players, therefore if there are any players with injury hassles, then we should promote some of the younger players.

Am I right in thinking Micky mac still has 1 game left from his ban?

Hall and Reed worked really well last year on the right, but both play on the left normally, dont see why you break up that.

Fair point. The alternatives just don't seem much better to me.
Left Wingers: Hall, Briscoe
Right Wingers: Charnley
Left Centres: Atkins, Reed
Right Centres: Watkins

So in that order it would read Hall-Atkins-Watkins-Charnley, as imo Atkins has been better than Reed. However I don't think I would trust Watkins and Charnley together in defence, and Reed is probably the best defensive player to counter that, also showing he is capable at Right Centre. Therefore I'd go for the above. Unless they both improve defensively, which I hope they do (W+C).

I have a feeling there will be a few withdrawals from this squad for close season operations/niggling injuries etc, especially as it isnt a top level international series

I think as long as we treat France and Wales as meaningless friendlies, or preparation for something else, they will always be looked on as 2nd class and our international game will never grow.

If Tomkins is injured then yes, leave him out. But beating France and Wales in a comp, should be as important as beating Aus and NZ. I don’t think his current injury would be taking him out of a 4 nations or WC.

The exiles is a training exercise and is the time to try new combinations, we should respect France and Wales as our international opponents.

Although you may be right, if we do field our strongest team and thrash Wales out of sight (France will be a tougher fixture), this will do nothing to improve the perception, or the spectacle, of our game at international level.

Spot on.

As well as this, we look to the Aussies and Kiwis to play us, a team which has hardly beaten either team for about 40 years, in order to improve/maintain our own standard so why should we not therefore play Wales and France so that they can improve/maintain theirs? Surely to have a northern hemipshere challenge would be great? If so, the only way that is ever going to happen is for England to participate fully in a tri nations series with them, regardless of their present standard.

Been superb this season.

Is it just me that doesn't rate Atkins? Not trying to be harsh, and I know centres arn't our strength.

He's been ok, superb is an exaggeration in my opinion. Watched most Souths games.

I can't remember him having a bad game, or even making a bad mistake in a game, maybe he's a steady hard working prop now, but maybe we need that rather than panicking every time Carvell gets the ball, knowing we're about to lose possesion.

I support the decision to give players such as Hardaker some international experience against a 'lesser side' (I don't mean this disrespectfully, I mean it realistically as France and Wales have nothing on Aus or NZ imo), but I would have liked to have seen Danny Houghton get a callup, especially as Roby isn't selected. Houghton's been fantastic for Hull FC this year.

awesome athlete, not necessarily a great centre.