how sinfield is in before brough is beyond me, didnt this brainless coach watch last years tri nations final, where our kicking game was non existant, looks like we are going for the same game plan again, we will never beat the aussies without one, thats why the best english kicker in the game brough should have played, doesnt really matter if we beat the exiles or not when it comes to the world cup if he persists with sinfield as our kicker weve no chance. as for the others how peacock and ablett are in is laughable, what message does that send out to the aussies and kiwis other than a joke.

I don't think McNamara did watch last years Tri Nations final. He was probably at the Four Nations final instead.

I don't really disagree. However, look at the game before the final against NZ, our kicking game Sinfield's inparticular was excellent, and in comparison NZ and Benji Marshall's was poor. Thats because our forwards laid a platform and we were kicking the ball from good field position. Where as in the final our forwards were dominated and we were kicking he ball from poor field position. I agree our kicking game has been poor over the years but its not as simple as just picking players with good kicking games, Sinfield and Brough both have very good kicking games and have proven that time and time again for their clubs playing behind a good set of forwards who lay a platform and provide good field position. England's problem is despite the myth of having the worlds best pack the pack have failed to get the better of the opposition time and again. Yes their stats are comparable to the Aussies but their all round play such as off ball running, speed, and technique is nowhere near that of the Aussie forwards.

Agree with Charlie Sheen, whoever played in the halves for England against the Aussies in the last 4 Nations Final would of struggled as the forwards got well beaten and the Aussies put excellent pressure on whoever got the ball on the last tackle, Brough wouldn't of faired any better, hell you could of put Lockyer and Thurston in and they too would of struggled. Its also a carbon copy of what is happening to Sinfield most weeks at Leeds, the last time the pack played really well and dominated things, Catalans at Home, Sinfield was great with the boot, and we scored 3 tries that came from his kicking. Put him behind a good performing pack and Sinfield will play well.

Has the RFL got some kind of deal with Kevin Sinfield where he HAS to play every international, and in an important position regardless of form or who else could play that position ??

Awful selection ....its almost embarrasing that some of those names keep getting a shirt !

forgot it was four nations

, still think sinfield shouldnt be our main kicker in the side, my point is still valid yes in the game against nz sinfield played well, but if we want to win the world cup we will have to beat the aussies and that means brough to be the main kicker in my eyes he is much more likely to pin them back in their own 20 for me which is what we fail to do on a regular basis at that level, thus allowing their forwards to start further up field , were as we always seem to start in our own 20.

Only just seen the team

I just don't get it. Is McB just trying to wind everyone up

Awful squad. I think we could be in for a spanking. Good news is it's a two agme series so HOPEFULLY mcnamara will see that Sinfield, Ablett and Peacock aren't up to it. We finally have some depth and some exciting young players and Mcnamara chooses a slow stand off who has never cracke dit at international level, a second rower playing centre. Why not play Briscoe at centre!!!

cant do that bull mania he his a back and not playing in the form side thats the rhinos

That seems to be his priority!

Ridiculous statement of the year.

To be honest the selection is not as bad as people make out, we have no idea about what people have been doing in training etc. I though it was bad at first but we will put out a much better side than that at the end of the year.

The only thing that baffles me is the amount of Leeds players. JJB and Sinfield have not been better than Brough or (insert the name of an english second rower here)... Sinfield should not be near the shirt.

At the end of the day he has picked Tickle who is a FORM player, we have been asking for this for so long. Ablett is in good form in my opinion but he is being played out of position, perhaps he just wants to see how he will go at this level?

Don't forget though, this team will change so much for the WC, I wouldn't panic, I still think we'll put out the best 17 for a long time once we get to october 2013.

We will have the likes of Ellis, Burgess, Reed, Heighington, Graham and Widdop.... all of which would be straight into my 17.

Tomkins
Charnley/Briscoe
Reed
Atkins
Hall
Chase/Widdop/Lomax
Chase/Brough
Mossop
Roby
Graham
Ellis
Burgess
Lockers

Westwood
Heighington
Crabtree
Carvell/....

I don't think we would struggle in the forwards with that lot to be honest.

Still baffles me some of the selections but we don't know enough about what they have been doing at training etc. to know why he has made those calls. If Steve Mac has seen those 17 players putting in the most effort and showing the most pride in the shirt, I suppose I back him, but like I said, the 17 will look far different come the end of the season and the WC.

why has he picked abblett in the centre when he isn't even a centre when he could of picked goulding who is an inform centre and everyone under the sun knows sinfield can't play 6 at international level and he can only just play 6 at club level

sometimes i wonder if are kid steve knows what he's doing

A pile of crap as usual, "picking players in form" is a load of bull. Peacock & JJB in form? to name but two. McNamara can't even talk a good game! Talks alot and says nothing, can't stand the bloke!

I could be wrong but I reckon Ablett has played more at centre than 2nd row the last few years. He played there in the CC and GF IIRC and scored a try. He's not a bad centre by any means. I wouldn't have picked him though.

I don't understand why JJB is getting so much stick, he was one of our better players in the last 4Ns.

Thing is, though, I don't think it will. With McBanana in charge I think Sinfield will still be 6, Chase still 7 and Peacock still playing while shuffling behind his zimmer. It's discouraging.

I would have gone with something along these lines:

Tomkins
Charnley Goulding Atkins Hall
Lomax Brough
Crabtree Roby Mossop
Hock JJB
O'Loughlin

Burrow, Prescott, Hill, Tickle

Burgess, Westwood, Graham, Reed, Ellis, Mcguire, Widdop all to come in after injury and availability for the world cup (obviously this would change upon form). now should be the end of the road for the likes of peacock, sinfield and morley as we need to build for the WC and beyond. Roby as captain for me!

I know the Giants have not been on form but Brough has been one of our better players. Don't think he's injured and had worked hard for his place. Just seems certain players can just walk into the England squad!

Only just had chance to reply to this.

Complete rubbish, i'm not the kind of person to jump on someones back, but has Sinfield not proved he's a very good Super League player and a very average International player?

Ablett isn't a centre.

Peaock is past it, and will be more so by next year.

JJB is recovering from injury.

I don't want to Leeds bash, I think Watkins is a huge miss.

Agree on McIlorum, he's a decent player well coached. Also he's played for Ireland, sorry play for them instead, you made your choice.

Also I think Danny Washbrook, Andy Lynch, Chris Hill, Greg Eden and Darryl Goulding deserve a shout from what i've seen, and none of them are in either squad.

Kris Welhams missed 45 tackles this year, saying that Abletts missed 39.

Another criticism is Rhys Evans being in the Knights squad, he's played 2 games this year, and is Welsh.

Thinking about it, i'd rather have Matty Smith at HB than Sinfield. At least his form deserves it.

Rhys Evans nailed his England colours to the wall very early on, he's eligible to play for England and didn't want to play for Wales.

But he hasn't earned his place in the squad either way.

Typical Rugby League fan at my work, he doesn't agree with the England squad so he wants the Exiles to win. It must be the only sport were English people want England to lose. Baffles me

I do like the cries of Sinfield is a poor international player. He's won MOM against the Kiwi's in '09 at hooker and in 2011 at 6, he helped set up 3 of the 4 tries England scored at Wembley vs the Aussies including one from a kick. He didn't play well in the Final but then again who do in a white shirt?
And as for the 'he's proven he's not an International 6'........how many players in the SL era have 'proven' themselves in the halves for England/GB exactly??? Or actually how many players in any position???

I love how Matty Smith is suddenly in the frame just because he's been linked with Wigan. He's done love all this season.

I'm a massive fan of Sinfield, as a player, as a captain & as a person. I agree his best games for GB have probably been at hooker, but he is not the best option at 6 in this game or in near or distant future IMO. No one would agree exactly with any team Banana put out (except some Pie fans if 17 Pies were picked), some of the reaction on here is pathetic.