Bridge injured.

Bridge + Burrow have both withdrawn injured I believe.

7 Leeds players? Ridiculous. Regardless of the fact they won the GF, they were the 5th best team over the course of the season.

Should have a warm up game... ETS v Knights. I think the result may end up suprising quite a few people, and embarass the banana himself.

It's a glowing reflection on the sorry state of international rugby when so many players are pulling out of representing their country. I understand that clubs pay the bills for the players but clear out op can wait until after getting rep honours (if it's still thought to be an honour)

For what it's worth, I'd probably go with

Tomkins
Briscoe
Reed
Yeaman
Hall
Chase
Widdop
Graham
Roby
Peacock
Westwood
Ellis
Heighington

Sinfield
Carvell
Morley
Wilkin

Ben Jones Bishop? Sweet Jesus, surely Mac is pulling our todger with that one! Although I doubt he'd get the nod over Hall and Briscoe.

McLlorum? I'm not even going to bother with that inclusion because quite frankly, its bizarre!

Is Burrow injured? He has been sensational since Wembley and surely must be in the squad? He's the type of player who could score world class tries against the Kiwi's and Oz.

Leroy Cudjoe

! Seriously? Against the best two Nation's in the world?

Finally, and the inclusion which makes my pi55itch the most, Rangi Chase? Granted he's a sublime Rugby League player and deserved MOS. There's just one slight problem .......

Rangi - 'I didn't have to think too hard about it. I came over here knowing that I'll [inever get picked for New Zealand[/i. So that dream had gone

Steve Mac - 'Yeah no problem. You're in!'

From that squad this is the team that I think McNabanana will pick:

FB - Gareth Carvell
LW - Adrian Morley
LC - Ryan Bailey
RC - Kevin Sinfield
RW - Gareth Ellis
SO - Jamie Peacock (C)
SH - James Graham
P - Sam Tomkins
H - Kirk Yeaman
P - Ben Jones-Bishop
SR - Tom Briscoe
SR - James Roby
LF - Ryan Hall

Nobody can question McNabanana's decisions!!! Have you not seen his coaching pedigree?

As Side Burns but swap the wingers round. Keep Briscoe and Yeaman together on the left edge. Sinfield to be utilised as replacement hooker thanks to Banana's stupid selection process.

Haha, i think Carvell would be a good FB!

Here's the best thing i can find written about Steve MacNamara's coaching career so far;
"His coaching career while at Bradford contains several unwanted records, such as being the first Bradford coach in Super League to fail to guide his team to the end of season play-offs and being in charge for the worst losing streak the club has seen in 20 years."
He was then selected to be England RL head coach by the RFL.

HAHAHAHAHAHA mclorrum, bailey, abblett? was mcnamara on crack whilst choosing this team???

What I want to know is, who was McBanana's oppostion when the RFL were interviewing for the England job

Jedward
IgglePiggle
Susan Boyle
Steve Anderson (didn't reach the interview stage)
Dr Conrad Murray
"Pop-tastic" Pede Pinnington (knows just as much about RL as McBanana, if today is anything to go by)
Wayne Sleep
Dame Barbara Cartland

squad NEEDS bridge and atkins in it.
Might not have got to final but we topped the league, points for/against quite significantly!

I'll bet Danny Brough feels a bit annoyed at the minute. He jumped ship and all that, then doesn't even make the squad.

I guess Chase buggered him up.

From George Riley on twitter

Heighington & Chase's inclusion is farcial. No Danny Brough? Crazy!!! No Rob Burrow again - that really takes the p!ss. At least Reed was born here - Airedale, Castleford. Just because other nations do it, does not mean we have to follow suit. Look at Hayne & Uate (both played for Fiji) - being called up by Aus, for example. Baileys inclusion is laughable , Jon Wilkin sums this bloke up to a tee - last couple of paragraphs at the bottom - www.dailystar.co.uk/rugby/view/2 ... ow-s-rout/ Why no Simon Grix either? Most under-rated back-rower in SL this seas. I will be attending some of the 4 nations games this autumn, but only out of blind faith for the country i was BORN in.... Mcnamara OUT

Heighington & Chase's inclusion is farcial. No Danny Brough? Crazy!!! No Rob Burrow again - that really takes the p!ss. At least Reed was born here - Airedale, Castleford. Just because other nations do it, does not mean we have to follow suit. Look at Hayne & Uate (both played for Fiji) - being called up by Aus, for example. Baileys inclusion is laughable , Jon Wilkin sums this bloke up to a tee - last couple of paragraphs at the bottom - www.dailystar.co.uk/rugby/view/2 ... ow-s-rout/ Why no Simon Grix either? Most under-rated back-rower in SL this seas. I will be attending some of the 4 nations games this autumn, but only out of blind faith for the country i was BORN in.... Mcnamara OUT

its a great squad.... i think we could win it.

Quote ="Weav Wire"Heighington & Chase's inclusion is farcial. No Danny Brough? Crazy!!! No Rob Burrow again - that really takes the p!ss. At least Reed was born here - Airedale, Castleford. Just because other nations do it, does not mean we have to follow suit. Look at Hayne & Uate (both played for Fiji) - being called up by Aus, for example. Baileys inclusion is laughable , Jon Wilkin sums this bloke up to a tee - last couple of paragraphs at the bottom - www.dailystar.co.uk/rugby/view/2 ... ow-s-rout/ Why no Simon Grix either? Most under-rated back-rower in SL this seas. I will be attending some of the 4 nations games this autumn, but only out of blind faith for the country i was BORN in.... Mcnamara OUT'" Agree with most of it. Saying McNamara out before a game is played is a bit OTT. Most people expect us not to win anyway, 1 from 3 at best. He picked more or less the same team I would have minus the odd curveball (Bailey, Ablett, BJB, McIllorum & Cudjoe) but I don't expect any of them to pull a jersey on anyway. I hope there's not an issue with Atkins, I can't help but think he hasn't been selected based upon last years performance and the request not to be selected is a cover up so McNamara doesn't get more stick than he's already getting. And the most underrated backrower goes to Chris Clarkson IMO.

Quote ="Weav Wire"Heighington & Chase's inclusion is farcial. No Danny Brough? Crazy!!! No Rob Burrow again - that really takes the p!ss. At least Reed was born here - Airedale, Castleford. Just because other nations do it, does not mean we have to follow suit. Look at Hayne & Uate (both played for Fiji) - being called up by Aus, for example. Baileys inclusion is laughable , Jon Wilkin sums this bloke up to a tee - last couple of paragraphs at the bottom - www.dailystar.co.uk/rugby/view/2 ... ow-s-rout/ Why no Simon Grix either? Most under-rated back-rower in SL this seas. I will be attending some of the 4 nations games this autumn, but only out of blind faith for the country i was BORN in.... Mcnamara OUT'" Agree with most of it. Saying McNamara out before a game is played is a bit OTT. Most people expect us not to win anyway, 1 from 3 at best. He picked more or less the same team I would have minus the odd curveball (Bailey, Ablett, BJB, McIllorum & Cudjoe) but I don't expect any of them to pull a jersey on anyway. I hope there's not an issue with Atkins, I can't help but think he hasn't been selected based upon last years performance and the request not to be selected is a cover up so McNamara doesn't get more stick than he's already getting. And the most underrated backrower goes to Chris Clarkson IMO.

thats what joel tomkin excuse was for not playing for england hope he not about jump ship to union as well strange he didnt want to play, when he is fit

Surprised Tony Puletua(sp) Mike Monas didn't make the squad.

I'd have gone for.

1.Tomkins
2.Briscoe
3.Yeaman
4.Atkins
5.Hall
6.Widdop
7.Chase
8.Graham
9.Roby
10.Carvell
11.Ellis
12.Westwood
13.Sinfield

Atkins personal reasons for not playing, didn't want to play for that illiterate idiot banana

After last years crazy squad selection I didn't think it could be any worse, but Mcbanana has truly surpassed his own high standards of inept stupidity.

Mcllorum, Bailey, Cudjoe, Jones-Bishop & Ablett should be struggling to be in the Knights. Brough & Burrow must be wondering what the hell is going on. And as for Rangi Chase.... I'm just shaking my head and wondering why every decent overseas player in SL hasn't been offered a place.

I imagine the Aussies & Kiwis are trembling in their boots at playing the mighty English.

So, from a squad that was a 'basket case' 2 months ago, Leeeeeeds now have 7 players in the England set up, as well as two more in the Knights squad (Clarkeson and Hardaker). As a result, of the 12 English qualified players which took the field in Saturday for Leeeeeeds, only McGuire (had enough chances over the years), Burrow (wants an op), and Kirke (makes Ablett seem like Ellery Hanley) are the only ones not being considered for International rugby, this autumn.

Serious question, now. Am I missing something? Why are a side that's been laughable for the majority of the season, making the cornerstone of the England squad.

I'm baffled.

I'm incredibly surprised by the inclusion of Carl Ablett, Ryan Bailey and Jamie Jones Buchanan(sp?) to be honest. Ablett, albeit he had a half decent end to the season, I don't think he's going to cut it against Australia (although I would love him to). Ryan Bailey, well I think that one speaks for itself. I think I would be more supporting if he was a quality player with the niggly attitude then I would be happy because he might irritate the Aussies, but he's not, he's likely to be 3rd man in (if he plays) and have a disappointing tournament. Buchanan, I think he is just being picked on reputation, he hasn't done much to impress me over the past 2 years.

There seemed to be some genuine excitement regarding the England squad, irrespective of any negativity regarding Chase and the Aussie imports (who all qualify to represent England).

Then we get Bailey, Ablett, McIllorum and Cudjoe, who all must think Christmas has come early.

Rant over , as probably only 1 will make the starting 17. Oh and I'd still have included Brough.

There seemed to be some genuine excitement regarding the England squad, irrespective of any negativity regarding Chase and the Aussie imports (who all qualify to represent England).

Then we get Bailey, Ablett, McIllorum and Cudjoe, who all must think Christmas has come early.

Rant over , as probably only 1 will make the starting 17. Oh and I'd still have included Brough.