It’s a good thing IMO, we are getting a full squad together and facing decent opposition. That simply wouldn't happen if we played over here, it would be half an England team battering France/Wales, which benefits nobody.

Why people persist in thinking Watkins is international class (or even close to being as good as Shenton) is beyond me.

Same with Hall really, has his form been any good since the treble-winning season?

An England team made up of seconds and reserves cos they wouldn't want to risk any injuries as well.

Any ideas what TV channel this will be on? 7 weeks notice to fly to Australia is a bit much.

Agree. Hall looks to have put on far too much bulk. He was never a flying winger, but he seems to have lost the pace he did have. At the moment, Lineham, Burgess and Eden are way ahead of Hall for that left wing spot.

Hall's been good so far this season for Leeds. Making plenty of ground and getting good ptb's returning the ball and good under the high ball again.

Hall would still be my first choice England winger.

Great option to play over there. We aren't playing the World Cup over here so no point in preparing for it here. Good decision for once! For me the NRL based players play well the established ones anyway. Sarginson and Turner would get nowhere near for me. I honestly believe we can beat the Aussies this year, but ONLY if we use aggression and maybe not necessarily in the right way (I know but honestly I feel this is the best chance against the Aussies as we can't out play or out possess them). And that includes Bateman (and possibly McIllorum) along with Burgess absolutely winding their pack up (Bateman is good at that as well as being a class player) and show some aggression and hatred towards the like QLD and NSW do in Origin.

I do have an issue at hooker. I want McIllorum in for the Aussie game based on my tactics but Hodgson would start otherwise (as mentioned before World Class!) and Clark needs to come on and run. But with Castleford being outstanding this season we have such a struggle with the team selection. Do we go Bateman, Whitehead, Burgess? McMeekan, Bateman, O'Loughlin? Any combination of those could be our back three in the pack. Plus with Minikin and Eden coming to the for and Hardaker round the back is there space for Hall? I think J.Burgess is nailed on for a wing spot like. Team for me vs. Samoa:

Hardaker
J.Burgess
Watkins
Shenton/Percival
Minikin
Widdop
Gale
Graham
Hodgson
G.Burgess
Bateman
McMeeken
S.Burgess

Clark
Hill
T.Burgess
O'Loughlin

I'm not convinced about Lineham. I don't think he's really gone forward since he was at Hull. Burgess, if fit, should be left winger for sure.

This is mid season Somoa remember, big chance that NRL clubs wont let any of their best players play, and most players wont want to anyway in case they have a chance of playing for Aus in November.
We would get a better game playing France, and it would mean we were playing at home at least once.

Since the last WC, Samoa have been playing with a lot of pride.
They'll give this game their best shot, and will probably win I think.

I can kinda of see your point with Watkins but Hall has only ever been awesome in an England shirt. What is it 31 tries in 31 games!

Hall is the only player that turns up against the Aussies.

Hall and Mcgillvary were the best players by far for England in the four nations and should be starting wingers.

Gil dart has been going well at left centre too. Certainly better than Watkins.

People who say Hodgson didn't stand out in SL, he was excellent for Rovers (And I'm a Hull fan), if he would have played for Leeds or Wigan he would have been close to MOS. One of the best players in NRL last year, Ok wasn't amazing for England, in the last series, but who was. Should be Clarke and Hodgson IMO.

with a bit of luck, shaul houghton and taylor wont be needed by england! its not just the one game missing, have to take in travelling back, possible jet lag in such a short turnaround

This. Will be more than happy to have no Hull lads involved personally.

How many players do you have to have involved to get your SL game called off?

5 i think

3 english lads in shaul, houghton, taylor

manu for tonga

fonoua?

Totally disagree, the more the better I say.

I'm hoping our front row of Taylor, Houghton and Watts are all in there.

Really? So you are happy for the bulk of our squad to disappear across the world to play in a meaningless game and put our own league/cup commitments in jeopardy?
My priority is Hull FC. I understand that representative honours are something every player aspires to, but during the season, FC has to come first.

We have a squad and could still put 13 players on the pitch. We let Pritchard and Manu go last year before a challenge cup game away to Saints, we took them to the cleaners.

For the game to prosper, the international game must prosper, and losing two or three players for a game or two, isn't the end of the world.

And it's good experience for those players in the progression of their careers.

As long has the dates don't coincide with some big game when things are on the line, then I'm all for international rugby taking priority, It wouldn't make me any less of a Hull FC fan, I'd still love them.

Thats the attitude I take. International game should take preference, the longer it doesnt the longer we stay behind union and the less appealing the game is for players to stay. The English RU lads get 22k per test! Ridiculous money and we should be aspiring to that level at international level

but we could also lose sika manu and mahe (depending on his nationality!), so that would be grounds for postponement of our game if our 3 english lads go too, meaning another midweek game which is what we dont want

Saturday, 6 May is the test and we play Widnes away on the Sunday. In current form I'd like to think this wouldn't be a problem...however we all know things can change.
The week after is CC weekend where anything can happen. The thought of our best players being jet lagged when we start our retention campaign doesn't fill me with joy if I'm honest.

Watkins plays right centre

I'd give up Watkins as a bad job at international level. Surely he would have shown us something by now if it was going to click for him. An out of position Hardaker or Currie would likely offer more, or Percival. I like Gildart but not sure he would be getting talked about for international honours if he played for anyone else.