It's being hotly debated on the Wigan board at the minute, but I was interested in what your opinions on Smiths choices are like for the 4 Nations, and the reasons why he has picked so many Wire players?

In particular:

Westwood - not been in the best form I've seen him in, and I personally didn't rate him when he was playing well. Not sure why he has a spot.

Bridge - Ok, his goal kicking is good, but agian, Sinfield could do a job there (have you signed him yet?



)

Myley - Was good at the beggining of the year, but doesn't for me has fizzled out, maybe you could argue that he is in on his france performance?

Morley - Deserves a place, no doubt.

Carvell - Not entirely sure, I would rather just have Graham and Peacock

Higham - The most doubtful one for me. I really like him as a player, he did Wigan a great service last year, but after spending most of the year out injured and not being on top form when he has played, you have to be joking. Cunningham has been better this year no doubt.

What do you lot reckon (btw, please no trolling, yes I'm a wigan fan, which means I'm inbred, have 6 fingers whatever, I've been told a milion times. Oh, and I'm fully aware who won the challenge cup)

You seem pretty genuine, i'll bite.
Westwood..didn't have the best game the other night but he's got one of the best engines in the game. The penalty machine one is a bit of a myth and if Hock hadn't have been banned he'd have been the perfect interchange with westwood for maximum impact with Ellis at 11 and O'Loughin at 13.

Carvell..I agree there, he's probably been in the top 7 or 8 props this year, depending on how the backrow lines up, whether burgess goes there Carvell probably wont be in the starting team.

Higham..that one baffles me tbh

Bridge..honestly is one of the Best British centres, people were sceptical because he's probably only played about 18 first team games there in his career and people haven't had a chance to see him. Trust me, he's a gooden and you'll see, whether he's up to the task of stopping Inglis?? well..who is.

Myler.. he's there because he's a natural 7. Id personally go McGuire and Tomkins but neither of them are natural 7's or organisers if Sinfield doesnt play. Whether he gets a game or not I dont know but he's the only true 7 in that squad.

Theres my opinion anyway, like it or leave it

Maybe because he's an Aussie, he was worried that if he picked the usual Saints, Leeds and Wigan crew, they would have beaten the Aussies and won the Four Nations. So he's giving his countrymen a chance?

Could be because it was his first game in ages.

I think all of his decisions are justified other than Higham really. Myler also is questionable because he has not played lately but lets be honest if he would of had a great game against Wales everyone would of been saying what a great selection he was.

Westwood I think would do a good job at international level, he is a good hard working player IMO the only issue I have is that I think JJB is a better player.

Although Warrington won the challenge cup I don't see how so many players can be in the squad from the team who finished so low in the table but maybe his choice can be justified as they have done better than anyone else in one off games.

I think Higham has just tipped his poor choice over the edge but overall I'm not that bothered anymore, international RL is a joke anyway.

Westwood - I've never been his biggest fan but he does go for the full 80 (imagine how good he'd be if he was ever fit?!), tackles well, carries the ball up tirelessly & would only give away as many daft penalties as Lockers. I was as gobsmacked as the next person to see him pass the ball for Tomkins' first try the other night though! Smith does like him & I agree that if Hock had been available it would have been between the two of them.
Bridge - think the last game of the season v Quins probably got him in the squad, he was outstanding that day. Is strong, creative, deceptively quick & has excellent hands; centre is a position England have struggled with recently with no real competition to Gleeson/Senior & with those 2 plus Atkins missing I think Bridge has a very good chance of playing in the centres. Has come of age this season now he found a position to make his own (although he should end up as a loose...)
Myler - as said, true number 7, worth a punt despite not playing since July in first team at Salford. Just hope he doesn't get flattened by the Aussies/Kiwis & lose his temperment. Incidentally how old was Benji Marshall when he made his debut?
Morley - no problems there
Carvell - good foil for Moz when they play together, up there with Burgess/Crabtree as 4th prop. Won't take a backward step even if handling bit suspect at times & will love mixing it with Mason & Moimoi
Higham - well he's rested for sure & is a good interchange hooker. Problem is Roby & Eastmond are just as effective if not more so in that role, which means Mickey needs to either start or won't play in favour of Moore.

No need to panic, Mick Higham didn't make the squad.

One less Warrington player for the Wigan fans to slag off on there board.

Fair enough points there about each player, Westwood has only really got back to his good rugby standards towards the end of the season. Bridge deserves his spot, as he has been one of our most consistant performers and playing well at centre. Myler has not played enough rugby this year, although i don't doubt his talent. Carvell and Morley have been the difference for us winning and losing games, they have been so very important to us this year. Higham hasn't played enough rugby this year to warrant a place in my opinion.

look up and you might catch sight of the point sailing over your head mate.
If you can justify highams inclusion in the Wales squad then fair enough, but I don't think he should have been in.

Who should've been then?

Roby & Diskin couldn't be selected, week after the GF.

Moore started.

Who then?

Who did this disgraceful selection keep out?

Out of our own players that played in the Wales game i think only Adrian Morley deserves a starting spot in the 4 nations, Chris Bridge did well when he came on and looked lively but i think Lee Smith is a better option at right centre, lets face it though neither of them will be on the same planet as Inglis or Hodges and neither Bridge or Lee Smith is built that well so they won`t trouble the aussies with any kind of power, thats where we`ll miss Senior who has been in good form this year.

Gareth Carvell is a better player than the one that showed up against Wales but when we have a front row that will probably be Morley and Peacock then i think Carvell would only get a bench spot at best along with James Graham, thats 2 decent props on the bench. You would think that Scott Moore will be the starting hooker with Roby as the impact hooker so that would leave one utility spot left on the bench, at a guess that would be between Kyle Eastmond and Chris Bridge. Ryan Hall is fair enough on one wing but i can`t say i`m a fan of Peter Fox, i don`t see him casuing the kiwis or aussies many problems.

Our pack is fine, its a very good pack with the likes of Morley, Peacock, Ellis, Burgess and probably Sinfield at loose forward. I`m not so sure about our hookers though, Scott Moore is a solid player but is he international class, would he really trouble the Australians ? Time will tell, James Roby from what ive seen of him hasn`t really shown any decent form since he won the man of steel.

As has been discussed before, scrum half is a problem. Richie Myler has a bit to prove and i`m not sure he is quite ready yet at the highest level, you couldn`t pick him on what he showed against Wales as he looked rusty and out of sorts, Sam Tomkins is too much like Danny McGuire and if you paired them both together you wouldn`t really have any organisation from half back and someone to take the team around the pitch.

Good luck Tony, you have a bit of head scratching to do with the 4 nations line up.