I know what you mean but I was thinking more physically than quality. They just seem to have a greater emphasis on resistance training than we do. Every one of their backs is the size of Ryan Hall and Ryan Atkins but over here those two players for wingers and centres are very unusual to be that muscular.

What’s the England kit like by the way? I’ve seen absolutely no promotion of it at all. (And why is that?)

Widdop and Gale have to be half backs.

I agree with you fully on Widdop and as a Wigan fan, even I wouldn't have Williams in the team but the lad is far far away from average. His 'form' has been average but he's a special talent and to me he needs a few months off to refresh and come back stronger.

He's been badly let down by the forwards and his halfback partner this season yet even in an average season for him, he finished as the top try creator in the league with 29 assists (and scored 11 try's). He's clearly been far better this year(mainly because he's got a better long kicking game) but to compare, Luke Gale got 20 assists and 13 try's in a much better side.

Williams needs more support from his Wigan colleagues.

Egodo played on the right when scoring his try's not edens side

Which is why I said it's the attacking structures that allow the wingers to score, not the quality of the winger

England could do a lot worse than taking Jack Walker with them - he is some talent

I think he’ll be the England full back by the 2021 World Cup.

Id rather he had a full pre season tbh

On the other end of the spectrum I would say that England could do a lot worse than taking McGuire with them in case Gale cant get the job done, he is the ultimate big game player

Shaul, for me, has to be picked. Comparing his stats to Tomkins and Ratchford they are far better, but I think it's going to be the off the cuff plays that could trouble Australia. Going against them with repetitive structure, side to side, isn't going to beat them IMO

I feel Shaul is too one dimensional for international level, the lad has no passing game, it'll be Tomkins, Ratchford or even Widdop if it isn't Hardaker. Bennett will want an extra pivot at the back, and Shaul simply can't fulfil that role.

But do we need a pivot at 1 if we go with SOL at 13?? I'd have Shaul for his pace, balance etc.

I'd go with Shaul and Tomkins as the two options at fullback so then you have a couple of different types to choose from. I do however think that Bennett will go with Ratchford and one of those two.

Gary Carter has tweeted that Roby and Ben Currie are in.

Ratchford should be nowhere the England set up and if he is god help us.

The Kangaroos squad is normally leaked before being made official, has anyone heard any leaks regarding the England squad. I must admit that I know Walmsley, Roby & Ben Currie are in.

Ben Currie could do without this really

I'm 50/50 on Currie. There's no doubt he's top quality and has the potential to be one of the worlds top forwards but he's obviously coming back from a very serious injury. He will at least be very fresh but I hope they're not pushing him too far. At Wigan Dom Manfredi came back from the same injury in a reserve game and he's done more damage and will miss a decent chunk of next season by all accounts.

Done some analysis of the stats between the full back candidates, and for me, it is a no brainer that Shaul should be in the squad:

Tries - Shaul = 17, Tomkins = 5, Ratchford = 1, Lomax = 8
Assists - Shaul = 4, Tomkins = 7, Ratchford = 12, Lomax = 11
Tackles - Shaul = 170, Tomkins = 85, Ratchford = 117, Lomax = 169
Missed Tackles - Shaul = 19, Tomkins = 9, Ratchford = 11, Lomax = 10
Tackle Busts - Shaul = 124, Tomkins = 21, Ratchford = 52, Lomax = 19
Carries - Shaul = 336, Tomkins = 112, Ratchford = 201, Lomax = 235
Metres - Shaul = 3199, Tomkins = 615, Ratchford = 1824, Lomax = 1708
Av. Gain - Shaul = 9.52, Tomkins = 5.49, Ratchford = 9.07, Lomax = 7.27
Clean Breaks - Shaul = 24, Tomkins = 2, Ratchford = 9, Lomax = 9
Runs from DH - Shaul = 103, Tomkins = 13, Ratchford = 45, Lomax = 23
Errors - Shaul = 29, Tomkins = 12, Ratchford = 24, Lomax = 19
Offloads - Shaul = 18, Tomkins = 8, Ratchford = 20, Lomax = 5

To me, Shaul would be picked all day long. His ability to cause danger when running the ball, is something England just don't have in their squad, and is probably the only player in the squad capable of seeing a gap and being through it before the defence can set. These stats also don't include the Challenge Cup

You do realise that Lomax and Tomkins both missed a large part of the season earlier on, so wouldn't measure up against Shaul in stats.

I also know that Ratchford and Lomax didn't play only at Full Back, they both had spells in the halves which again wouldn't make the stats completely like for like. But as an indication of what each player can bring, I would go for Shaul. Like I have said earlier on this thread, if we play SOL at 13, then we can afford not to have a pivot at 1, and play somebody with a bit of x factor to his game - see the tackle busts, clean breaks etc. as an example

Not sure how many games Shaul played but Tomkins stats are pretty good given that he only played 12 games. He hands off to a winger for kick returns too so the metres/average gain are a bit skewed. Depends what style we want to play, I suppose.

Kevin Brown is in

Aside from Brown and Ratchford have no real complaints about that.

Brown, Ratchford, Heighington, Currie (just due to his injury worries) shouldn't be anywhere near that squad.

And I'm a Wire fan..