Lots of them stem from Shenny's ability to no look pass , bad the ball along in 1 fell swoop or Shenton's ability to draw in the opposing centre / winger. An example of this was magic weekend where Eden had 3 walk ins on the back of sublime passes from Shenton .

I think that's why Bennett will go with McGilvary and Hall on the wings as they're both powerful runners who will take the ball out hard and direct. It's also why I think we'll struggle in the centres yet again, as I don't think Watkins, Percival or Shenton offer the physicality needed. I'm not sure about playing a second-row at centre, but if he's fit maybe McQueen is worth a go alongside Watkins to beef things up, or even play Bateman there? I'd rather Bateman play at centre as I don't think we can get away with being too lightweight in the back row.

Squad i would go for
Hardaker
Tomkins
Hall
McGilveray
Makinson
Shenton
Watkins
Gale
Widdop
Williams
Hill
Burgess
Burgess
Graham
Walmsley
Hodgson
Roby
Clark
McMeeken
Whitehead
Ward (if not fit, he has snuck in to the leeds squad for Saturday, if not Heighington or Bateman)
Burgess
Oloughlin

He's scored about 4 tries in 10 weeks.

Hardaker
McGilvray
Watkins
Percival
Hall
Widdop
Gale
Hill
Roby
Graham
Whitehead
Burgess S
O'Loughlin

Hodgson
Burgess G
Walmesley
Bateman

Rest of squad
Tomkins, Eden, Shenton, Williams, Burgess G, Watts, Ward or Farrell if Ward unavailable.

Daryl Clark is in it.

Wonder whatever Hardakers done will have an effect on his selection. Ability wise he is by far our best full back. But Jesus, he was suspended for the 2013 WC and now he has done something that has forced Powell to drop arguably his best player for the clubs biggest game in their entire history. How can you trust him

Rumours on social media that what Hardakers done, will mean he won't be on the plane to OZ. What a loving waste

What’s the point in taking 3 hookers?

but will they produce for England? say again, yet to see it from widdop

Time to make your revisions..

Well teams generally play with two in the 17 anyway, so you are only one injury away from needing a third. If you don't have a third, you are forced into either playing someone out of position, or asking a player who doesn't normally play 80 mins to do so at international level after a full season. It makes absolute sense to bring a third IMO.

Or if you bring someone with the intention of playing them 80 minutes you only need 1 back up. I suspect for example, Ben Hunt is backup to Cam Smith as I'm not seeing anyone else who would be suitable to play 9 and Hunt has played a fair bit thre this year.

Conversely someone like Roby can play hooker and loose forward and at a pinch scrum half.

It also allows rotation as well as extra cover in an important position for a side (hopefully) playing 7 games in 7 weeks against pretty tough opposition after a 37 week season.

so no hardaker for the world cup?

at least we have a ready replacement at full back in sam tomkins

I want Sam Tomkins to play at FB this year for no other reason than to watch the meltdown. He hasn't earned it on merit but I suppose he has been playing in the most one dimensional team. Who knows if he had Widdop/Gale calling the plays he may surprise a few.

In case Wayne Rooney decides to tag along.

I'd go with

1 Widdop
6 Williams
7 Gale

I don't know about you but I certainly wouldn't be moving the Dally M Halfback of the Year to fullback just to accommodate an average George Williams.

Jamie Shaul deserves a crack for me.

I've always thought this is what Bennett would pick.

It is better than

Ratchford/Tompkins
Widdop
Gale

Don't think Williams is average, like most of the Wigan team poor 2nd half of the season, doesn't help playing with the worst halfback in SL.

You can’t shift the Dally M halfback of the year out of position.

We’ve looked like little kids at centre against the Aussies.

Even Bateman who is barely ever put down in SL gets ing hammered in the tackle against Australia.

Why is it, when we have the Aussie coaches coming over here, we still have players that look like 1980s players physically compared to the NRL?

Because in OZ rugby league is their major sport and they have loads of bloody good players hear our major sport is football