I think we should try Jones-Bishop and Watkins on one of the wings. They seem to work well together at Leeds.

Notice how Sinfield is not getting a mention... is that because he isnt as good as current players or is he over-rated? IMO he is a great goalkicker but his form this season hasnt been the best (from what i have seen of Leeds).

Because they realise that he wont be playing alongside Cooper Cronk!!!

Widdop does a job backing up some of the best players in the game he does not control a game from Stand off like Darren Lockyer (ok nobody does it like Lockyer but you get the idea).

Widdop isnt a go to man for the storm He just goes about his job and lets the star players do their stuff. England Need More than that

Read the match reports (or watch the matches!) from when Cronk et al were on Origin duty. Then tell me he only looks good because of who he's playing with.

And seeing as how some people have replaced him with Myler, he's more guilty of that than Widdop!

this Jack Reed stuff is getting out of hand I've seen him a few times now and the first time I didn't know he was English I thought oh dear Brisbane Have a turkey here....

my opinion on him hasnt changed much in the few times Ive seen him he's a grafter but physically he just doesn't look like a Rugby player he reminds me of that Wakey full back from a few years ago, Halfpenny (I think) that amazingly looked so uncomfortable at everything he did but was actually ok.....

and Thats it he's ok

he shouldnt be considered above Bridge Atkins Shenton or Yeaman just because he plays in the NRL lets not forget how much cack we've all had the pleasure of Watching courtsey of the NRL.

It isnt chock full of Greg Inglis's you know.

15 stone Tom Briscoe (described as freakishly strong by many Super League players and coaches) is not up to it physically but 13 stone Jamie Foster, who I have never seen break a tackle, is? I’ve heard it all now

Anyway, back to the England team – with Danny Brough playing stand off yesterday, what chance Brough and Lomax playing together for England? In Widdop, Brough and Lomax we have some very good all round half backs these days... we may not even need to play a loose forward there this year!!

He has never been that great.... very good goalkicker, but against the Aussies you need players who will win collisions and he just won't, doesn't dominate in defence and isn't anything special in attack... very good SL player but don't think he is interntional quality.

Oh and Briscoe should definately be one of our starting wingers, can't believe people have Foster over him, he has little in his nal bar goalkicking.

From living over here and been absorbed in NRL it's obvious to me flying biscuit know dick about Melbourne, widdop, the broncs & reed! And knows sod all about the nrl!

We do need some experience in there. We do talk about playing the kids, but they will get found out as we found out last year. But the experience players must be in some sort of form, not just the name on the back of thier shirts.
I've said it many times, the Mcnamara is talking about preparing for the 2013 WC. But if he is expecting us to turn up and win the first major tournament/series in donkeys years (that so happens to be the world cup) then he's kidding himself. Winning a major tournament/series is vital to us winning the world cup. I still believe NZ's 08 success was down to them winning 2005 tri nations. Even though a lot of the players in 08 won't involved in 05.

So if we have a 33 year old playing better than a 20 year old, play the 33 year old.

It doesn't pick itself, and that's a pity considering McNamara is in charge of selection.

As for this Jack Reed, from the highlights I've seen he certainly knows his way to the tryline. But has he even said he wants to play for England?

Here's my team:

S.Tomkins
Jones-Bishop
Bridge
Watkins
Briscoe
Widdop
Brough
Peacock
Roby
Graham
Ellis
Westwood
O'Loughlin

Robinson
Morley
Burgess
J.Tomkins

As a Leeds fan Watkins and bjb should be nowhere near that team yet. Hall is as good as any winger in sl. Hall and briscoe on the wings.

I just think BJB has a bit more of a spark than Hall. I do think Hall is a decent player and wouldn't be particularly against him playing.

What do you think of Reid, like I've said I haven't seen anything to make a judgement.

Reed has been a real find for the broncs and looks like a seasoned pro already! Strong, fast, creative and can hit hard in D! If he is a serious about been available then he like heilington should be a shoe in! For the record widdop has been awesome for the storm and ran the show during origin. The storm where the only undefeated team out of the big origin providers in that period! Widdop is sometimes the go to man on kick plays before cronk and the rest. He is second to smith in the goal kicking too. He has been awesome taking on the line and is creative with ball in hand. In short if tomkin or any other British players were at widdops level week in week out stevo and the rest would be calling for a golden boot!

I agree wholeheartedly about Widdop, I was the one making the points you just made!

Cheers for the opinion on Reid, centres is a position we are really lacking in as well.

Not sure about Heilington, looks a decent player but Ellis, Westwood + O'Loughlin are all good as well, and that's without Burgess being around.

The thought of a halfback combo of Brough and Widdop gives me some hope.

Really, have you seen Brough defensively, the Aussie will rip his side to shreds, saying that his swirling bomb seems very very difficult to catch so would be interesting to see how Slater deals with it.

Brough hits the ball hard and clean, his bombs are immense, that height helps buy the defence time to get in the fullbacks face, that will be a big factor in stopping Slaters kick return. Plus Brough is capable of that bit of magic we sometimes see with Briers. The best option we have at 7 currently.

I'm more concerned with halves who cause problems for the opposition first. Their defence is a distant second.

True, compared to Myler and Lomax his kicking in general play is better and can be troubling for the oppositions three-quarters. If Brough, isn't 100% fit for the four nations Myler/Lomax should get the nod depending on form.

Tomkins
Hall
Bridge
Yeaman
Briscoe
Widdop
Brough
Peacock
Roby
Graham
Westwood
Ellis
O'lock

Burgess (if fit)
Carvell
Robinson
J. Tomkins.

Then the usuals Crabtree, Sinfield, Morley (if fit), Wilkin, Shenton and Atkins.

Players like Welham, Foster, Charnley, Myler, Lomax and Mossop deserve to be considered for their good form this season. All are young players and will therefore gain experience through selection/benefit being among the squad.

Oh I agree his our best option just doesn't fill me with huge confidence in defence, I can see them doing to Brough what they did to Mcguire in 09.

Broughton is a poor mans Penny he's gash the aussies and kiwis would have a field day with him

Locky is the best English 13 in this comp and it's not even close

Oh Dico





you been drinking?

Nah, defence matters. I know, let's pick a back-rower at stand-off. A fail-safe tactic, I reckon.

His bombs spiral and makes it so hard for a player to catch (even more so in wet conditions)

Rubbish, Broughton would do a job for England. He's in a very poor side and as someone else said, if he was playing for a better team, h would have scored a lot more tries. We do seem to be very strong on the wings this year though. My 2 would be Mcgilveray (spelling?) and Brsicoe.
Hall
Broughton
BJB
the other names who i would feel confident on the wings.

Charnley and Foster are both better than Hall,Broughton and Jones Bishop, tbf the latter is a class player but not ready yet imo