I think you might see Liam Byrne in that team next season and definitely KPP. I am not sure what benefit there is to selecting players who will be in their mid-thirties by the time the next World Cup comes around.

Add Knowles to that list as well.

Yes i'll be there. They've got the fixture details out nice and early, so we dont have any reason to complain we didnt know about it (got to be honest one of my biggest gripes in the past about lack of marketing etc with the RFL)

I think its NickyKiss who also comments in a similar way to how i see things. We need to see the long term international calendar, and it be meaningful.

I think the majority of fans appreciate that a mid-season test(s) are only likely to be v France or Scotland / Wales / Ireland etc, as there is no way that the NRL would sanction an international side coming over or any of their players for that matter

So we make the best of it we can and get the valuable time together as an England team, start building some combinations (admittedly we are missing 5 or 6 players who play NRL) but use it as something to build on and get the French team some experience too. if the IMG takeover goes well, why not build in a short international calendar into the season where we play 2 or 3 tests. RU can fit in the 6 nations and Autumn internationals whilst they play their season, so could be something that we look at, but squad numbers would also need to be considered and subsequent salary cap implications if running with bigger squads?

So as a starter its a positive we've got a game in early and running off the success of the world cup. And, as i posted earlier i'd like to see a tour of some form at the end of the season

I think France is ideal following a World Cup year for a mid season test.

It helps them and is hopefully part of the rebuilding process for England. The year after and following years building towards the 25 WC I would like to see us play one of the Pacific Island nations.

In regards venue I’ve never been to Warrington’s “new” stadium prior to the Tonga v Samoa semi but I thought it was a cracking rugby stadium.

It is a great stadium.
WE need more internationals thats for sure,at least this one is soon after the World cup and will help with rebuilding towards the next.
If we could play at least 1 test series a year would be fantastic.

And Morgan Smithies.

I wouldn't include Makinson, Walmsey Farrell, or Hill. We need to be building towards the 2025 World Cup in France.

I agree.

Will be interesting to see what happens with Farnworth over the next few years.

I’ve a feeling Union will come calling but he also has a desire to play fullback, which could have significant implications for the England set up.

i reckon Makinson will still be around in 3 years time and capable of producing at international level. The rest i agree with and i posted something similar on Warriors fans earlier in the week, Anyone who will be too old for the WC shouldnt be considered and look to build a side / squad for that

I wouldn’t be writing Makinson off yet either. He looks incredibly fit and he’s been sensational in an England shirt. We have to be careful not to go too far and strip out all the experience in the squad because as much as we need to plan for 2025, we also need to win whatever games we have beforehand.

It certainly should be the end for Tomkins, Micky Mac, Cooper, Hill and probably Watkins (due to injuries over the years catching up with him) but I’d keep Makinson and maybe Whitehead in our plans in the shorter term. I also would write off a player like Farrell, who is as fit as he’s ever been.

You’d imagine Lomax and Walmsley come back in to Wanes thoughts if they’re available and you’re then looking at guys in the WC squad like Oledzki, Batchelor, KPP and Lees to step forward. Outside of the squad the next guys in line and guys I’d like to see push themselves forward include Pryce, Newman, Wardle, Dodds, Harry Smith, Lewis, Leeming, Smithies, Havard, Byrne, Trout, Gannon and Cameron Smith. There’s some real talent there, they just need to take those next steps forward.

i could be wrong but i think Whiteheads body language after the defeat on Saturday, suggested he knew that was his last chance at winning the world cup. I thought he'd been fantastic and on Saturday didnt deserve to be on the losing side just on effort and commitment alone

there is some good depth in the possible squad, and it wont hurt is some of them are getting a gig in the NRL (KPP, Pryce, Farnworth, Young, Sutton, Radley)

with a potential back line of Welsby, Makinson, Wardle, Farnworth, Young, Williams, Dodds - backup Pryce, Newman, Smith, Marshall as it stands now

pack could look very different as likely Burgess, Hill, Cooper, McIllorum, Whitehead all potentially retired from International RL, so really need some of the younger guys to step up

He’s had a fantastic international career and if he wants to call it quits, he’s earned the right. If he goes along with the other experienced guys in the World Cup squad, the onus to help lead the side forward will likely fall on guys like Williams, Lomax, Bateman and Radley you’d imagine.

I do think the time is right for changes and it’s not just for changes sake but I think we have young players ready to take that next step. I’d love to see how a team along the lines of below could perform this next few years. I think there’s a decent argument to say it’s stronger than what we’ve just turned out in this World Cup.

Welsby
Young Newman Farnworth Makinson
Lomax Williams
Walmsley Leeming Oledzki
Bateman Farrell Radley

Subs
T Burgess Thompson Batchelor Knowles

Lads like Pryce, Wardle, Dodd, Smith, Havard, Smithies making up the rest of the squad.

No idea if he's been carrying a knock but in the limited time he had on the pitch Thompson didn't do much for me, certainly didn't look like the Saints player who smashed us way too many times to mention.
Hope he can regain that form but maybe he's another that the NRL has taken its toll on.

You wonder if his head knocks may have dented his confidence. He certainly doesn’t look like he runs with the same sort of vigour as he used to. I thought he was decent through the tournament but no more. When we get linked with him my first thought is ‘I’d take him’ but when you sit and weigh everything up, he is unlikely to earn his probable marquee salary.

Was interesting to hear Kallum Watkins suffered a bicep injury prior to the semi-final - might explain the poor performance. Maybe Wane should have considered moving Bateman to the centres but all irrelevant now.

We certainly have a nucleus of a decent team, although, Lomax, Walmsley and Farrell will all be 35 by the time the next world cup rolls around, so I'm not sure they'll make it.

Not a World Cup winning team though.

Not so sure about Makinson being available in three years time. He's played first team for 11 years now and at some point you would think his body won't be up to it. I appreciate he's a back and not a forward but when you look at his carries per game he may as well play in the pack!

Exactly the point I made earlier.

https://www.totalrl.com/st-helens-super ... world-cup/ Did they watch the same Welsby that I did?

https://www.totalrl.com/st-helens-super ... world-cup/ Did they watch the same Welsby that I did?

Bit of a daft headline to be honest. I thought he was pretty anonymous for most of the WC but his league form was outstanding. However, they will destroy him in the NRL

Welsby’s showing at the World Cup was great news for Saints really. I’m sure plenty had him on their lists to scout and other than the first game, he had a really quiet time of it. If he’d kept that first games form up, I think enquiries would’ve been flooding in but they’ll be wary now and will want to see a bit more.

Looking at the World Cup overall and then with his comments since, you could see somebody going in for Williams again.

Wests want Williams and Bateman

He was good up until the SF.

He's 21.

I think he'd do brilliantly over there. I know for a fact that he was seriously impressive in England training to the point where England staff made comments to the effect of he was even better than they thought he was. Radley has already said he's the one player he'd love to tale back to the Roosters from the whole squad.

Granted he was poor in the SF but then so too were lots of others.