Teams have been announced - not really happy with the GB line-up but nothing we can do about it now!

Will Hopoate v Lachlan Coote
David Fusitu'a v Jermaine McGillvary
Michael Jennings v Zak Hardaker
Kotoni Staggs v Oliver Gildart
Daniel Tupou v Ryan Hall
Tuimoala Lolohea v Gareth Widdop
Ata Hingano v Jackson Hastings
Andrew Fifita v Christopher Hill
Siliva Havili v Josh Hodgson
Siosiua Taukeiaho v Luke Thompson
Ben Murdoch-Masila v John Bateman
Manu Ma'u v Elliott Whitehead
Jason Taumalolo v James Graham

INTERCHANGE

Sione Katoa v Josh Jones
Addin Fonua-Blake v Thomas Burgess
John Asiata v Jonathon Lomax
Sitili Tupouniua v Alexander Walmsley

Probably as good a team as we could have picked from the squad. Pretty uninspiring stuff other than up front where we look strong.

I would have had Lomax at 6, Widdop at 1 and Connor at 3

I appreciate that Makinson had to withdraw due to injury, but how on earth are we going into these test matches with those two wingers? Neither of them deserve to be there.

Who would you have picked, with Makinson, Manfredi and Johnstone all injured. The fact you can call on 2 trusted, experienced wingers with good try scoring records for England as 4th and 5th choices isn't too bad.

Marshall, Burgess, Grace. I'd also have looked into Naulago's heritage to see if he qualified. All wingers performing at the top of SL and all pose an attacking threat with pace. Hall looks like he should be in the 2nd row and JM demonstrated his complete lack of pace last weekend in the nines.

Pace is 'less' of an issue at Test Level. They will both provide far more go forward out of back field than Marshall and Burgess which is more important at this level and the way we currently pay under Bennett. I'll give you Grace though, very unlucky not to be included. Naulago, although he would qualify, would probably result in more arguing about non British players being picked

Hall is just a mess and an embarrassment. He's about two stone overweight and clearly isn't working hard enough to get fit. He's finished and shouldn't even be in the squad. The Roosters will play him in the WCC no doubt, but then release him mid way through the season.

He has never let England down and usually one of the top performers. You may well be right but lets see.

Bigger worry for me is still at centre. If only we could produce a few that could step up at this level instead we have to move a full back who is still not at his best in that particular role as a make shift.

Charnley, Grace, Davis, Marshall, Burgess all far more deserving.

Not so sure about Burgess and question marks either way with Grace, Davis and Marshall.
But Charnley should be ahead of both the current choices without a doubt.

hardaker looks like he has been shoehorned in (would have no problem with him at 1). why not play connor at centre who at least has played there in recent times at both club and international level

Would prefer Hardaker at FB, as I don't rate Coote. I think Gildart is too small at international level, so would have gone with Connor & Percival.

Hardaker has played centre for both club and at international level. He's also played in and won a Grand final, playing as a centre.

I dont see the problem? Hardaker is one of our country's best players, so just get him on the pitch.

How many centres/wingers have we had over the past 30 years that would get in a combined Aus/GB team of that era?

Off the top of my head I'll say Offiah, Robinson, Newlove & Hall. Struggling to think of many others. Forwards on the other hand we've had plenty.

Edit: I'll throw Jiffy into the mix as well.

But that's based on past performances. Having seen him 4 times this season in the flesh he hasn't looked the same player since before his ban.

You could make a case for Schofield mid to late 80's before he moved to 6 but yes, it's always been the biggest reason for me we have been that bit behind the Aussies, they have so much depth there mainly centres.

Slightly early for me I think that one I'm a mere spring chick at 41.



When I think of some of the bang average players we've fielded in the backs in my lifetime it's amazing we've even competed with the Aussies, never mind beaten them on occasions!

Whomever decided to play a series in NZ at this particular time in this particular year needs their heads examined. If the other lot defeat England at the weekend, then the triple header could be the most embarrassing event in the international games recent history. I am off to the tron to watch the tonga game and even that is only expected to get a 12k gate. The NZ SKY adverts feel the need to constantly refer to the team as the GB RUGBY LEAGUE LIONS......the ads seem more like infomercials and the tickets are now available at just $10 a pop....that's a fiver.
GB should walk over this Tongan select side, who are no longer a surprise package and who are pretty predictable.

At least he'll be worth sticking in the pot by the time they get to PNG.

Senior
Gleeson
Carney
Hall
McGilvery
Makinson
Schofield
Leon Pryce

Out of that list probably only Hall and Schofield would make the Aussie team. I've got nothing against the other players, each cracking players in their own right but not better than their Aus counterparts.

Leon Pryce?





Fittler, Lockyer & Daley might argue with that.

Senior, Hall and Carney were selected in the world team of the year. Makinson won the GB, Pryce was a world class outside back.

Sorry but no. He got in the GB/ England team because we had nobody else but imo he was nowhere near world class.

Ellery Hanley?