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?

Lomax
Briscoe
Watkins
Reed
Hall
Widdop
Tomkins
Burgess G
Roby
Graham (c)
Westwood
Farrell
O Loughlin

Clark
Amor
Walmesley
Hill/Taylor/Ferres

Thinking about it, surprised sneyds name is yet to come up, given it's a problem area for us - surely even if he doesn't make the first 17 he'd be worth a squad place?

I think Joe Westerman has to be in with a shout this year if he continues the form he has shown so far

Would certainly be worth a look on form, he's been outstanding so far for Cas and he's a very good goal kicker too. Shenton, Sneyd, Huby & Clark all deserve consideration this year based on form so far.

2 years from now Justin Carney could be picked too







Another player who deserves consideration based on form. It's a shame Ellis retired from internationals too!

I think Sneyd had been superb! He has a magical left foot. Think this tournament is a great chance to blood players like him, see how they get on. The aren't going to win this years 4N, I'll be surprised if we make the final. Lets blood some fringe players so when it comes to the two tournaments we are more likely to win (ashes and home 4N) we have more international hardened players to replace the older lot. Unfortunately McNamara will choose same as last year. Tried and failed.

I don't know, it's kind of a hard one to call, westerman is another good shout based on form...

Fwiw, the squad I would take is:

Hardaker, Lomax
Briscoe, Charnley, Makinson
Watkins, Shenton, Reed
Widdop, Tomkins, Sneyd
Graham, Burgess (G), Hill, Walmsley, Huby/Taylor
Roby, Clark, Lunt
Whitehead, Ablett, Ferres, Farrell/Westwood
O'Loughlin, Westerman

A lot can change between now and the end of the season though (except mcnamaras selection of course) I still think were stronger in more areas than we have been in a long time

Europe :-

Fullback - Z Hardaker
Wings - T Briscoe, R Hall
Centres - K Watkins, J Reed
Outside halfback - S Tomkins
Halfback - G Widdop
Front row forwards - G Burgess, J Graham
Front forward - J Roby
Second row - C Ablett, B Ferres
Loose forward - S O'Loughlin

Interchanges - S Lunt, L Mossop, R Casty, J Westerman

1. Tomkins
2. Makinson
3. Shenton
4. Watkins
5. Hall
6. Widdop
7. Smith
8. Graham
9. Lunt
10. G.Burgess
11. Ferres
12. Bateman
13. Oloughlin

14. Clark
15.T. Burgess
16. Walmsley
17. Farrell

Going off what i have personally seem this season.

We've certainly got some good squad depth in some positions. I don't think players should be picked out of position for England. Tomkins is a full back, pick him there or not at all. If/when he starts playing as a half back (I think he will sooner rather than later) then that's the position he should play, if picked for England.

Prop is a tough one,mid be happy with any of Graham, Burgess x2, Amor, Walmsley, Taylor or Hill.

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

14. Clark
15. Huby
16. Walmsley
17. Farrell

18. Widdop
19. Sinfield
20. Whitehead
21. Hardaker
22. Westerman
23. Hill