Tomkins in the halves for me too. The most gifted ball player we have that isn't 30+ years old.

Tomkins hasn't played in a year. And when he did he was poop

Unless he turns in some vintage performances he won't deserve to be anywhere near the England team

But he will be picked, by rep and club rather than form or ability

It's some Australian bloke picking the team, you know. Not Shaun Wane. Or the members of this talkboard.

Your chips will get cold if you leave them out this long!

bennett's first squad will be quite interesting

You need to replace the word 'poop' with 'injured' there pal. He played in very few games in 2015 and the ones he did he was playing with his knee totally knackered as it had been mis-diagnosed by the Warriors medical team.

In 2014 he went very well with his trys and assists stats stacking up nicely against two world superstars in Billy Slater and Greg Inglis.

He's clearly a lad England desperately need fit, in form and in the side. If he is all of those we'll be a better team for it.

I agree, players should earn their internatinoal call ups, not just get picked because of their name.
IMO, Sam Tomkins has done nothing to warrant an England call up, and especially in a position where he hasn't played for years, when there are other players that should be considered who play in that position, week in, week out.

you've not seen much of Gale this season then Willzay ?

How has Gale played generally? He looked to start well but has then maybe faded a little. He had a really poor night against us at the DW when his kicking game was all over the place which surprised me.

He'd be my pick to play alongside Widdop if he can get back to his best of last year and early this year.

Yes - decent season with a couple of niggling injuries which has caused him to miss a couple of games. He hasn't had the impact of last season granted but is still in the top 4 or 5 halves of super league stats. His display against Leeds at The Jungle was magical.

Ahh see that's where we differ, I prefer the traditional Radlinski style FB who makes the bomb a wasted kick and tackles anything that moves. Anything in attack is a bonus IMO.

Me too, A quality FB in those areas can be worth atleast 10 points a game in being a rock at the back.

Well he looked okay tonight.

Gale was sensational tonight... it was only leeds though.

Desperate for a bite tonight aren't we? all that grief from 2011 and 2012 coming out in one big burst



Look forward to seeing Wire do their usual choke job in September...maybe October

no offense, but you are the worst team in SL.

as good as gale was, you cant judge him on that display.

he was excellent though.

we are, not saying we aren't.

Gale is a top player, always seems to play well against us so was no surprise.

Like the majority of half backs he needs his pack singing from the same sheet, winning collision, offloading, quick ptb. Junior Moors, Grant Millington and Mike Mcmeekan gave him all that tonight. He was sublime though.

The main contenders at the moment should be Gale, Sneyd and Widdop.

People are talking about Tomkins as an option which I think he is, he plays in a similar role to a '6 at full back so it would be a simple transition but he must get back to fitness and form first. That said we may need him at full back given that Hardaker is playing terribly on the wing.

Have to agree.
Gale last night was top drawer (especially for a comeback game).
Of course, any half back needs a decent pack to play behind but, his all round game, running, kicking, organising, passing was close to 10/10.

He should have been given a game in the second test against the Kiwi's last season but at the moment remains an unknown at the top level but, on the basis of England having such a strong pack, I think he would do really well and he has more to his game than any of our other options.

I'd certainly add Myler and Ratchford to that list - both up there with Sneyd and Gale.

I don't think Myler is an international. He's playing well but I think he needs a Tod Carney or similar quality next to him which we don't have. Over time Myler will probably develop in a similar fashion to Maguire at Leeds but it may be too late by then. Ratchford is a decent call but wouldn't be in the halves at Warrington with Sandow and Gidley fit, in fact he wasn't in the team for a good chunk of the season. I'd have him in the squad for his utility value but not as a starter.

Shaul is currently the best English fullback this season and if he carries on in this form has to be favourite for the number one shirt. Tomkins shouldn't be picked ahead of him just because of his name and who he plays for. No doubt that he will though.
As for the halves, Sneyd is also in fantastic form. But I don't think he'll get the gig for England, I can see it been Gale and Widdop with Smith in the squad too (which I wouldn't agree with having him in there).

If I were picking an England team tomorrow then Shaul would be a very good shout, his form has been fantastic. Tomkins at his best is a class above IMO and providing he demonstrates form and fitness before the end of the season will be picked and rightly so. It does depend on him showing the form and fitness though.

I've said before a big part of who Bennet picks will depend on how he wants to play. He's a top class, if not the best coach in the game. I believe he will pick a 17 to fit a system rather than picking the best 17 players and then trying to fit them in.

www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... ed862bc74f I wonder if 18 year old Nick O'Meley might be a future England prospect? He is a very good half/5/8 who started at Hull FC before his father moved back to Australia. He spent a few years in the Newcastle Knights system, which is the best system for halves in the world right now, with 5 out of 6 of their current junior halves in NSW train on squads right now. Nick had to play with central coast under 18s this year, but he is pretty good.

www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... ed862bc74f I wonder if 18 year old Nick O'Meley might be a future England prospect? He is a very good half/5/8 who started at Hull FC before his father moved back to Australia. He spent a few years in the Newcastle Knights system, which is the best system for halves in the world right now, with 5 out of 6 of their current junior halves in NSW train on squads right now. Nick had to play with central coast under 18s this year, but he is pretty good.

I know players seem to switch international allegiance regularly these days. but I'm not sure how Nick O'Meley suddenly becomes English?