Washbrook?? He cant get in Hulls team.

Sean Long is too old



A bit early for this thread really isn't it.

And no, I'm not suggesting picking Ray Warren for England ....

Would add Houghton at hooker too.

So you don't think a player, who played for England last year and extremely well at that, and plays in a position that we're extremely weak in nationally WON'T be pushing for an international place? You don't even think he'll be in the training squad? Yet you think that someone who isn't even the first choice hooker in their team because of him WILL be? It's your opinion, but I think it's well off!

Robinson will be in there, and if he produces last year's form then rightly so.

Brough, I think we should be trying to get him into the England team if he keeps up some good form throughout the season. We should be looking towards 2013, and Brough may be there or there abouts by then under some good coaching from Nathan Brown.

Eastmond? Nope, not a chance. Not if he's off to union. Lee Smith didn't so well when he had one eye on union, and Eastmond will probably be the same. We need to be looking to the future, not the money grabber. He'll probably be injured anyway.

Washbrook? Can't even get into an average Hull FC team. Westerman is ahead of him, and if he continues his poor form from Cas (which so far looks like it's happening) then he won't be considered either (we paid a transfer fee to put this guy on the bench and out of position?!)

Houghton I reckon will have a big year, so should be considered, especially in the train-on squad.

Charnley I don't think will be ready. Fox should be in front of him. But there are a few coming through in the forwards that could be staking a claim. Let's see how the Burgess twins do, and the other promising Bulls and Warriors youngsters in particular. It's a shame there's not much going on in the backs.

I really wanted him to have a good tour but I think we saw in last year’s 4 Nations that Ryan Atkins simply doesn't have the tools to be an international class centre

I would look to the future (and the world cup) and focus the squad around the younger players including Lawrence, Watkins, Arundel and Charnley (who is a centre prospect in my book, not wing) with the likes of Shenton and Bridge still in the picture of course

Interestingly though, I think I’m right in saying that all the above predominately play right centre

possibly add will sharp at hull fc - see how he goes over course of the season

One to watch is Adam Milner for Cas and I think Brett Ferres may be in with a shout too.

In terms of backs for Cas, Arundel is an outsider for centre and maybe Richie Mathers may be in with a gig for the full-back spot.

Morley should not be in there nor should Fielden.

I would also question Peacock.

The England team picked for 2011 should be the players who are going to be playing in 2013.

England internationals in 2011 and 2012 are irrelevant.

ONLY 2013 and the World Cup is important. If you are not going to be playing in the world cup you should not be picked now.

It's important to get the right balance, can't ditch them all on the basis they're getting on a bit. What happens in 2013 if Peacock is still our best prop? It's a tricky one getting the right combination of players moving forward.

That is why i left the Peocock question open But definitely not Firelden or Morley.

Our youn players need experience now. At most there will be 8 to 10 meaningful games before the world cup. that is 10 games to give inexperienced players experience.

I agree with giving them experience but we still need some old heads in there for experience, guidance and culture. It's definately a case of the experienced players helping the kids to progress.

Queensland showed how it should be done, old heads were played along with a group of kids who had a number years to develop as a team, NSW chop and change and consistantly fail - unfortunately we follow the latter approach.

I know I'm biased, but I'd definately have both Elliott Whitehead and Nick Scruton in the squad at least.

I'd sooner stick Eorl Crabtree at fullback.

I could be getting this wrong, but I think Gareth Widdop could be playing at six for the storm this year, which would be excellent news for England.

Assuming Eastmond goes to Yawnion.

1. Sam Tomkins
2. Tom Briscoe
3. Michael Shenton
4. Chris Bridge
5. Ryan Hall?
6. Leon Pryce (Gareth Widdop?)
7. Danny McGuire
8. Adrian Morley
9. James Roby
10. James Graham
11. Gareth Ellis
12. Sam Burgess
13. Sean O'loughlin

-----------------------------------

14. Luke Robinson (or possibly Kevin Sinfield to hooker)
15. Eorl Crabtree - always played very well internationally.
16. Jamie Peacock
17. Ben Westwood - outperformed Joel Tomkins last year - but Gareth Hock could be within a shout.

There you go. Give it a good slating.

What has Gareth Widdop done to justify selection?

I think you should be slagging off his skill set rather than his commitment for England. Afterall it was his choice, as far as I'm aware, to represent England RL rather than clear of to Wasps



Also I agree with the above that Scruton and Whitehead should be in the training squad at the very least

So just as an example but not being biased to HKR you are talking about the likes of Liam Watts I guess?

1. Tomkins
2.
3.
4.
5.

6.
7.

8. Peacock
9. Roby
10. Morley

11. Ellis
12. Burgess
13. O'Loughlin

This should be the spine of the team imo. The rest should be picked on form. It's quite worrying that we dont have a settled half back pairing at international level.

And Matt Diskin. And, I know people will laugh, Platt at centre.

I actually think Mathers will come of age this year, still not a chance of making a return for England.

Can't really argue with that squad, if possible we desperately need a 7 in the mould of Long, Dobson and possibly Brough with McGuire at 6. Whether any of those players are eligible (or too old) is a different matter.

Widdop? Give up man!

Wilkin has great ball skills and knowledge, but is just too small.

Scruton deserves picking next time, as does Robinson.

Durham Giant - you say no to Morley, Fielden and Peacock, but how do you know they won't still be good enough in 2013. The three of them seem to get better as they get older. How many pack-players should have been too old to play for Eng RU WC winning team? In essence their age, experience and size were what won the cup for them.

Liam Watts should definitely be in contention.

If Engand are serious about the world cup and they should be as it could make RL a national game in these islands then they need to take some dramatic action.

Firstly they should name a 60 player elite squad of players who will be able to play in the world cup.

secondly they should get agreement with the SL clubs for ALL of these players to be realeased for one day a month training for the next two years with the national coaches.

the players should then be grouped and have their individual training needs identified. they should then be given special training

EG all the props work together with a coach and a senior player on how to be an international prop ( this is where Morley should be working). You should even get SL coaches agreeing to take on one of the sesions on different skills ie Nathan brown on wrestling and Michael Mc Guire on cheating



i would also bring in specialist coaches from outside the sport to teach Skills dave Walder for place kicking, Ronan O'Gara for touch kicking etc

the half backs and full backs should then be working together on their skills and then the rest of the backs and the forwards.

Then when the England team is picked for the international games the remaining players should play a warm up game along the lines of probables vs possibles. teach them some competition along the lines of you are playing today to see whether you are better than your opponent.

each of the players should be psychologically assessed over a period to identify who are the ones who have the mental toughness to be a winner.

then come the World cup we will know who are the best players, they should all be familiar with their colleagues , their should be team unity ( none of this saints and Leeds bull). Out of the 60 we should then have enough players who are able to win but also to cover for players who are injured.

This should see us through the World cup but set up an international team for the future.

These 60 players should then be publicise dto death in the run up to the world cup for marketing etc and then we can help create our own sporting celebrities.

Morley and Fielden do not have two more years and then A HIGH INTENSITY WC in them. Your analogy with the England RU forwards is wrong as they did not have to be particualrly fit compared to a RL player

From Wigan i'd say Liam Farrell should also definately be in contention, as well as perhaps Josh Charnley + Lee Mossop providing both establish themselves this year as they should, they've both shown they have the talent they just need to show it for a regular period of time as Watts + Farrell did last year.

so i'm guessing we just name a couple of random English players from our own team's squad then ??