With the 2 lads at Saints going well in the front row then Prop position has good options there. It's in the 2nd row we lack real international talent, there's plenty of good SL players but don't look good enough for vs Aus/NZ. The back row problems deepen if O'Loughlin continues to have injury problems.

Westy if he keeps his form up.

Micky Mac is not international class.
Please stop including him in fantasy England teams.

I don't know why it annoys me so much but that guy is so overrated by people it's unreal

funny how after finals and play off games these comments stop….

Its also irrelevant who will replace burgess as its obviously going to be James hassam as he plays in the NRL and is english.

Just because his team have won a trophy, doesn't mean he should be an international, though.

I appreciate he does a good job for Wigan. Not many think he's a bad hooker, but questions were raised when he was selected in the world cup squad and, to be fair, he didn't exactly grab that opportunity well in the chances he got.

A modern day Bernard Dwyer, imo. Which in itself is a compliment.

No basically before the world cup he had worked his way in to most peoples teams, his own stupid decision then made him look stupid but before hand most was in agreement his aggression and defence would be an asset.

I get he isn't everybody ideal number 9 but there is a reason Wigan fans love him and he showed that during the play offs and grand final.

I think the team will be pretty similar to the team from the last world cup. Tomkins will still be at 1 with Sinfield in the halves. However, I reckon in 2015 Tomkins will move into midfield and Hardaker will come in at FB.
Some changes I expect to see are Clark to come into the 17 to spell with Roby, and with Graham, Walmsley, Hill, Amor, G Burgess, Mossop and Crabtree we have good depth in the front row. The back row excluding Flanders is a bit of a lottery at the moment. Any 2 or 3 of Farrell, Ferris, Ablett, Cooper, Tom Burgess, Harrison, Currie, Bateman, Whitehead, Westerman, Ward etc could well force their way into the 17.
The key in the backs is to find a quality left centre. Cudjoe looks awkward in that position to me. I hope Jack Reed can stay injury free, and Percival can carry on improving, and growing because he has all the attributes needed to be a quality centre.
Yes, losing Burgess is a blow but generally, we have some good prospects and quite a lot of depth.

Obviously there's a lot of talk on here and we get influence by what we hear in the media. I think following a lot of message board consideration, a lot of people were convinced that he was the perfect foil for Roby and well made for test rugby. Obviously, no one sees as much of a player as his home fans, and the testimony of the Wiganers seemed to set him apart from his rivals.

On reflection, didn't appear quite up to that level. I watch Roby every week, but even I was impressed by his play selection and distribution in the Australia game. When MM got his chance, he seemed a long way off that quality of play.
I appreciate he's very good for Wigan and has played a major role in their success, but I think at the moment that may be the limit for him. Hooker's a very competitive position with the likes of Houghton, Lunt, Higham & Clarke about.

He's still young, mind, so he could still make that extra step. Look how good Lowes was in the latter part of his career.

Roby @ 9

Daz Clark as interchange hooker. Has to happen.

NO CUDJOE!!!

Based on current form how can you pick O'Loughlin, Tomkins or Whitehead?

On current form I'd go with:-

Hardaker
Briscoe
Watkins
Cudjoe
Hall
Sinfield
Widdop
Graham
Roby
Amor
Ablett
Ferres
Walmsley

Burrow
G.Burgess
Singleton
Westwood

Roby is a big strength for England but also a problem because he needs to be spelled. Luke for the Kiwis and Cameron Smith both play 80 minutes. Having Roby means we need a sub hooker, who if they're an out-and-out specialist is a waste of a bench spot. Not sure on the solution because Roby's clearly the best England have, but it would be ideal if he could play 80 minutes.

Two debutants that have to play are Walmsley and Clark. Clark is second only to Roby, and Walmsley, well it's a big call but I think he's the best prop in the comp.

Hardaker

Briscoe
Watkins
Reed
Hall

Widdop
Tompkins

Hill
Roby
Graham
Westwood
Ferres
O'Loughlin

Clark
Whitehead
G.Burgess
Walmsley

(Lomax, Charnley, Wardle, Sinfield, Amor, Lunt, Crabtree, Ablett)

tomkins

J.Burgess (there is no need to argue about charnley and briscoe because this kid will be better than both)
Watkins
Reed or cudjoe
Ryan Hall

Widdop
sinfield

George Burgess
McIlorum with Roby coming on after 15/20minutes
James graham
Ferres
westwood
o'loughlin

Excluding the other english players in the NRL,
Taylor
Walmsley
Roby
Farrell

FWIW our best player this year hasn't been Clark IMO it's been Craig Huby who hasn't put a foot wrong. He must be above the likes of Crabtree.

< insert name of a player who has had a couple of good games for your club but is nowhere near international standard here >

At least the guy who picked the entire St.Helens team was taking the p!as. Not so sure you are...

Literally no one has mentioned Gareth Hock. Has everyone given up on him?

Is it because he was kicked out of the squad last year, or do we genuinely not think he's one of the best players in his position?

I would still pick him in my squad but the reality is mcnamara wont pick him again as long as he is at the helm so that rules him out for this year.at 30 now it looks like he has no future at that level.only himself to blame

Tomkins

Briscoe
Watkins
Cudjoe
Hall

Widdop
Smith

Graham
Roby
G. Burgess
Farrell
Westwood
O'Loughlin

Huby
Lunt
Walmsley
Ablett

How anyone is picking Michael McIlorum ahead of Shaun Lunt is beyond me...

Us Wigan fans will all come up with the same argument. Go and watch the first round of the 2013 play offs and you'll see McIlorum play Lunt off the park. Watch the rest of the play offs and you'll see him play Burrow, Monaghan and Higham off the park. Watch many games against Saints over the years and you'll see him outperform Roby and even Cunningham plenty of times. He's a big game player who loves to be written off.

I say all that but I wouldn't pick him. As good as he is Roby is better and Daryl Clark is potentially top class. They will share the role very well spelling each other whereas McIlorum plays his best rugby as an 80 minute man. That won't be an option for England so I'd rule him out.

If Mike Cooper continues his early season form he has to be in with a shout.

IMO Micky Mac's distribution and go forward needs a lot of work - he's a terrier in defence, but can be a liability and i'm not sure he's got the game to be a great hooker, certainly not in the Smith, Buderus class...

Hock is done as far as i'm concerned. He's had his chance and turned the squad into a farce. If i had been in charge, Graham and the other guys who went on the p!ss would be on very thin ground too. Yes he's a good player, but players need to respect the coach and more importantly the England/GB shirt. Fair play to Sam Burgess, he did that, which is part of the reason him and Graham don't get on (or so I've been led to believe)...