Full back: Briscoe
Wing: Hall, Fox
Centre: Eastmond, Shenton
Half backs: McGuire, Sinfield

Props: Graham, Peacock
Hooker: Moore
2nd Row: Ellis, Burgess
Loose Forward: O’Loughlin

Subs: Roby, Carvell, Morely, Crabtree

Left out Smith on the basis looking to the future, if we're more concerned about winning though, I'd play him at full back, centre, or wing.

Not sure Myler and Tomkins are ready, depsite impressive years, in what is already going to be a very inexperienced set of backs. Plus I think Sinfield and McGuire work very well together. If one of Tomkins or Myler plays, drop Sinfield to Loose, O'Loughlin to the bench and Crabtree misses out.

Oh dear

Sykes!?



Bet Inglis is ting himself

WTF! Why is someone who is leaving for another code in that squad. An absolute disgrace. Stick Leon Pryce in at centre before giving a place to someone who is defecting. A squad with the 2013 WC in mind; has Tony Smith been told by Lee that he is only going to make a few quid and return in a few years.

No Burrow is the one that really suprised me; although he still can't boss a game in the traditional no 7 style, but isn't that what makes him a great SL player.

That would be a case of cutting your nose of to spite your face.
If Smith (T) thinks Smith (L) is the best avaialble then he's 100% correct in including him.

Having seen that squad i dont think I'll bother making the England v Aus game , it will be embarassing

Come on! You were never going to go anyway

Yep , last time I went I spotted the 2 Wire muppets hitting the lone aussie fan from behind after the game in the car park , hard lads those Warrington fans

But dont think I'll bother , dont rate his ' smugness ' as a coach either , we will get ' mullered '

very close to my selection

Briscoe
Fox
Smith
Eastmond
Hall
Tomkins
Myler
Morley
Roby
Graham
Peacock
Ellis
Sinfield

Moore
Burgess
Wilkin
Crabtree

Exciting, fast, young backline with an experienced, hard working, tough set of forwards. A good mix.

I dont understand picking Eastmond at centre, he'll likely be facing Inglis, or if Smith puts Shenton at right centre as he has a bit of size about him then he'll be facing Hodges who's a big bloke. At least Bridge is a bit bigger, eastmond should either be halfback/replacement, wing or newt.

Because Eastmond has accelleration to burn, and that, combined with his balance and ball handling can prise a gap for a winger that no amount of size and power would.

I think its a good choice, just a question of how his defence holds up.

With richie Myler inside him? Not very well is your answer

Pryce has been extremely poor this season and doesn't deserve to get anywhere near the squad. He's also gone missing in th amajority of big games he's played in over the last couple of years. He left Bradford as he wanted to play 6 and had a bit of an impact for a while but he's just not consistent enough. When the going get tough, he grabs a glass









On the whole it's probably the best squad in terms of generating interest for some time. Not seeing a number of those who have continually failed at international level seems to be quite positive to the general RL public. At last the young guns will get a chance to really test themselves rather than looking good against weaker teams mid season.

In a horses-for-courses way, Eastmond has no chance of playing centre vs. Australia and NZ. Ellis will be playing there vs. the giants. This is what I think the team will be:

Smith

Eastmond
Ellis
Shenton
Hall

McGuire
Myler/Tomkins

Morley
Moore
Graham
Peacock
Burgess
Sinfield

Roby
O'Loughlin
Crabtree
Carvell

(Smith will probably do something perverse like have an impact back (Tompkins) instead of a prop on the bench, or letting Bridge or Sykes within sight of the pitch, but the above team is probably our best chance in the absence of Senior, Brough and Diskin, all of whom I'd have picked...that said the pack is strong, but the fact is that none of the backs, possibly excepting McGuire, would be first choice in any NRL backline

Tomkins must play, we aint going to beat them in the backs so Ellis at centre, Eastmond at FB for the unpredictability thats worked before.

ps Why does Scott Moore have Blackbrook against his name.

Why not?

Because he learned how to play RL at Leigh miners

could we call up chris ashton, andy farrell and danny williams? that should give RU a bit more publicity.

nahh but I just thought i'd let you know i've just got series 3 of Big Bang theory on..about as much relevance as your post

Great squad, three quarters and fb aside, really hope he is gonna play Tomkins and Maguire at hb, Myler will get eaten.., you cannot go from Salford A team training to matching Kiwis and Aussies...

Probably the best pack in world rugby league also...(if they were all playing at their peak), alas dreams dont happen....the weakness in the backs will ensure a thirty point beating..

the full series? i've only seen the first 4 episodes.

nahh just the first 4 im watching, just read the post, saw the Sheldon and thought i'd comment

Sykes is a shocking choice, they are loads of young centres that I would have in front of him.

We look so weak in the centres it's not funny.

However they are plenty of young centres coming through like Briscoe, Hall, Watkins, Lawerence etc. So lets hope so of these develop in top centres.

Again not sure why Smith goes with two impact hookers in Higham and Roby, Diskin deserves to be and starting with Roby off the bench.

Can we PLEASE forget this idea that the England pack is better than Australia or New Zealand....ever....in any idea world.......for any reason.

Its stupid and goes against actual on field results whic have proven otherwise time and time again over 30 years.


Eastmond may be quick of the mark and fast against SL ....but look at your opposition!

Greg Inglis has owned bigger, stronger and faster players like a b*tch. He has made sweet tender love to the very best defensive in the world, at ease.


And last of all, what a player has done or could do in SL.......it doesnt count at this level.

The only real shocks in that squad are:-

No Burrow - Massive loss imo
No Diskin - Better than Moore imo
No Tom Briscoe (in 4 nations squad)
No Gleeson (little bit of afters following his Wire exit?) - Still one of if not the best '3' in this country.
and
the inclusion of Sykes (not seen much of this year, and like others refer back to the WC on his last performace).
Chris Bridge - hand on heart, that was a suprise. But. I've seen him all year and since his move to replace Gleeson, no Warrington fan can have any complaints what so ever. Whether he is good enough for test footy is another question entitrely though. The Question is, name a better (fit and 'English') centre in the country that would replace him in the [usquad[/u Martin Gleeson aside?

People can moan all they like but we have NO quality 3/4s or full backs in England to match anything like Australia and NZ.