Will be good to see what Josh Hodgson does with his opportunity, bit of a bolter considering the talk was all about Clark and the two injured hookers.

Hoping Ratchford gets some game time, he's a real talent all over the pitch and could probably even be an option at dummy half if McNamara wants to run with one hooker.

Is Widdop a decent goal kicker? Because if not there doesn't seem to be a good on there, well not one who is expected to be first choice.

Widdop has kicked for the Dragons this year.

tom briscoe has paid the price for a mediocre season and has been overtaken now by makinson and burgess (we are very strong in this area). challenge is laid down to him for next season improvements (possibly has made a few high profile errors this year which have gone against him. when he was at FC great try scorer and ball returner that he was, he always had an error in him in defence which cost points more often than not).

like the look of the squad but it does look a little light at centre (nothing new there though)

J Tomkins over Ablett????????, was a guaranteed England spot a part of the deal to get him back from Union?

how the hell is joel tomkins in the squad? what has he done ( apart from play for wigan obviously) that others haven't?

not sure about joe burgess or sarginson either, they are undoubtedly good players but one season playing for wigan and they are internationals?

it's no wonder not many people take international rugby league seriously.

Hodgson is a crazy one even with Roby and Mike Mac out. I would have thought Houghton and Lunt were both a distance ahead. Even Higham will be disappointed to miss out.

Yes because IMO we can't go with a pair from Whitehead, Farrell and Ferres. They would be too small and dominated by the back rows of NZ and Aus.

A couple of years ago I thought we was looking strong at SR with S Burgess, Ellis, Westwood and a young J Tomkins before he moved to Union. Since then we have brought through some talented SR's but they all seem to be on the small side.

Maybe a bit early for Joel, but he does add size and speed to the backrow. Plus I'm surprised at how well he's gone since coming back. Still feel there's more to come but he's not looked out of place in the last few matches at all.

Lunt has been poor this season. Carried injuries most of the time

Too many overrated Wigan players in the squad for me.

Now I know their comedy fans believe anyone who pulls on their shirt immediately becomes world class, but England will defo now take a hiding Down Under.

And how is Roby not going to be playing when he's going to playing for St Helens in the GF? He's a genuine world class player that we will miss.

Where is gaz hock

Where is gaz hock

To be fair, with Lomax (who may well have made the squad if he'd have not missed so much) and Walsh injured, a lot of Saints victories have come from grinding out wins in the middle. This is England's strongest area and whilst we've had some very good forward performers, some haven't played all that many games (Amor) and some have been inconsistent (Walmsley and LMS). All three of those mentioned should be firmly focussed on getting themselves into the international squad for next year.

Disappointed for Makinson. Whilst Burgess probably has him on natural talent, Tommy's made the most of his and the job he did on Carney the other week should have shown he was ready for the big time.

FIngers crossed this will spur the Saints lads on in the GF next week.

But only converted 66.3%. On stats Matty Smith is better

The thing about Clark is that he isn't a starting hooker. Whenever he starts he falls flat within 10 mins - but bring him on after 20 mins and he runs riot.

I don't think Clark or anybody else will run riot against Australia.

In any event, I'd want the hooker to play 80 minutes if at all possible - or get one of the other forwards to make do - rather than waste a bench spot on an out-and-out second hooker.

The squad looks weak in the backrow and a real question mark at hooker. What a difference Sam Burgess would hav emade to the pack.

All ifs n buts

But if we had SBurgess and if Hock wasn't a lunatic we'd have an amazing pack

Graham - Roby - GBurgess
Hock - S Burgess
SO'L

Whitehead
Ferres
Hill
TBurgess

Hodgson has by far outshone Danny Houghton this season and a few Hull fans have been very disappointed in him this season.. As for Lunt, I don't watch the giants enough to form an opinion on him. One thing for sure is that Hodgson can play for 80 minutes and often did for Hull KR this year.

I think although he is a good player that without the injuries Hodgson would not have made the squad...

I think your point about not having an out-and-out second hooker on the bench is likely why Hodgson has been selected. This season he has played the 80 in most games - He has a good engine and is quite big for a hooker which allows him to be alternated with the back row, which he has done to quite good effect. This means you are kind of getting a bit of utility from your bench spot. It also kind of links with your comment about a lack of depth in the second row as well.

Do we know which broadcasters are covering the tournament?

Looking at who is missing from the Aus squad, i'd say the Disney Channel.

It's an interesting squad.

Would Widdop and Smith play alongside each other?

There seem to be a lot of fullbacks in that squad. Were as other positions seem a bit light.

There's a lot of backs in that squad that can play in more than one position which could well prove vital. I actually think the squad looks quite balanced.

BBC.
Premier Sports.

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