Bridge is the best centre England has IMO.

I agree

No Martin Gleeson - really hit the heights since leaving Wire hasn't he? Joel Tomkins should be in no doubting that. Wilkin is a step backwards to the old days - there are younger and better players than he in the squad and not in the squad. Ellis and Burgess will walk into the squad come the end of the season, probably Widdop too. Final 23 something like

Atkins, Bridge, Morley, Myler, Westwood, Harrison (Wire), Sinfield, Hall, Smith, Peacock, McGuire (Leeds), Tomkins S, Tomkins J, O'Loughlin (Wigan), Briscoe (Hull), Graham, Roby, Eastmond (Saints), Burgess (Bunnies), Ellis (Wests), Widdop (Storm), Shenton (Cas), Langley (Bulls)

Team something like
1. Eastmond
2. Briscoe
3. Atkins
4. Bridge
5. Hall
6. Tomkins S
7. Myler
8. Burgess
9. Sinfield
10. Graham
11. Ellis
12. Tomkins J
13. O'Loughlin

14. Morley
15. Peacock
16. Roby
17. Westwood

i would use westwood from the start and bring tomkins on. I dont care what anyone says... westwood is the best english second row playing in SL at the minute.

Totally agree. Westwood is no impact sub.

Your right but it says alot about English RL that he is

Dont get me wrong Bridge is a good player, but hes nothing compared to what the Australians have, and what we had 5 years ago

Joel Tomkins not included, and Paul Sykes included is a complete joke.In fact Sykes would be the first on my teamsheet in a worst 1-13 SL team

there is no getting around it... the selection of sykes is a terrible one.

And that's why we won't beat the Aussies. They have a team full of all stars, compare the teams, Slater to Lee Smith, Folau to Peter Fox etc.

I'd have Riley in the squad tbh

That's just it, their form doesn't warrant it, Mason is a cheap shot merchant and Griffin is grossly over-rated. They can't compete against the likes of Morley, Graham and Peacock.

I really think these huge "train-on"squads squads, are merely an ego-massage for players who will not make the plane over to Aus. I mean, not even a lame brain like MacNamara must think that Griffin and Mason are international class. The Aussies must have been spitting VB and Fosters over their kangaroo steaks when they've seen this squad.
Other mystifiers include Carvell before Wood (who's been outstanding all year). Carvell looks miles off the pace, and there's only a few games left this season for him to him to improve. No Joel Tomkins is a little baffling, considering his form this year.
And as for Sykes, we might as well have Eric Sykes playing.
Plus, I think a few earlier posters need to take their P&B spectacles off, and realise that Riley is not international class...yet.

Jeez i see the anti wire brigade are out again on the other boards.

The usual suspects mentioned like last year, so far i've seen, "

"Bridge, not good enough!"

"Westwood, should be nowhere the international team, and a Hull fan even said he is a poor mans Danny Tickle"



Martin Gleeson in for Ryan Atkins, as Atkins as had poor season apparantly.

It's not as bad as the Saints fans wetting themselves over signing Englands third best centre - I soon shut them up on there board.

Pure comedy gold, that one, Punisher.
They must all be smoking that African Old Holburn again.

Oops!

Ellis in for Wilkin and Burgess for Langley.

atkins had poor season is just plain stupidity. brige not good enough again they must not have seen him play much this year as he has been amazing when fit. westwood i just think that some fans dont see what he brings with all the tackles he makes etc. and just look at what they want to see like big hits or scoring tries. as said a bit like carlos tevez.

I thought Bridge was THE form player in SL in the last couple of rounds prior to his injury.

Burgess in the back row with Ellis. Not picking Tomkins is a real dumb move, he would offer continued dynamacism in the back row. Front row rotating from: Graham, Peacock and Morley. Sinfield in at loose to supplement the young halves and provide a long kicking game.

Hooker is where I believe we will have a real problem.

Roby will start at 9 and righty so but we don't have any good impact hooker - Moore and Lunt?

Roby is an impact hooker. I must admit I forgot about Lunt and I do like the look of him, but even he is on the periphery of being a darter from the PTB.

Ah yes so he is. Out of the three Roby is the best hooker. I just can't see us getting on top with an average Lunt / Moore at 9. They are good players, but they have alot to learn. Lets face it they're no Cameron Smith's.

There are two English hookers at Warrington - one of whom could be used as an impact hooker after Roby, the other a starting & controlling hooker allowing Roby to come on and do his stuff

Has Monaghan not got an English relative/pet/friend?

He has a Welsh Terrier.

I think Lunt is a bit of a hidden gem. I think he's the best English hooker in the competition, ahead of Roby for me and one of the most underrated players in SL.

That Houghton - Stevo jizzes over, and I like that young Hodgson at KR, as two alternatives.