would love to see sneyd given a go, he's in great form and whilst i accept its a step up in class, he's going to be involved in some pretty big games between now and the tournament. he is also used to playing behind a dominant pack of forwards

as a biased FC fan i would also like to see scott taylor included - hes probably going better than g burgess at the moment. him and hill are the best 2 props in the league

houghton is genuinely unlucky in that there are 3 excellent hookers currently ahead of him in the pecking order. but at least he will get a well deserved rest after the season

Hall should be one of the first names on the team sheet. His ability to eat up the metres on kick returns are invaluable against the big two and his finishing ability has been proven time and again on the biggest stage.

bateman got to be in, best 2nd rower in sl

I'd read that Sam Burgess and one of the other brothers weren't all that this season. Anyone watch the NRL regularly confirm/deny that?
Bateman is not the best 2nd rower in SL, that'd be Mark Minichello, he might have a shout for one of the top ENGLISH 2nd rowers.

Tomkins broughton Watkins cudjoe magillvary gale Sneyd graham hodgson hill s burgess whitehead Bateman subs g burgess Taylor Currie Houghtön

I agree. I hope he gets nowhere near selection at the end of the season.

1. He doesn't deserve a place, swanning in halfway through the season and hardly setting the world alight.

2. He's clearly still recovering from his injury and would benefit a full off-season.

I'd pick Gale, and Brown in the halves at the moment. 2 experienced halves with a good all round game. I'm not convinced by Sneyd, he seems to have a good left boot, but seems somewhat one dimensional to me.

George is doing OK, Sam looks as though he is bearing the weight of expectation and struggling. It doesn't help either that Souths invested so much into bringing Sam back they've lost the balance of the squad by letting others go to accommodate him under the cap.

The first one of your post puts you on a similar level to the thread instigator. Feel free to debate whether you think Tomkins should be in the England side or not, I believe he is the best English full back, others will disagree. To suggest either Tierney or Sarg are better is either a pathetic troll attempt or demonstrates a complete lack of knowledge about the sport.

from what i've seen there's no real problem with sam, he's knocking out decent performances, perhaps not at the level he was in his first stint but still pretty good. to be fair the whole souths team hasn't been on it this season after a decent start. the main problem is tom burgess. he's lost form and doesn't seem to want to be at south sydney anymore. he was rumoured to want to try his hand at gridiron but not sure if anything came of this

better to have one good foot than 2 s**t ones though

1. Tomkins
2. McGilvary
3. Watkins
4. Atkins
5. Hall
6. Widdopp
7. Hodgkinson
8. Graham
9. Hodgson
10. G Burgess
11. Cooper
12. Westwood
13. S Burgess

14. Roby
15. Hill
16. Whitehead
17. O'Loughlin

I think we need to start the game with the biggest and most powerful pack we can. Bateman is too small to play international level in the forwards IMO. Westwood is knocking on a bit but still has something to offer in fairly short spells. McGilvary and Hall on the wings are no brainers.

The people on this thread who omit Elliot Whitehead cannot have been watching Canberra play (and Canberra is now 3rd on the NRL ladder). Though he is not as dominant as Joshua Hodgson in the team, Whitehead has been outstanding in defence every week, and has done some spectacular things in attack over the season. He is a necessity for England.

On form (and form should be the main criterion), Jodie Broughton has been a far better winger than Ryan Hall in 2016.

Broughton is a bit small nowadays. Like it or not you need your wingers to be able to run the ball back hard from kicks. If we could choose someone else I wouldn't go near Widdopp as his form has been generally awful.

1. Shaul
2. Hall
3. Watkins
4. Percival
5. Broughton
6. Gale
7. Sneyd
8. Graham
9. Roby
10. G Burgess
11. Ellis
12. S. Burgess
13. Whitehead

PROPS:
Taylor
Walmsley
Hill
Watts

2ND ROWERS:
Ben Currie
Jack Hughes
Bateman
Greenwood
Westerman

BACKS:
Burgess
Solomona (if available)
Ratchford
Atkins
Jack Owens

OTHERS:
Cooper
Hodkinson
Houghton
Tomkins
O'Loughlin
Swift

Lomax
McGillvary
Watkins
Percival
Hall
Williams
Gale
Graham
Hodgson
Hill
Whitehead
Currie
S Burgess

G Burgess
Walmsley
Bateman
Clark

Rest of squad
Hardaker
Shaul
Widdop
Roby
T Burgess
Taylor
Hughes

Sam Tomkins is meant to be carrying an injury so I'd hope he'd be left out as its pointless trying to carry somebody. I'd go Lomax at fullback as I think his alround game is better suited at international level then Shaul or Hardaker.

I think the time has come for O'Loughlin to step away. He was fantastic against the Kiwis last year and that would be a fine swan song. He's missed a lot of games for us again and when he does play he looks more then his age.

The only other area that needs any thought IMO is which three you pick from Williams, Widdop, Gale and Sneyd. All four have solid claims! Williams has a piece of magic in him and I'd have to find a place for him. I think Gale warrants a call so it's between Widdop and Sneyd for the last spot. It's a tough call that one!

Lomax? When was the last time he played an international game? Why is it we don't give the form players e.g Shaul a chance now when they are in form?

No one is saying Shaul has not has a good season, he has and has been playing very well. What he doesn't have is the ability to act as a third half, he's a runner not a ball player. To break down the Australians and New Zealanders IMO we need a ball playing full back, Shaul is not that person.

One thing I am certain of is Bennett will have an idea of how he wants to play and will select players to fit that system rather than selecting players and then trying to make it work. If he wants a running full back then he'll probably select Shaul, if he wants a ball player then it's more likely Tomkins or Lomax (possibly even Ratchford).

1. Tomkins
2. McGillvary
3. Watkins
4. Currie
5. Hall
6. Widdop
7. Gale
8. S. Burgess
9. Hodgson
10. Graham
11. Whitehead
12. Farrell
13. O'Loughlin

14. Hill
15. Bateman
16. Roby or Clark (Happy with either)
17. Taylor

Rest of squad

Ratchford
Briscoe
Percivil
Williams
Sneyd
G. Burgess
Westwood

These pick your England team threads don't half make me laugh!

1. Shaul
2. McGillivray
3. Percival
4. Atkins
5. Solomona (seems Sky say he's eligible now, I thought it was next season

)
6. Hodkinson
7. Gale
8. Graham
9. Hodgson
10. G. Burgess
11. Currie
12. Bateman
13. S. Burgess

14. Clark
15. Whitehead
16. Hill
17. Taylor

Qualifying players who are good enough should get picked.

I'd be tempted to play Widdop at FB

Widdop
Hall
Watkins
Cudjoe
Mcgillvary
Williams
Gale
Hill
Hodgson
Graham
Whitehead
Bateman
Burgess

Roby
G Burgess
Taylor
Currie

Hodgson, Whitehead and Hill should be the first names on the team sheet for me. I'd probably go something like this.

1. Shaul
2. Hall (Manfredi is injured)
3. God knows, Cudjoe? as a wildcard this is where Hardaker has played for Penrith, but the selection wouldn't be on form.
4. Watkins (Lack of options)
5. Mcgilveray (sp?)
6. Widdop
7. Gale
8. Hill
9. Hodgson
10. Graham
11.Whitehead
12. S. Burgess (Would prefer to see him rest but won't happen).
13. O'Loughlin (he's the captain so will play).

14. Clark. (Roby and Houghton both good hookers, but Clark brings more from the bench).
15.Bateman (we always have a spell where we seem to flag, Bateman sent on with his enthusiastic play to counteract this).
16. G./T. Burgess/Mike Cooper. None have been excellent, I'd hope some would find form for England, but wouldn't play them over some of our other good choices at prop.
17. Scott Taylor.

Also in squad, Sneyd, Tom Johnstone, Alex Walmsley, Joe Greenwood, S. Tomkins, Jodie Broughton, literally any othe person who can play centre.

Purposefully not picked because of my own beliefs about eligibility, anyone with an Australian accent, Danny Brough, Ben Currie.

Half the players mentioned here would have drawn howls of derision a few months back

Saints fans still picking Roby at 9 is the best.