Sam Burgess was a giant contributor to the England team. He may never play rugby league again. He certainly won't play again before May 2017.

Who would you pick for the 2014 England team based on current form?

My choices:

[iZak Hardaker

Ryan Hall, Kallum Watkins, Jack Reed, Tom Briscoe

Sam Tomkins
Gareth Widdop

Shaun O'Loughlin
Eliot Whitehead, Carl Ablett
James Graham, James Roby, George Burgess

[/i
[uInterchange[/u: [iMichael McIlorum, Ben Westwood, Chris Hill, Lee Mossop[/i (based on last year's form)


Charnley must forfeit his spot to Tom Briscoe following his woeful defensive performance against Sydney Roosters.

This team has some real attacking potential.

Saints' starting front row is looking good.

1. Sam Tomkins
2. Tom Briscoe
3. Kallum Watkins
4. Leroy Cudjoe
5. Ryan Hall
6. Gareth Widdop
7. Kevin Sinfield
8. George Burgess
9. James Roby
10. James Graham
11. Brett Ferres
12. Ben Westwood
13. Sean O'Loughlin

14. Shaun Lunt
15. Chris Hill
16. Eorl Crabtree
17. Carl Ablett

<name a team based on players who have reputation>

<prepare to complain that the England team is picked on reputation not form>

McNamara has already said Sinfield will still be in his plans and I'm sure he along with the vast majority of the World Cup squad will take part in the Four Nations at the end of the year.

No point really naming a side on that basis but looking at who may come in from the outside going off players starts to this year I'd be looking at the likes of-

Hardaker- He'd be an outsider I suppose considering he was thrown out of the squad. His form is top class and he seems to have just got his head down and worked hard. Him at 1, Tomkins at 6 and Widdop 7 would be my choice.

Daryl Clark- one of if not the best young player in the league. He would form a dynamic duo with Roby and wouldn't give opposition defences a minutes rest.

Kyle Amor and Alex Walmsley- The two Saints lads look terrific and can possibly try to fill the massive hole Burgess leaves between them.

Scott Taylor- another that can help try and full the gap Burgess has left. He's coming on leaps and bounds at Wigan and for such a young prop he's in a great position to kick on.

John Bateman- He's not the biggest but he doesn't need to be. He's strong as an Ox, aggressive and has a terrific game sense. He's going to be a top class player in time.

I'm sure there's others I've missed but they're the ones that stand out to me.

if it's picking a team on form the
lomax
makinson
turner
percival
swift
sneyd
finn
amor
roby
walmsley
wilkin
jones
sinfield( form irrelevant)

24 man squad if thats how much it is nowadays

1 Sam Tomkins
2 Hall
3 Watkins
4 Cudjoe
5 Charnley
6 Widdop
7 Smith
8 Graham
9 Roby
10 George burgess
11 Westwood
12 Farrell
13 O Loughlin
Subs
clark
ferres
hardaker
burrows
briscoe
lomax
amor
walmsley
hill
mcclorum
luke burgess

shenton? Makinson? Bateman?

Tomkins

Briscoe
Watkins
Reed
Hall

Sinfield
Widdop

Hill
Roby
Graham
Ferres
Westwood
O'Loughlin

Lomax
G Burgess
Walmsley
Ablett

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 >