Jack Reed has been gash this season.

Hardaker will he in the starting 13 for sure, on the wing or in the centre.

Really? Has he been that good?

He's been good but even with my Leeds glasses on I don't see a place for him in the starting 13 - he's slightly unlucky that he's up against Tomkins for that full back spot.

I suppose he could play at centre if Watkins isn't fit but I wouldn't count on it.

Thought he was awful against the Exiles. A real weak link. He doesn't play there every game so I don't think he should be a starting choice when we have far better available. Squad player at best.

Leroy Cudjoe deserves the other centre spot. He's been outstanding all year. I think Jack Reed needs to step up.

I’d think about putting Hardaker on the wing because of the utility and cover he would offer as he can cover FB and if we lost a half it would allow us to push Tomkins forward. It would also allow us to look at running some sets with Tomkins pushed a bit further forward and Hardaker as the extra runner chiming in from fullback.

Right now I would go

Tomkins
Hardaker
Watkins
Cudjoe
Hall
Widdop/Chase
Sinfield
Graham
Roby
Morley
Ellis
Westwood
S Burgess

Crabtree
G Burgess
Hill
Burrow


Charnley
Reed
Farrell
Houghton
O’loughlin
Widdop/Chase
Kirmond

Hardaker for me was one of the weakest players alongside Chase defensively against the Exiles, I would have him in the squad only to cover injuries for Full Back, or if Tomkins was moved to the halves maybe.

Morley in my eyes should not be anywhere near the England squad except to maybe help coach the forwards, same for Peacock.

On point, with so little faith in McNamara, do you think it would hurt to have some ex internationals to help coach, so Morley and Peacock as I mentioned, maybe some back to help the backs and so on?

Hardaker was played at centre in a shifted around side to test how we look with players covering positions, mid-game. An exercise to see what we can do without back against the wall. Its wrong to judge Hardaker on what he would do at wing or fullback on a game we tested him at centre in a shifted around squad.

Tomkins
Charnley
Watkins
Ratchford
Hall
Sinfield
Myler
Graham
McIllorum
Sam Burgess
Westwood
Farrell
O'Loughlin

G Burgess
Houghton
Kirmond
Hill

Jack Reed and Gareth Widdop are both injured and even if they recover in time for the world cup, they'll have little chance to prove any run of good form.

I do hope Sam Burgess gets the 13 jersey as I think he is more effective at loose forward than prop. Chris Hill and James Graham are my choice starting props, and George Burgess deserves a bench place but as for the other bench prop I am unsure. Mossop's recent form doesn't warrant a place and someone described Crabtree as having "Mr Universe physique, Mr Bean ability."

As for the opposition, this is how I think the Kangaroos will shape up:

1. Billy Slater
2. Darius Boyd
3. Greg Inglis
4. Justin Hodges
5. Brett Morris / Jarryd Hayne
6. Jonathon Thurston
7. Cooper Cronk
8. Paul Gallen
9. Cameron Smith
10. Matt Scott
11. Nate Myles
12. Sam Thaiday
13. Greg Bird

14. Daly Cherry-Evans
15. David Shillington
16. James Tamou
17. Anthony Watmough / Luke Lewis

It's interesting looking at some of the comments regarding Zaks defense, when he saves more try's than he scores. I think his defense is outstanding. Didn't realize the exiles game was that important on judging. Zak Is second only to Tomkins and on a par with watkins regarding genuine ability in the comp. That's just my opinion.

He's outstanding. Again just my opinion. Don't you have fox tel? Leeds have been on TV most weeks.

Zaks defence is definitely better than Charnleys, he is a terrible defender and looks absolutely clueless, a young kid exposed him twice in the opening quarter last night.

I wouldn't swap lomax for hardaker .

I'd say the same, but with Lomax. He's been a revelation for Saints when he's played there, although injuries have hampered him. Hopefully he'll get a good run to the end of the season. He's arguably the safest bet of all three with kicks.

Going back to the original post, I'd use Sam as a 13 and play a three prop strategy that is so popular in SL at the moment.

Using limited footage and reports from down under I'd take Graham, G Burgess, Hill and Crabtree, then play Sam loose forward. I'd take Westwood and O'Loughlin as my second rows and whilst I'm tempted by Hock, I don't think we can really justify it at the moment, probably taking Ellis, who looked good on Friday, or even Mossop. Perhaps that last spot should be taken by a more form selection like Kirmond or Ferres, or even Farrell, who was excellent at the beginning of the season.

For the last bench spot, I'd be tempted to take a second hooker. Being a Saints fan, I'd always go with Roby, although he's injured again. My second choice for a start would be Houghton, although I think some would favour Lunt (i've seen more of Houghton this season, though). My bench hooker would be clarke, either way.

If I had to pick a squad right now, it would be this.

Backs

Tomkins
Hardaker
Charnley
Hall
Lineham
Watkins
Cudjoe
Chase
Sinfield
Lomax
Widdop

Forwards

Hill
Graham
Burgess S
Burgess G
Mossop
Roby
Houghton
Westwood
Ellis
Kirmond
Farrell
O'Loughlin
Crabtree

I think Ratchford will be close to a call into the squad. I don't believe he should start, nor feature on the bench, but he is a good squad player who can feature at 1,3,4,6,7 and 9. If Sam T wasn't fit, I'd sooner see him go to fullback than Hardaker personally. I think he would be the closest fit to continue to play in the same style.

I think Ratchford will be close to a call into the squad. I don't believe he should start, nor feature on the bench, but he is a good squad player who can feature at 1,3,4,6,7 and 9. If Sam T wasn't fit, I'd sooner see him go to fullback than Hardaker personally. I think he would be the closest fit to continue to play in the same style.

I often realise that I've negelected ratchford when thinking about these squads. Given how good he is, I guess that means we haven't got quite the derth of talent we sometimes claim.

I never get people wanting our best player, playing in his best position, who won man of steel in that position playing where he hasn't playing in years.

...What?

A very good call. When we suffer injuries at Saints, people often suggest moving roby to play half back or back row because he can do a decent job, without considering that we're essentially losing a top hooker.

Peoples' motivation is getting the best possible 13(17) together. The attacking role of a 6 and a 1 aren't massively different and if Tomkins has a weakness, its with the high ball. No one mentions, however, that Tomkins is extremely good at marshalling opposition breaks.

He's our best full back, so why play him elsewhere?

George burgess was outstanding again yesterday and should be one of the first names in the 17.

Form prop in the NRL at the moment.

Sam had a great game from LF so should play there.

Think 3 props are nailed on for England in hill, graham and burgess with the 4th place up for grabs.

I'd play rachford in the centres.

Tom burgess is also starting to make an impact now in the souths 17.with luke ready to make a return maybe we could see all four selected?

Tom did ok yesterday, still some work to do.

Think a few SL props are ahead of him.

Not convinced by luke personally.