Have you actually watched him in the last 12 months? He was the best centre in the NRL last season!!

The best centre I have ever seen was Gene Miles.

Very funny.

Morris, as Harrigan says, was the best performing centre in the NRL last year. He had a great Origin series, opposite none other than Inglis.

Hodges has had varying International success, I admit, but I think the point of this thread is comparison and he has still definitely performed better than any currently eligible English centre.

Jennings was very good in Origin last year also and not for the first time. And like with Hodges, I am yet to see an English centre that is his match.

Inglis, yep, he goes alright.

I really do like what little I've seen of Watkins, but I wait to see him against the Kangaroos. He is good, but we'll see how good.

Crikey im happy with Atkins and Watkins.

They might not be as well rounded as Inglis, Morris, Jennings et al but theyll have a go. Theyre big, pacey lads who dont mind a tackle and a run at someone opposite them. Id have no problem watching Atkins v Morris.

I agree our gigantic problem is the halves. We get kicked to death by the Aussies and then come back at them by giving Slater the ball on the full 20 metres out pretty much everytime. The ability to hit the ground with the ball from a kick seems to be absolutely bewildering to any England kicker. And it gets even more upsetting when they start taking it in turns to see who the 'best' is.

dont worry, we have the worlds best player at 6, playing so well he is keeping the best tactical kicker in the English game out of even the 40 man squad

probably going to get laughed down, but i think goulding would be much less of a gamble than atkins or cudjoe. so solid defensively with great hands, admittedly lacking athletically but a great rugby brain.

Goulding would be a great option, solid defence & great hands, doesn't seem to get the credit he deserves from a lot of people though. Heard he did a great job of keeping Atkins quiet at the DW

Cudjoe has outclassed ever centre he has lined up against this season

His game has genuinely improved leaps and bounds thanks to his time with England last season

Cudjoe has been immense in defence so far this year, anyone suggesting he isn't one of our best is judging simply by club.

+1

Watkins is a real talent. One of the most exciting threequarters I've seen come through in a few years. However, his potential hasn't yet been reached and he is criminally under used in Leeds right hand side.

Chris Bridge went well in a largly disappointing Warrington team on Friday night, looked back to a reasonable level of strength and fitness. Maybe there is time for him to force his way in to the squad?

Which squad?

Ireland or England?

He's played for both.

His last rep honours were with England, yet I'm sure the air-tight International Rules will allow players to make their minds up on what colour to wear much later in the year

As you're from Wigan people will say you're biased, but I agree with you. I think Goulding is the main reason that Charnley looks as good as he does. As you say he has good defence and reads the game well.

Attacking wise Watkins is the best centre we've got.
Defensively he's a nightmare.
Out of position at present but being shown up as not being able to tackle or defend. Getting a centre that is as good in attack and defence is going to take some finding.

So it's out of Watkins, Atkins, Reed, Goulding and Cudjoe then?

Sounds like a Leeds law firm.

In the draw between wire and Wigan, the modestly endowed Goulding gave Atkins a real head ache. Atkins is possibly the most exception physical specimen we've got, but to be a top centre, you need a bit guile and sense - I don't often see that. His lack of positional ability in defence could be made a mocker y by our international opponents.

I'm a real fan of bridge in the centre, I think he's very classy. Not seen much of him in the past year, but glad to see he's back in the running.

Nightmare is an exaggeration. His defense at centre is fine the majority of the time. Last season he lost concentration at times but, generally his tackling was solid, its not saying much but he's a better defender than Atkins, and I'd bet he's a better defender than most 21/22 year old British centres.

I think Watkins problem defensively is the same one that troubled England in the last four nations

Poor second row support inside him leaving him having to cover inside and out

Bridge is a far better player than Atkins, let us hope his knees are sorted now.....if so, he is the answer to one selection headache.

Atkins has been poor for us this season anyway.

If you think Brough a player who I have watched from being 17 and always liked is an international quality HB you have clearly lost your mind.

I'll put it simple, he doesn't have a big match mentality and never has. Only once in his whole career has he stood up and played in a big match and that was for Hull in the CCup final IMO.

Other than that he flops, usually down to loss of composure rather than effort.

The Aussies in particular would eat him alive and you would see none of his undoubted skills just a petulant and rattled player out of his depth.

McNamara may be daft but he isn't that daft.

I don't think Atkins will be anywhere near the World Cup squad.

My centres for the WC squad assuming all are fit would be Watkins, Reed and Goulding with additional cover provided by Ablett who I would pick as a backrower.

Leroy Cudjoe is the best all round english centre. He has been uniformly excellent the last two years, even when the Giants were imploding, and allies deceptive strength with decent pace, fine ball skills and great defensive positioning. Defensively he also does a great job of positioning the player inside him, which is the channel where we've often been exposed at international level.

Cudjoe has really improved since his last England performance against Aus. His defence has improved and looks a better centre than Reed and Atkins to me. He also played well in the internationals last year. I think he needs to learn how to put his winger away better, but that area of his game isn't poor.

Watkins and Cudjoe would be my centres. Both 6'3/6'4, great pace, great feet and decent hands.