I don't think Liam Watts could have done much more to get in, if he can't get in on his performances this season, then why would he ever get in?

No O'Loughlin or Big Sam for loose forward. So I'm reckoning he's gonna play Thompson there, with Tom Burgess and Graham as the starting props and Hill, Walmsley or Philbin from the bench. Suprised Knowles didn't get a look in.

Whitehead and Bateman pick themselves in the second row, Jones or Hughes may get a bench spot, with maybe Bateman moving in to loose.

Hodgson starts with Clark likely to be coming of the bench.

Jerry and Hally look set for wing spots, I assume Gildart would be covering on the wing if needed.

Connor, Gildart and I expect Hardaker was taken as a three quarter, for centre spots.

1, 6, 7? God knows, seven players battling for three places. My best 3 would be Lomax, Widdop and Hastings. Which leaves out Coote, Austin, Williams and Trueman.

Of course Bennett may change the team around for different games.

Team I expect Bennett will pick

Coote
McGillvary
Hardaker
Connor or Gildart
Hall
Widdop
Hastings
T Burgess
Hodgson
Graham
Whitehead
Bateman
Thompson

Walmsley
Hill
Lomax
Clark or Jones/Hughes

As I correctly predicted in another thread, Bennett didn’t pick Watts because his defense isn’t good enough and Bennett loves a good defender.

Would have Gildart at centre over Connor personally

I did in deed mix the two up

Defo taylor

Although I am pleased we’ve signed green

Watts senior will be writing into the league express again, he will be furious...



Not too sure what he has to do to get picked tbh, okay his discipline isn't great but neither is Hills or Grahams for that matter and it does not stop them getting picked. I would go as far to say he was the best prop in SL this year, I just wonder how much of these players Bennett actually watches?

That’s my point it does make it right

It’s the norm and totally legal and there for it is right

Why shouldn’t they play? Because a few hacks on social media are not ok with it



Ok, I’ve got a grip
Read the OP, it’s bordering on hysterical

thing is, those having a pop at hill, his form hasn't been as good in recent years in SL, but he's always top notch for england, bennett knows he can rely on him.

Hill isn't captain at international level. The sooner wire take the captaincy off him the better.

While I agree with your sentiment, the reality of sportsmen (and women) is that they play to win and in a sense, that wont change if they are playing under "grand parent" or "heritage" rules.
I didn't notice any of the England Cricket or RU players trying any less because of these rules.
The Kiwis and South Seas sides seem to swap their allegiance from competition to competition and it doesn't affect the effort put in whatsoever.

The most disappointing aspect is that we cant produce enough quality players, especially in the halves, which has been a severe problem for over 30 years, which is pitiful.

If it's within the rules for whoever to play, then we should put out the best side possible.

Of course, we would all like them to be "totally British" but, we cant have everything.

Isn't everyone who writes to LE?

Sorry to tell you this but most players in all sports don't give a damn about that pride and passion BS. You don't need pride and passion to play well for any jersey you represent.

Your opinion, which you're entitled to, but the reality is: FROM WIKI

Michael Geoffrey Leitch was born in Burwood, Christchurch, New Zealand, to a European New Zealander father and a Fijian mother. He was raised in Christchurch where he attended St Bede's College. In 2004, at the age of 15, he went to Sapporo Yamanote High School in Sapporo, Japan, as part of St Bede's school exchange program.After finishing school he attended Tokai University and in 2008 captained the Japan national under-20 rugby union team at the Junior World Championship. He became a Japanese citizen in 2013 and officially inverted his name in Japanese from Michael Leitch to Leitch Michael

Now, he may be an exception to the rule, but he cannot be accused of being a "mercenary" and he is a proud captain of the national side. I myself was born in the UK, but have never held anything other than an Irish Passport and I have never supported a British/English side, other than those that include Irish Players (Both Lions being a good example).

The Tongan RL side is full of Aus/nz born players who clearly have enormous pride in representing Tonga and have lost money to play for them. They've helped boost the international game enormoysly by showing NRL players that Origin isn't everything.

What's weird to me is how RL seems to be the only sport where its seen to be an issue and GB/england the only country. Here in Aus the only adverse reaction is from dinosaurs like Gould who seemingly don't want international RL to grow.

Glimpses is the key word.

I believe there were 2 Tongan born players in the RLWC17 Tongan squad. Nobody in NZ or Australia batted an eyelid, but the usual suspects in RL UK were out in force.
Yes, as a Game we have 5 Nations able to call themselves a majority "national" side, with the rest made up predominantly of heritage players, but SO WHAT?
I followed Ireland to Germany in 88, Italy in 90 and America in 94. Our side was made up of scots, Irish and English born players, we didn't care a jot. I think Liverpool won the 1st division championship in 1983 without an English born player in the team......the Sky didn't collapse and football fans care little.
If a player opts to represent a country, then the only rule should be that he/she cannot move to another nation. A couple of Tongans played that duality card and that I disagree with, but a couple of Okers opting for GB is fine in my eyes.
If Ireland win the Union RWC I won't care where the players were born and I suspect a series win in 2020 for GB over the Aussies will be the same for many people.

Whilst I agree somewhat with this sentiment, there is a big difference. Australia and NZ have always raised the Pacific Islands of their BEST players - playing for Aus/NZ was always a massive step up. What GB are doing is using the same rules to borrow rejects from another tier 1 nation - that's a significant difference.

Purely on pride and building a strong team culture, we should only be picking players who have British citizenship - even if the rules allow otherwise. Picking Australian players who aren't good enough to get a game for them smacks of desperation, and will have an impact (no matter how small, subtle or sub-conscious) as it shows that our players aren't as good as their counterparts in the green and gold.

Surely, picking the best side available within the rules is the only way to go.
The pride and passion may get the supporters going a bit but, the reality is that good professional players can always lift themselves for big games and they thrive under pressure. As a nation, our inability to produce a decent halfback pairing for over 30 years has left us coming second (or worse) and some success on the field may just inspire the next generation.
As for "will have an impact (no matter how small, subtle or sub-conscious) as it shows that our players aren't as good as their counterparts in the green and gold", our "all English/British" side hasn't mustered enough of this to beat the Aussies in a series for years and maybe, a little bit of quality in the halves may get us over the line.
I believe that our current crop of forwards is better than both Aussie and New Zealand but, our backs are a little way behind and our half backs (apart from Widdop) have been bang average.

Because he is now semi retired in the south of France like the majority of players that sign a contract with the Catalan Dragons.

I do get that point, if they're better than our 'British' alternatives, they'll improve the team. But then, their own squad members know that they're only in the team as a 2nd option, and that they're not good enough to get a game for our key opposition - it's a bad look.

Ultimately, international sport shouldn't be like club sport where you 'buy in' the best possible talent - it's about representing the country you call 'home'. I'm actually all for heritage players being allowed - the Pacific island heritage players show how much pride they have to represent their family, and that's why Coote is the most palatable given his history playing for Scotland. But I wouldn't want any player who would prefer to be playing origin. We're a tier 1 nation, GB is the pinnacle, we shouldn't cheapen the Jersey with any other countries cast offs, even if they are better than the alternative and the rules permit it.

I'd rather see us lose valiantly with 17 British players.

I'm not for going back to country of birth as that does not make sense even for global passport regulations.

Would prefer eligiblity to be based on holding a valid passport for the country you represent to be the rule.

It would be a bizzare state of affairs if say the English team won the World Cup in Australia, but one of the key players who helped the team was not eligible to come for any homecoming celebrations due to having to wait for a visa application.

But it has to be the same for all teams, us going solo will not help us and probably would put us at risk with employment rights.

I would say are Austin, Hastings, Coote a significant upgrade on Lomax, Hardaker, Widdop, Williams, Tomkins and Trueman? I would personally say maybe better in some instances but not significantly.

I don't think we have to go down the avenue of picking Aussies that choose to play for us because they can't make the Aussie rep teams. I do however see Coote as fair choice as he has represented Scotland already and as this is GB makes sense.

Anyway, is what it is and we have been here before- chase Heighington Faisivlalu..

Pretty disgraceful picking all these non British players, sends out a wrong message to all the upcoming young British players. I for one will not be watching any of the GB tour.

Also we are losing far too many players to the NRL Australia will not pick players not playing in the NRL so we need to do the same. You Dont play in super league you are not eligible for national side.

Hang on England haven’t just lost have they?

I’m just trying to think what would cause an embarrassing over reaction...

If you think that would stop players going to the NRL you are delusional. They would turn down England/GB without even giving it a second thought!

How absurd for Wayne Bennett not to have selected Samuel Tomkins in the Great Britain Lions squad. He has shown in the Downer Nines that he is miles ahead in attacking skills of not only the shameful Zachary Hardaker, but also Blake Austin, Lachlan Coote, and even the Salford Flash, Jackson Hastings.

How lucky the wonderful French people are to be able to see him play almost every week during the Super League season for Catalans Dragons.

Totally agree, I actually feel a little for those who are that desperate that they desire to win at any cost employing anyone who wants to show up, I would much sooner be a gallant second watching and cheering on my country men, that being those I can Identify with and share their pride, passion and belonging.