As a Hull fan, pleased to see Connor given his chance, he has been quality for us all year at centre and in the halves in a disrupted season for us with injuries.

Seen a few comment already about no Scott Taylor, but he has played under painkiller for us a few times due to a shoulder injury, so happy he isn’t being risked.

[urlhttp://www.rugby-league.com/england/article/52628/three-uncapped-players-selected-for-new-zealand-test[/url

Agree about Taylor, if he's 100% fit then get him in the team but no point limiting our options before the game has even started.

Disappointing to see no Richardson or Johnstone

Williams can consider himself lucky imo. I would have gone for Richardson every time. Johnstone will play for England sooner or later, but he wasnt going to leave out Hall or McGilvray, and from what I have seen this year, Makinson just edges Johnstone.

I am pretty sure Taylor's shoulder will be the main reason he isnt involved. He was already a part of the squad and has only enhanced his reputation further this year imo. In his absence I am pleased to see Thompson get a shot though. He has been really good this year.

Really pleased for Connor. He will take to international RL like a duck to water imo. One of the most naturally gifted players I have seen. Very easy to forget he is 23.

Only one Hooker when Daryl Clark has been superb this season and Hodgson injured, is bizarre

glad to see jake connor get recognised by WB he's having an outstanding season. don't forget he's a useful goal kicker too.

and of course we all would like to see him get under the skins of the kiwis, and maybe down the line the aussies, as long as he keeps on the right side of the penalty/liability line

Would have liked to have seen Richardson in there, but we need some consistency in the HBs, they don't get that many chances to play together. Williams looks shattered though. Good to see Connor in.

Glad Makinson is in there. Mcgilvary and Hall have shown up well in England colours so deserve their place. Charnely has impressed me since his return and maybe unlucky to miss out. Johnstone still needs to do more IMO to get in. He'll play for England one day, but hasn't done enough to get in of others IMHO (he was dropped by Chester earlier in the year and arguably BJB has been playing better) but the lads obviously gifted, seems very down to earth and will be selected one day, just not yet IMO.

Decent squad IMO

Since his return, Charley has been better than Hall and McGilvary. Yes, they’ve played well for England before but I don’t buy this idea that playing well in the past should make a player an automatic selection for the future.
I can only assume George Williams has some compromising photos of Bennett. He’s been woeful when I’ve seen him play this year.

Also worth pointing out that Wigan are playing Cas on the same weekend. What money that one or two of their players suffer a minor injury the week beforehand and withdraw as a precaution, only to play the competitive game rather than a meaningless friendly?

I would have liked to have seen more of the young'er players picked for this friendly game,My picks would have been this lot even if it's just to be in the squad for the Experience which would have done them the world of good.

Richardson -Saints
A. Milner - Cas
TJ. or BJB - Wakey Spec's on
J. Connor -Hull fc [uBeen picked[/u
R.Grace -Saints
J.Walker - Leeds
J. Charmley - Wire
M. Ashurst - Wakey spec's on
J. Shaul - Hull fc


Up The Trin

A few names are certainly unlucky to miss out, but I think that's probably more down to the fact that the game is in Denver, so he's only named a travelling 19 man squad, which is sensible.

If this was a "proper" international week, Bennet would have probably picked a 24 man training squad, and had them for the week, before picking his 19&17 from there.

When you have to select 19 guys to jump straight onto a plane, it's probably best to pick from the players you already know and trust, even if their form is a little shonky.

Which is one reason why this fixture is a bit silly - it doesn't do the England setup or Bennet any favours.

I fully agree. On an occasion such as this I dont think it does any harm to take a few of the fringe players along even if they know they arent going to play. Just getting to experience being in that environment is great for players development imo.

And I dont Ashurst is a "wakey specs on" pick. He is a cracking player who would do a job for sure.

I said Luke Thompson should be in the England squad and got laughed at. Don’t see anyone laughing at that suggestion now. Been the best prop in SL this season by a mile and it’s great to see him get some recognition.

How George Williams is in I don’t know, he’s been one of the worst halves in SL this season.

Grace is Welsh (and actually Welsh by birth n’all, not just through a Great Grandmother who went on holiday there once)

By a mile? He’s just run a lot harder. Not seen his passing or offload game improve all that much at all. And through all those extra carries and metres he’s only made a modest amount of tackle busts. His footwork isn’t that good neither, he just runs straight and hard.

Richardson is starring every week for Saints, Williams is abysmal every week for Wigan. Work that selection out.

That’s how James Graham started his international career just running straight and hard and loads of carries, the offloads and passing skills came later with experience.

Plus in my opinion would get slaughtered at international level against the best

In the forwards I would have definitely had Oliver Holmes in, considering there were talks he might have to retire to come back like he has is testimony to his attitude and talent

We're not short of wingers and even if were Grace should still be nowhere near a top level international side. Thompson has been very good but the best prop [iby a mile[/i? More blinkered Saints hyperbole.....try watching opposition players now and again.

Go on then, who’s been better or close?

Scott Taylor is close (This season, although Taylor has been great for the last 4/5 seasons), his stats aren't far off Thompsons and has been injured a bot this year, including having his appendix out.

Also easier to have better stats in a dominate team.

Chris Hill isn't far off either, his go forward is similar, but miles better defensively.

Thompson deserves his chance though, been great this year, hopefully his form will continue.

Weren't only 3 players from 1 club enforced ? Might explain Richardson's omission.

Edit just seen saints have bare players involved.

And last year arguably you could say Watts was doing exactly that, in fact as good as if not better than Graham was last season and didn't even get a sniff for the England squad.
Picking Hall and McGilvary is a poor choice IMO, neither have exactly done a huge amount to impress this season particularly the latter, and even if you might say they won't let us down how can you find out if someone else might be a better option if you don't blood them in games like this which are precisely the type of game to do it



Bennett is too conservative/too afraid to lose, I'm sure he does some good things but he isn't the right person for the job just as McNamara wasn't either, he squandered a prime Burgess/Hall et al in 2013 and Bennett didn't pick the strongest squad/team available to him last year either.
Whilst it might have seemed impressive that we gave the okkers a 'scare' and only just lost by one score, I was dissapointed, bitterly so, Brown whilst he did a couple of good things simply wasn't good enough, Hill was sub par and on what he did Watts should have been well in front as should have Taylor. We also saw Bennett completely ignore the big issue everyone was talking about and that was Bateman at centre, he couldn't have got that more wrong if he tried and failed to acknowledge his error that had a significant negative effect on our attack that side of the field. Would I have still included Bateman in the 17, absolutely, I think he's as honest as the day is long and plays well above his weight.
Also Hodgson was the absolute personification of mediocre, contrast that to Roby who was superb. whilst I realise it was a tough choice, leaving Houghton out was shameful, the fact he will tackle everything in sight means it aids the fatigue factor on the forwards massively, Houghton and Roby at the WC would have brought us more reward IMHO but again bennett is too scared to do anything different and yet again this is shown in this nothing selection with players who simply don't even merit being in a 24 man squad.

Things won't change until we have a coach that can not only look after the small things that we all know can add up (marginal gains and all that) but also see past the narrow tunnel of if we keep it close we might sneak it style of play that Bennett employs

These same conversations have been taking place since I started watching rugby league. International games are a massive way forward for rugby league but supporters find it hard to get behind the team because of their own team loyalties.

People complain that Bennett doesn't try anything new but he's put three debutants in his team. Picking Conner is quite a step forward. He's hardly the robot player type that Aussie teams tend to have.
Hall and McGillivray deserve there place for me. It's not like either are playing badly for their clubs, it's just that their clubs have not quite performed at their best. They showed they can play at the top level so should keep their place. You can't judge solely on club form. Some people can score tries for fun in SL and not have a hope at International level.

Richardson is the most obvious player to be included. I think I'd have included him in the squad as he is a talent but if Bennett thinks he isn't ready then so be it. It has been a quick rise for him and he would be targeted by New Zealand if he played.

All in all I'm pretty happy with the team given those that can't play through injury.
I'm looking forward to it.

Scott Taylor now in the squad to replace the injured George Burgess