JJB & Ablett arn't proven match winners?

The Welsh Lee Briers?

Like the Scottish Danny Brough - opted to play for them because of constantly being overlooked by England

Right Brough and Briers (who's blatantly always chosen wales so not sure where your argument for him is) are the proven match winners. Lets look at the current half backs in the England squad against your proven match winner.

Brough - 1 CC winners medal in 2005

Widdop - 1 Minor NRL premership, 1 NRL Premiership, 1 WCC winners medal

Chase - Nowt Ill give you that but he has got a MOS award

Myler - 2 CC winners medals, Hubcap winners medal

Rob Burrow - 3 WCC winners medals, 6 SL winners medals, 1 Harry sunderland trophy

Danny Mcguire - 3 WCC winners medals, 6 SL winners medals.

I wont bother with Sinfield as I think you get the drift, your proven match winner isn't really a proven match winner is he, he's a very talented halfback who's having a blinder of a season (so far) but don't over play his hand as a proven match winner. And dont say Mcnamara is shunning match winners when he clearly is doing the opposite.

Lee briers isn't welsh, he chose to play for Wales as he wasn't offered an England position.

I believe Briers made his Welsh debut in 1998 and then first announced his international retirement in 2008, now Code 13 can have a go at McNamara for anything he likes but I would suggest not picking briers after he'd retired from playing international RL for a different national side isn't one of them, especially as he didnt take the coaches job until 2010.

I think one or two players with international experience are required, but at the same time think the bulk should be picked on form...

Players such as Tom Lineham, Ben Crooks, Danny Brough, Liam Farrell for example have all been outstanding this season and think they should be given a chance to prove what they can do in front of the likes of people like Morley who has been a great player in his time but way past his best and doesnt deserve to be in the squad

I'll bite....

Just so we're clear, we're talking about the same Carl Ablett that has scored game-clinching tries in the last two Grand Finals - whilst playing out of position?

It's a wonder Leeds have won anything at all with all of these so-called "big game bottlers". If only there was a queue of people with a proven track record of performing at the highest level year after year to come in and replace them..... like Danny Brough.......

Just seen that Burrow, JJB and f**king Morley are in the squad. Wonder why the likes of Lunt, Huby, Kirmond, Broughton are not in the squad? Clearly McNamara has his favourites, he says its about consistency but he is consistently picking out of form players.

Isn't this the point of the 'ETS' and all the meet ups at Loughborough? Would be pretty pointless doing all that for team spirit, learning the moves etc and then just bringing in 7 guys who have had a good 1st half to the season.

What have any of these Stupor League medals got to do with worthiness of international selection? If they were even remotely relevant according to your flawed logic, then Ian Kirke ought to be an England shoe-in! So why aren't you campaigning for Ian Kirke's selection?

Come on Billy boy,you can do better than that.Cheer up,Benefits day tomorrow.

Im not sure even the mighty Ian Kirke would see himself as a half back.

Unfortunately, Sinfield does

I know its been most unfortunate for the Rhinos hasn't it.

I suspect you mean unfortunate for you, as with the Rhinos constantly winning the title you've really had to work hard for material, and it shows, it really does.

Ahh, I see. You're in the [i"If the Sinfield-is-god approach works for the Rhinos in Stupor Dooper League, then it'll work at international level"[/i camp then?

The two big surprise omissions for me are Stefan Ratchford and Danny Houghton.

The big surprise for me is that they actually gave the coaches job to McNamara.

In an ideal world all spots would be up for grabs, but the only chance England has of doing anything at all is if ALL of our few genuine class players are at their absolute best. Even then Australia has far too much firepower in the backs to be seriously troubled by England.

I've no idea about how good a coach McNamara is, but really, suggesting that selecting/not selecting the likes of JJB would make any difference at all to chances against Australia is bizarre.

If you ask the players that have worked with McNamara and also other coaches who have worked with him, they all say he is a great coach.
I think that sinfield has proved season after season that he is one of the greatest talents in world rugby (wire fan) and is the first name on the team sheet and rightly so. Anyone who calls McNamara for picking Sinfield should go on the netball forum as you might one day understand that game better.
As for picking Roby, Morley JJB god knows what he was thinking, I can understand Roby as he will be one of the main men in the WC at the end of the season and keeping him involved is a good call even though he shouldn't play next week.
Bring in the youth as well Clarke, Haughton Crooks ect.
I have always had McNamara as a coach biased to the Yorkshire players and teams, but he has proved me wrong this time so at least that is one good point to come out of it.

To be honest I'm a little disappointed at the criticism aimed at Kevin Sinfield just lately and the overall lack of support for the players pulling on the England shirt, for what is seemingly because they play for a team the poster dislikes.

Stability is the key. Rugby League is a team sport and requires familiarities in personnel to be successful. You simply cannot put a team together of in form players and say they will beat Australia. Yes, they had a gift in Darren Lockyer with Thurston they built a team around them. Is Thurston the best at NRL level? There's in form halves but it will be Thurston that plays.

Whether it's on reputation or form, I do hope players are played in their best positions. None of this playing stand-offs on the wing business like we've had in the past.

Too late for that, only one centre picked

I hate Mcnamara and refuse to support him or the England side until player A who plays for our rivals is dropped, it is a disgrace that player B is still in the England side when player C from my club doesn’t even get a look in. Player D is rubbish his team lost this weekend, he shouldn’t be anywhere near an England shirt, especially when Player E from mid-table Club A has had a few good games this year. Id like to see Young Player F from my club get a game he has been really good this year.

Repeat ad nauseum for every thread about England.

Just seen the squad thread now. I'd hazard a guess at Hardaker playing centre but who knows? Could end up with a prop there!

for the exile games the coach needs to be thinking ahead to who will be on form come the end of the season (thats no easy task) he then need to pick a team that he will more than likely go with at the world cup, choosing debutants to play now only to leave them out come world cup is pointless

SM has a much tougher job than you think, whatever he does gets met with criticism