But then is it not damning to the other code that he can pitch up, never having played the sport before, and get in their England team?

Why would not playing since 2013 exclude him from Captaincy?
He's a club captain, a cup winning club captain at that, and he is available to be picked, and is picked. I'd say that puts him in a good position.

His competition was Hill and Graham. I wouldn't have been offended with either of those but I think Burgess is much more media savvy and is a respected player among his peers. So he get's my vote.
I couldn't care less where he played the year before last. It's not like he's missed a lot of games for England since 2013. 7 I think.

Ward in for Ferres - happy with Ferres being out, but Ward? Really?

Agree and he plays 80 minutes, so that a bonus especially as Captain. Personally I think he'll make an excellent England Captain.

Would it be damaging to RU if we manage to win the 4 Nations with pictures of Burgess lifting the trophy as captain?

Surely not? Isn't he just back from an ACL tear after a year about and played about half a game against a championship side?

Ward is probably only in Ferres place because he was named in the initial squad for god only knows why.
The other question is who else is there to bring in who isn't already on holiday ?

I wonder if Wayne gave Gaz Ellis a call. Let's be honest though, Ward will only play against France and possibly Scotland, barring injuries. It'll be a good experience for him. The other contenders would probably have been Jack Hughes and Mike McMeeken, but apart from that, not many realistic options.

Wards a player people expect to go on and have a long England career. He's probably not quite ready at the moment due to his lack of games after injury but he's unlikely to play in the main games.

I feel a bit for Jack Hughes who's had a good season but long term Wards the better bet to get a decent number of caps.

No. He's a top player. Next.

Is it damaging to the sport that widnes exist?

Their pitch is damaging to players knees!

Wayne clearly expects Stevie Ward to be playing for England in the World Cup next year. While he spent a lot of 2016 out injured he has been fully fit for a while now.

New coach, same old mistakes. He made a big play about picking form players. Then replaces Ferres with Ward who has played 4 games. Sack him now and replace him with someone still in possession of his marbles. He is too long in the tooth.

I'm not Wayne Bennett's biggest fan, but to suggest that he's an old fool who doesn't know what he's doing is ridiculous.

What's more ridiculous is that on their first post their first contribution is to suggest Bennett should be sacked! I don't like his squad selection but really.

He's giving game time to players who are a bit rusty. Durghh.

Same old balls, Cas have got not one but 2 better choices in that position. ridiculous

Who??

I reckon Mike McMeeken is one of them. Very promising back row, probably a different sort of Stevie Ward, but then probably more of a like for like replacement for Ferres than Ward.

Mckmeekan and oggy holmes have both been better and I'd argue are better than Stevie Ward

Isn't Holmes Scottish though?

And Wayne Bennett would argue he has several hundred NRL games experience and a number of titles as a coach and that he knows a thing or two about RL players.

Picking Stevie Ward at this moment in time is like England Football picking Jack Wilshere.

And I'd argue Wayne Bennett is a human being before an NRL coach and like any human being he makes mistakes.

Yes, I'm sure selecting 'oggy' holmes and mcmeekan would have been the key to England success. I remember when tony smith 'picked on form' and we had f*cking paul sykes in the team.

It's ridiculous to come on here sometimes and read people rubbishing the entire team just because the odd the player was left out who has been in good form. (which is sometimes a player for their club).

Stevie Ward looked an oustanding prospect last season before his injury didn't have enough games to show his form this season but will almost certainly have a future within the setup, was in the training squad and played the same position as ferres. It doesn't follow strict protocol on picking in form but it made sense.