Got me stumped.

I think it's a difficult enough task as it is, without going in a man short



Most posters seem to be worried about our players' defensive ability, "Tomkins is shaky under the bomb", "Whitehead misses too many tackles" etc etc ........... however if we select a team based on ability to defend, we'll hand the iniatiative to the Convicts, our only chance against a relatively weak team, is to be bold, select players with flair, and attack them.

Don't get me wrong, I believe the ability to defend, tackle, diffuse the bomb etc is important; but if we take the conservative route, eventually after 60 minutes or so, the dam will break and the Convicts will score a load of late points.

Scores a try and was in a position to help create a try for Joel Tomkins yet Shenton appears favourite for most to be dropped from the backline.

Yes lets go back to the square peg/round hole philosophy of moving players from their club positions.

Hardaker onto the wing doesn't solve any problems IMO. If he comes in and switches with Tomkins for kicks Aus and NZ would just target Tomkins on the wing which would be arguably harder for him when wingers are attacking the kicks. I also think Hardaker would struggle a little on the wing physically trying to help the forwards like Charnley did Vs Samoa. An option could be to bring Burgess in alongside Sarginson on the left creating a partnership and then push Hall to the right with Watkins.

Starting swaping wing/fullback positions mid game seems to complicated to me to bother with. Either Tomkins is backed at fullback to do the job he's supposed to do or Hardaker is brought in to that position.

As well as I thought Smith did Saturday and as unlucky as he'd be I'm starting to edge towards moving Tomkins to halfback and bringing in Hardaker. We need to be squeaky clean on Sunday and as error free as possible and we can't afford to be letting balls bounce in our twenty because the Aussies chase will be very committed.

I think back to Cardiff last year and how easily Inglis mugged Tomkins for that high ball to score and it sort of makes up my mind.

And finally, common sense. Well done that man. Completely agree

Ferres has more skill and ability in his bootlaces than Westermans whole career

Drop Westerman for SoL
Put Ferres on from the start

That's it

Tomkins
Charnley
Watkins
Shenton
Hall
Widdop
Smith
Graham
Houghton
G Burgess
Farrell
Ferres
O'Loughlin

J Tomkins
Whitehead
Hill
T Burgess

I presume that his NRL team have found a way to protect S Tomkins from the high ball, can't we just adopt their method? Perhaps his own players running towards him and inadvertently making it difficult for the opposition?

What is it with everyone suddennly deciding on new positions for everyone? Especially Tomkins, obviously, but now Hardaker's suddenly a winger.

Give it a rest. You may think Tomkins has a better long term position than FB ( I, in common with coaches who know far more than any of us, disagree ) but the middle of an International tournament isn't the time to experiment with new positions. Every player has strengths and weaknesses. When you pick one over another, there's bound to be some skill that the rejected player executes better, but the coach makes that call. If you're unlucky enough to have a lot of competition for the place you play in, it's bad luck, but hey. The solution is never to start making room for people by playing them or others in the wrong position. Don't get me started on Sinfield.

Bit revisionist, Sam.

He wasn't signed to play in the centres. He ended up in the centres in 2011(his first year at the club) due to other players being injured, but had clearly been identified as Webb's heir apparent at full back.

He was given the number 4 squad number for 2012, but when Webb got injured yet again he slotted in at full back and stayed there. He got the full back job because of a combination of his own ability and injury to someone else, and because Leeds could cover his move to full back by bringing Ablett into the centres. The other option to replace Webb would have been Ben Jones-Bishop, but Leeds didn't have another senior winger on the books to cover the right wing position in that case.

Once Webb left at the end of 2012 to join the Dragons, he got the number one squad number and stayed there.

Don't get you started on playing a multiple Grand Final winning, Lance Todd trophy winning club stand-off at stand-off in the national side?

I know, what were all those coaches thinking? They should have picked him at hooker and made him play a completely different game to his club one.

Remind me again who gave the key passes for the Watkins and Burgess tries in the World Cup semi-final? Oh yeah. That bloke who was apparently never a half back in a month of Sundays.

What a guy. Truly, an international legend.

A shame it all came to naught. You'd think over the course of such an illustrious career he'd have mastered the art of a good solid yet fluid defensive line, as opposed to dashing out to try and tackle the most elusive player currently playing TGG and dumping his side out the World Cup with 21 seconds remaining.

1. Greg Inglis
2. Josh Mansour
3. Michael Jennings
4. Dylan Walker
5. Sione Mata’utia
6. Daly Cherry-Evans
7. Cooper Cronk
8. Aaron Woods
9. Cameron Smith (c)
10. Sam Thaiday
11. Beau Scott
12. Greg Bird
13. Corey Parker

14. Boyd Cordner
15. Robbie Farah
16. Aidan Guerra
17. Ryan Hoffman
18. Ben Hunt
19. David Klemmer
20. Josh Papalii

As a Newcastle fan it is exciting to see Sione Mataútia become the youngest ever Kangaroo, but I can't help thinking the 18 year olds defence isn't test level yet. He'll be a big kid when he grows up.

Unchanged team for England. Still no O'Loughlin. m.nrl.com/official-four-nations- ... fault.aspx Edit: It actually says at the bottom that Lockers may still play if he overcomes his injury in time.

Unchanged team for England. Still no O'Loughlin. m.nrl.com/official-four-nations- ... fault.aspx Edit: It actually says at the bottom that Lockers may still play if he overcomes his injury in time.

Has "Lockers" now beaten KC in the 'Going MIA when internationals come around' stakes yet ?

Hardly any point naming the sides by the looks of it. It sounds like McNamara is pretty much admitting we'll make changes and the Aussies have named a seven man bench with DCE down to start.

If those are the teams though and we've got no Lockers we're in trouble. That backrow isn't up to the task of facing guys like Bird and Parker.

Bird is a great player but Parker is distinctly average - Scott is more of a threat than Parker good job Luke Lewis is not included

Has Sheens not realised from last weekend he needs some props. Graham, Hill, Burgess and Burgess will have a field day.

Both Burgess brothers will need a massive improvement on last week if they are to have any kind of "field day"

Erm .......... you've left out Clark ......... and I assume by Houghton, you mean Hodgson.

The doubt over O’Loughlin is a bit of a blow as we could’ve used some steel in the back row.

Looks like Sheens is going for Parker at loose forward which means Woods and Thaiday in the front row which isn’t exactly frightening. Cherry Evans is a doubt and is defensively weak anyway. Picking an 18 year old on the wing seems like a gamble too. He’s looked promising for Newcastle but I don’t think he’s ready for Tests yet.

However England need to match the intensity of the Kiwis in defence if they’re going to get a win. Australia will be desperate.

I didn't and I did

Thanks

Parker isnt much to worry about. Woods and Thaiday at prop are not a patch on our front row. Also surprised that Dylan Walker is still in there, his confidence must be battered after last week. Charnley and Watkins need to get stuck into Matuatia and Walker from the start, make their lives a nightmare.

Clark needs to be there. With the advantage we have in the front row, the quick breaks Clark brings will be invaluable.
If SOL plays I'd drop Westerman and leave the reast as is.
I was surprised how good Farrell was and Tomkins did well enough. I could be swayed if the stats show Westerman made tons of tackles but he made some mistakes that imply he would be highlighted against a smarter team like Australia.