England's team will also look very different with Tomkins, Sam, and George Burgess, Walmsley, and Jack Reed

Why are NZ no1 in the world? They got thrashed in the World Cup final by Aus.

Yep but you'll inevitably get 3/4 starters missing out for Eng/NZ/Aus next year with injuries at the end of a long season. It's not the first year we've said "we'll have Reed available for centre next year"

Plus Daryl Clark, who seems to have been dropped on the basis of having had just a good 2015 compared to a stellar 2014. And, perhaps, for not playing in the NRL.

And though I wouldn't have selected him in 2014, Dan Sarginson, when he did get on the field, showed he could get on the outside of his opposite fairly easily and serve up opportunities for Ryan Hall. He ought still to be ahead of his rivals at left centre when fit.

Exactly.

We have plenty of improvement in us also. I can see England running with a bench of Tom and George Burgess, Walmsley and Roby next year and that's a frightening prospect!

Add in the two Sams and I think we can get a little carried away. We're not perfect, we'll be third favourites and we'll need some luck but this England side has probably the best group of players I've ever known in my time watching us.

The coaching position will also be interesting but maybe that debates for another day.

I don't see why we shouldn't be optimistic. We were a whisker away from beating both Australia and NZ in the games last year and We've just beaten NZ in a test series.

We have a very good squad and depth in most positions. IMO if we had a JT or SJ we would already be the #1 side in the world. The challenge for us is developing from a good team to one with that little bit of magic to pull a play out of the hat when it really matters.

What he said.

We had a better kicking game today but we still need 2 decent centres and half backs to compete with OZ/NZ best offerings.

They beat the Aussies in the Four Nations final last year and have won three of the last five FNs and WC finals.

England were also missing players. It's worth remembering that England's 2nd XVII when everyone is fit probably looks something like:

1. Tomkins S
2. Burgess
3. Cudjoe
4. Shenton
5. Lineham
6. Williams
7. Smith
8. Cooper
9. Hodgson
10. Hill
11. Farrell
12. Ablett
13. Cuthbertson

14. Burrow
15. Huby
16. Savelio
17. Ward

It's not exactly a bad side.

Was there a four nations last year?

Yeah remember the Ryan Hall no try against the Aussies in their Blue and Maroon kit? What about the sensational Shaun Johnson in the final?! He made the Aussies look like semi-pros!

You are correct The sensational Shaun Johnson beat several Aussie tacklers to set up Manu Vatuvei's try, and later it was none other than the great Gregory Inglis who was beaten with step, swerve and speed by the sensational Shaun Johnson.

True but England are also missing Sam& George Burgess, Jack Reed, Sam Tomkins.

But more importantly, that was a young England team who are only going to get better.

Hardaker MUST be full back. He's different class to Tomkins in that position. The first two names on the team sheet must be Graham and Hardaker. If Sam Burgess recovers his pue-Union form he's a must too. All other positions up for grabs.

You can only beat what's in front of you.

This is could be a huge PR boost for RL, especially given the England Union team's crashing and burning out of their international tournament.
Let's just see if the RFL will jump on this horse and ride it

I agree. Some of his defence in this series has been first class, something I've never said about STomkins. Hardaker is better under the high ball too, while they are fairly similar quality on the ball.

Tomkins should replace Widdop in the halves, Widdop needs a big season in 2016 because the only reason I can see for him getting in the team is because he's playing in the NRL.

First thing to do is get the games held at big stadiums. Etihad, St James Park, Wembley. There is a big appetite for international RL in this country.

This has a much different feel.

England have shown great improvement in performance in recent years but have fallen short. Now they have ground out the result and got over the line. They have competition for places, more quality young players coming through and more quality to add to the squad that didn't play. England will kick on from this, it's a stepping stone.

The big difference for me is that we've consistently kept ourselves in games against the Aussies and Kiwis. For three years now we've been in each and every game against them regardless of us winning them or not. When you compare that to the past we've always had a game when we collapse in a heap but that hasn't happened in a while.

We need to kick on now. I really do think we could win that next World Cup.

They've been gradually building towards this since Mcnamara took over in 2010. The regular training camps, the professionalism of the set up, fresher younger players being selected, the cohesion of the team play. McBanana cops some flack but he's set some real foundations in place.

What it needs now is a top quality coach to swoop in and add those finishing touches to what has been built. Like Maguire taking from noble at wigan. Smith from powell at leeds. Someone who comes into the team with everything in place and pushes them on to that next level.

I know it's not a popular model, but England's current talent is result of the franchising system. Clubs weren't recruiting to stay afloat and are producing there own talent, I know the top 4 have always promoted but this England has an even spread from all clubs. 10 years ago you wouldn't of had players from cas or huds in the team. Long may it continue when you compare this England to the England of 2008

I agree 100% and said the same at the game today.

McNamara has improved many things but we just look like we need somebody to push his hard work over the line.

Either way a long term de idiom needs to be made. If he stays then he stays until after the next World Cup as a minimum.

Worst thread ever but anyway, the last time Jared Warea Hargreaves spearheaded the Kiwi pack they lost by 30.