from watching this guy play for the storm he seems to have fit in quite well down there and is getting better everyweek

pretty good game last night as well vs the bulldogs

i just think if he stays with the storm for a while hell develop into one of the best english half back / 5/8th since gregory

its all well and good for forwards to make it in the nrl but a dominant half back with nrl experience behind your forwards is going to make england a very cometitive force at test match level

I havn't seen him play yet, only read reports on how well he's playing at 6. Hope so, Tomkins at 1 Widdop and Brough at 6 and 7 looks good for England. If we can find some threequarters and keep them fit we will be very competitive.

if Brough is 'feeling' english that particular week

Widdop looks okay but Tomkins is the better player

I have been keeping tabs on the Storm match reports and Widdop seems to be doing well. I too like the look of Tompkins at 1 with Brough and Widdop in the halves. It all depends on how well McG goes when he comes back from injury, but that halfback partnership seems to have the balance which has been lacking in the past. On paper it seems we are improving at halfback slightly. Add Sam T at full back and Roby, Robbo and Lunt at 9 it seems we are getting it together. Shame we dont have any game breaking centres.

Potential England backline at 2013 WC

1 Sam Tomkins
2 Josh Charnley
3 Michael Shenton
4 Rhys Evans
5 Chris Riley
6 Gareth Widdop
7 Danny Brough

So it's not only me who thinks england look the strongest we have done in a while? Joel Tomkins is an option for the centres. I think he will complete the rest of this season there and has the pace and size to match the aussies. With Hock coming back into contention, moving up to prop being likely, we have competition for places. Widdop needs to go to 6 for me. Pity our coaching team is very poor which could hampen us.

I'd like to see England line up something like:-

1. Sam Tomkins
2. Tom Briscoe
3. Joel Tomkins
4. Michael Shenton
5. Ryan Hall
6. Gareth Widdop
7. Danny Brough
8. James Graham
9. James Roby
10. Jamie Peacock
11. Gareth Ellis
12. Sam Burgess
13. Sean O'Loughlin

14. Adrian Morley
15. Gareth Hock
16. Ben Westwood
17. Luke Robinson

Thats a very strong looking team. Widdop and Joel Tomkins will get stronger in their respective positions through the year. Hock I've chucked in there because he can cause the aussies all sorts of problems. We've also got great cover at 9 and in the halves with robbo. Think England could be in for a good 4 nations personally.

Stronger than last year but still too much deadwood in there. We have better youngsters in the backs like the likes of Lomax, Evans, Wellham and the Cas centres who deserve a go.

What about a good goalkicker? I would opt for Jamie Foster at Saints.

hopefully joel tomkins will get more game time in the now gleeson is gone...england need his size in the ...been saying that for a year now!

But isnt that just the problem with the British game? No quality centres so lets put a second rower there.

How many Origin/International games did Chris McKenna play in the centres? He was nothing more than a mobile second row even at his peak.

Especially ones by the name of Shenton.

goal kicker = danny brough. simple!

Who would you consider deadwood may I ask?

lomax = not better than brough and not better than widdop yet

evans = not ready yet

wellham = what ive seen of him he is defensively poor! Shenton and Joel Tomkins are better options.

and not sure of the cas centres

out of that list maybe foster will be pushing for a place

Even if we all disagree and bicker about who's better than who, at least now there are three or four options in the positions we normally look weak in.

I'd forgotten all about McGuire too! Sometimes I think a player who plays non-stop gets jaded so ironically an injury lets his body get a proper rest. I think McGuire will come back with a bang.

Pryce if he ever gets fit is still a strong option. Its a bit of a myth that he played badly in an England shirt

Ah, the annual "England look stronger than they have for a while" thread is here

Arundel (Shentons replacement) had been playing really well this season and is a good goal kicker. Might be a bit early for him though.

first game of his i saw was ok, last night was much better

contributed well in attack and defence ....

I'd put Pryce on my England bench every single time we play, can cover all the backs positions if there's an injury and is big enough to play in the back row along with playing his best position at 6.

He actually looks like a proper standoff, he can pass, can kick and and can side step. Best prospect for an Englaish half I have seen in many a year and under Bellamy he is only going to get better.

But in an international game surely the best option is to go with 2 front row replacements, a mobile backrower and a utility hooker who can possibly cover the halves. Unfortunately Pryce hits none of these criteria so unless you fancy taking on the aussies with an 80 minute hooker or a forward down against a team thats played with 10 interchanges all season, it just wouldnt work imho. but then again thats what the coaches radio is for. (or listening to local competition results if youre sean long)