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 ??

Good post. For me the biggest let down with England is the quality of coaching. The players picked in the squad should be experiencing a level of coaching that is at least as good as what they get at their own club. At the moment they are going from high quality coaching at their club to coaches that have proved not good enough at sl level.

The spine of the team doesn't include the best prop in the country but does include 2 props that could be past it by the time the world cup comes around? Interesting.

I'd agree with Beefy. From Bradford Scruton and Whitehead should push themselves into contention.

Walker & Platt could have an outside chance of a squad place seen as we're not too strong at centre (Tony Clubb got in!)

Tomkins
Graham
Ellis
Burgess
Lockers
Roby

These are the only must players in the England side. All are world class on their day and will all definantly be around for the WC, some of them should be hitting their prime come the WC.

The rest of the places are up for grabs and many depend on the longevity of players like Morley and Peacock.

I wouldn't say o loughlin is a certainty. He can be a very good player but maybe not world class. I fancy Harrison to make a big push for the LF jersey.

Assuming Eastmond stays (optimistic):

1. Tomkins
2. Jones-Bishop
3. Shenton
4. Bridge
5. Briscoe
6. Pryce
7. Eastmond (McGuire if he goes)
8. Peacock
9. Roby
10. Graham
11. Ellis
12. Burgess
13. O'Loughlin / Sinfield (Possibly inclined for Sinfield for the specialist goal kicker)

14. Morley
15. Crabtree
16. Sinfield / Harrison
17. Westwood

Harrisons not a touch on Lockers. I see Harrison as a prop playing at LF, definately wouldn't get in ahead of O'loughlin though.

Harrison is a good player who will only get better and compete for England for years to come, Lockers is without doubt a world class 13 and the best we've got. I'd say Harrison and Lee Mossop will both move forward to prop, along with Graham will be the cornerstone of the England pack for years to come.

Whitehead is a year or two away perhaps?


Scruton should be there without doubt.

The best prop in the country in your opinion (as a saints fan). My opinion is that Jamie Peacock is still by far the best prop in the country. The title of the thread is "England team this year", not "England team for 2013". hth.

for me:

Tomkins
Briscoe
Shenton
Cudjoe / Lawrence / Welham
Hall
McGuire / Pryce
Brough / McGuire...I'm sure Brough could get around it though.
Morley / Fielden
Roby
Graham
Ellis
Westwood
O'Loughlin

Burgess
Whitehead / Watts
Crabtree
Sinfield

I just never understand this view on Lockers. He he is one of the best defenders in the whole competition. He has a huge passing range, great organisational skills, he makes the hard yards, he can play more than one position including 6 if desperatly needed. He is a natural leader. He has always performed well on the international stage.

O'loughlin is pretty much head and shoulders above all other 13's at the min... in regards Harrison... he will end up as a prop.

Where is Westwood in that selection? One of the small minority who performed down under, and must be on from the start, IMO.