I don't get this whole, there are no good centres so we have to pick a 2nd rower from Wigan/Wire etc.
There's Atkins, Sarginson,Percival, Cudjoe, Yeaman, who could probably still do a decent job there, also the likes of Josh Griffin, Josh Jones, Ratchford, Gildart, who are all capable of playing centre at a fairly high level.

Whether you like these players or whether you rate them as top class or not, they are still a better option than playing a forward there i would have thought?

No, that's the thing. They just aren't. Sure, Atkins has had a good season but he's a confidence player and as soon as things don't go right he'll capitulate. Gildhart I would perhaps take a chance on. But the rest of them at the top level to me is laughable. Griffin and Jones? Never. Ratchford doesn't know how to pass a ball unless he's ran down a blind alley and holding the ball in one hand like he does would see the Aussies crucify him. Sarginson is sh*t. Percival has been injured for much of the season and I haven't seen enough for him to warrant a tilt at the spot. Cudjoe neither. Yeaman, for me, has been so so as usual and is being swept along by the teams success rather than really contributing all that much to it. Bateman is a better player at centre than at least half of those players you listed.

Let's agree to disagree then, i would rather have Cudjoe, Percival or Atkins over Bateman at centre, keep Bateman in the middle where he causes more damage!

Lomax
Hall
Percival
Watkins
Burgess
Williams
Sneyd
Hill
Hodgson
Burgess
Farrell
Whitehead
Burgess

Currie
Clark
Walasley
Taylor

Biggest Wigan fan going but SOL hasn't been international class this year

They are also, first and foremost, English.

We won't have a clue until he picks it really will we?? But I reckon for those having a go, don't overcomplicate it too much; pick Englishmen, pick them in their rightful positions, don't worry too much about how they played 3 years ago or may possibly play in the future, pick the best players that give us the best chance of winning & let's hope he does the same

True and that usually is the first criteria someone would have to meet to play for England, sod the residency stuff!

When it comes to hooker, it depends on the strategy you want to use.

You could pick Hodgson and Clarke who could interchange and add that explosiveness around the ruck, but on the flip side use a bench spot.

Or you could pick Houghton, who is an 80 minute player, and give that bench spot to an extra forward.

I suspect they'll do the former over the latter as both have played internationally before and allows that "back up" element if things aren't going well (change it up if one is off their game or picks up a knock).

To be fair to Hodgson, he does 80 minutes as well, it just happens that sometimes some of that time is at loose forward.

I agree with you though Clark is the only one that makes sense to come off the bench.

Also Danny Houghton is extremely unlucky to be knocking around when we are seeming fly spoilt for choice at his position. For me he would be 2nd choice behind Hodgson if we were to just go the one hooker approach.

As usual I've changed my mind as many times as I've had hot dinners. The position I'm having most trouble with is #6.

Tomkins

Hall
Percival
Watkins
McGilvray

Williams
Gale

Graham
Hodgeson
Hill
Bateman
Currie
S Burgess

G Burgess
Walmsley
Whitehead
Clark

Ratchford
Cudjoe
Briscoe
Widdop
Houghton
Taylor
Amor
Farrell

Tomkins
McGilvery
Currie
Atkins
Burgess
Widdop
Gale
Graham
Hodgeson
Hill
Whitehead
S Burgess
Cooper

Clarke
Green
Walmsley
G Burgess

I do find it amazing how Hull are top of the league and have just won the cup and yet still don't apparently have any players worthy of being in the best 17 in this country in the eyes of many.

Haven't you noticed, we are only where we are because the standard is so low this year and everyone we beat didnt play well on the day

George Williams did not perform well at all last year against the Kiwis, we were much better with Matty Smith in the side.

As for those against picking players not born in England. Austrialia, New Zealand and Scotland will all pick players through residency and through parent/grandparent heritage. Why should we not do the same? It's not like were the best team and need to give the others a chance by penalising ourselves. I am sure Wayne Bennett will agree and pick the best team possible.

Why do we have to follow suit and do what the rest do? I don't agree with playing non English players. Let's stick with our own.

I'd have Ellis but I think he's retired from Internationals. Can't go for Talanoa, Fonua, Michaels, Tuimivave, Minnicello, Manu, & Pritchard so half the Hull 17 cannot be selected.

Out of the rest:

Shaul, a very good club player, I think we need more from an International full back and a player who would be able to act as a pivot and playmaker.
Houghton, again another very good club player and if we went for an 80 min hooker would be a good option. I prefer Hodgeson to start with the impact of Clark off the bench.
Sneyd, close call with Gale, I prefer the latter.
Taylor, in my squad, Graham, G Burgess & Hill are better, I went for Walemsley for impact rather than replacing like for like.

Exactly. The day we start regularly picking average overseas players over own is the day I reckon many would jack in international rugby.

There are not 17 players in the UK currently who are qualified/good enough to give the Aussies or Kiwis a tough game.
The reasons why are very obvious and have been for decades.
Moving the deckchairs on a sinking ship, standard RL thinking in this country, is unlikely to change anytime soon.
I just give the Aussies the edge as being the team to win the 4 nation & world cup.
England will be known as a team that took part. Wayne Bennett ,as good a coach as he is, cannot make success out of poor materials.
Cant see the materials improving under the current ridiculous situation of how the game is run in this country.

You do realise that the last time we played Australia (in Australia) we were 1cm away from winning, and we beat NZ twics less than a year ago?

I know you can only play what's in front of you, but had NZ taken that series seriously, and didn't withdraw players left p, right and centre, then they would've won at a canter.

Never thought i would say this, but i hope all Wigan players have minor niggles that keep them out of contention, including Tomkins.

ryan hall got his hand down on that ball

Whatever happens please let it not be watkins inside mgilvary again! That was a nightmare!

I didn't think this was going to be a proper England thread but thankfully someone rescued it with the annual comment "our pack can match the aussies". It's a line that has been used every year since rlfans went live and in that time I think we've matched their pack once

Regards

King James

we shouldn't be looking to just match them but to batter them. We have inferior backs and our real chance is to steam roll them with our big fellas.