And.... Josh Perry, op sorted so he can be ready for the call? Really? Born in Aus, 10 years NRL and is now OK for England?

Chris Heighington will be 13.

I think it is looking more like this. Would make our pack a bit lightweight to have Sinfield at 13. Sinfield should be considered as a stand off now i think. It would be a lot to ask him to do 30+ tackles, organise and possibly kick goals.

Heighington plays loose forward for Wests. I hope we don't put Sinfield at 13 - GB/England have tried 'ball handling' loose forwards for years and it simply doesn't work. we have halfbacks and the hooker to set up the plays. Funnily enough NZ and Australia don't need an extra playmaker, and instead prefer somebody who can provide a link if required, but also graft.

Sinfield has played to help out our poor halfs, hopefully with Brough, Widdop, Chase, Maguire, Myler and Sinfield to chose from we won't need a ball handling 13.

The modern 13 plays much more like a 3rd 2nd row these days, that is what we need.

I agree with you. Overrated. No great loss. Jeremy Smith would have shown him up. It might even be a good thing. I'm still not convinced by Widdops kicking game and if crapbanana picks Lomax and he chokes we will need Sinfields kicking or we will get hammered.

But Sinfields never kicked well in an England shirt. Saying that he's probably never been playing in the right position either.

O'Loughlin is rubbish.


O'Loughlin is overrated.



You read it on The Virtual Terrace.

I think if Brough doesnt play then Sinfield has to.

Ive only seen the first half from the Wire/Leeds game but Peacock if continuing in that form has to start with Graham, to offer us some form of presence. Roby picks himself. Back 3 of Ellis, Westwood and Sinfield if no Brough or Ellis, Westwood & Heighington if there is.

I think we need to have more faith in our HB's than reverting to having a LF who's not quite a second rower, and not quite a Stand Off.

I'd go with Heighington, Ellis + Westwood as 11,12 + 13.

HB's likely to be Chase + Widdop, with Tomkins at FB. If we had a hooker like Cam Smith, or Michael Monaghan I'd feel there was enough creativity, but Roby isn't that style of hooker. Try those combinations in a warm up game, if we feel we need a player with a bit more of a kicking game, I'd rather we put Brough in the halves rather than Sinfield at LF.

Why? I've been watching RL for more than 30 years and have seen many great loose forwards. Mr Niggle is not among them.

Why? I didn't see the likes of Mal Reilly, Steve Norton, Ellery Hanley, Paul Sculthorpe or George Nicholls every week either, but it was clear that they were outstanding No 13s. Mr Niggle is not.

It's funny how lots of people think Lockers is overrated. Apart from the England coaches that is.

What would they know compared to all the experts on here.

When I used this ' GB coach selection' argument to support Jon Clarke there were not many takers...................

Not sure where the 'niggle' description come from. I think you need to move on from the O'Loughlin of 5 years ago to the O'Loughlin of today, a very hard-working, devastating tackler with a great pair of hands and a good kicking game when required.

O'Loughlin isn't a Hanley or Reilly. But he's still a fantastic player and he's probably been the first name on Maguire's teamsheet every week.

Anyone who doesn't think he's a big loss to England either doesn't watch much RL, or doesn't understand it.

He might not be an all time great but he is miles better than anything else weve got.

So because people didn't like your argument then, you've decided to do an about turn and use the argument people used against you?

He is very average and a head hunter
Hardly a great combo.
If he is missed then England are in bigger trouble than I thought.

Bit convoluted, your thinking. Try running it the other way - Jon Clarke will be a big miss for England this Autumn.

Your first point answers itself. Your second point is nonsense - I've seen as much RL as virtually anyone on these boards (although admittedly only ever played it at a very lowly second-team grade amateur level ) and understand it as well as most.

Whilst you are entitled to your opinion, the fact that he is the only British player currently playing who has won a man of the series at International level rather disproves your theory.

O'Loughlin is the best we have for a 13 at International level.
Trouble is our player pool is too small hence we bring in foreign born players.
Lockers out and on here it's Heighington.
Widdop may play or may not, if not then Chase will come in.
At least Reed and Widdop were born here.

One out of the back door for selection in the pack, Gareth Hock.
If brought into the squad will have to sit out one game due to the ban.
He's big, powerful, pacey, skillful and physical enough to take on the Aussies.
If he was selected he'd be the most skillful player in the pack.
Anyone with any thoughts on the possible selection of Gaz Hock?