I have just seen the latest England elite training squad and Skysports website and I can't believe what I'm seeing!
Lomax has been included which I'm fine with but so has Leon Pryce?

Is it just me or is that a real shocker?

Full squad: Ryan Atkins, Chris Bridge (both Warrington), Tom Briscoe (Hull), Danny Brough (Huddersfield), Garreth Carvell (Warrington), Eorl Crabtree, Leroy Cudjoe (both Huddersfield), Brett Ferres (Castleford), James Graham (St Helens), Ryan Hall (Leeds), Ben Harrison (Warrington), Ben Jones-Bishop, Jamie Jones-Buchanan (both Leeds), Jonny Lomax (St Helens), Danny McGuire (Leeds), Michael McIlorum (Wigan), Adrian Morley, Richie Myler (both Warrington), Sean O'Loughlin (Wigan), Jamie Peacock (Leeds), Paul Prescott (Wigan), Leon Pryce (St Helens), Luke Robinson (Huddersfield), James Roby, Michael Shenton (both St Helens), Kevin Sinfield (Leeds), Joel Tomkins, Sam Tomkins (both Wigan), Kris Welham (Hull KR), Ben Westwood (Warrington), Jon Wilkin (St Helens), Kirk Yeaman (Hull).

ben harrison, jamie jones and leon pryce?

Pryce is the best 6 in England by miles when fit. Bit of a punt at the moment, but a fit and fresh Pryce is up there with the best England have, no question. With him potentially playing a key, decision making position, he needs to be around the squad.

We lack strike in the backs and Pryce has that in spades.

McNamara has drafted Lomax,Yeaman, JJB, Carvell and Atkins into squad.
Burrows, Clubb, LMS, Liam Watts and Peter Fox out of it.

The inclusion of Pryce, JJB and Ferres and the omission of Mossop is an absolute joke in my opinion but what can we expect from that muppet of a coach

Aslong as McNamara picks players like Morley and Peacock we are going to have no chance at beating Australia. They are gettin past their best now and have had their chance at that level and it's time to give their spots to younger players who are in better form. Why has Lee Mossop been left out??? If Leon Pryce is picked on reputation shouldn't Gaz Hock be in the squad he has a good reputation for playing against the Aussies, I think its in Tez Newtons book he talks about how on the last GB tour the Aussies seem scared of Hock???

Mossop can count himself very unlucky not to be in that.

Sorry Vee but I can't agree. Pryce has never proved himself at international level and Danny Maguire and Kevin Brown are both better strike players now. Not forgetting Sam Tomkins and Widdop can both play 6.

Pryce should not be in that squad and would be lucky to get into the Saxons squad if McNamara had any clue!

Picking on current form again I see. What a guy.

Knights

Saxons are union

What does Mossop have to do to get in the squad?

Be from Yorkshire or played under Mcnamara in the past.

So Earl Crabtree has had a better year than Lee Mossop.

Danny Mcguire being in the squad sums Mcnamara up perfectly.

Sorry! Just a little brain fart!

It shows McNamara for the bafoon he really is!

There are some cack decisions in that squad. He's not got a clue!

I'm surprised Wellens isn't in there the way he's picked!

Kevin Brown and Danny Maguire are walking error counts; not great news in international RL.

You say Pryce has never proved himself, yet then propose Brown? Did you watch him last year?! Pryce has done plenty at international level, in the outside backs and halves. He was at 6 when we beat the cons in Sydney, before our buffoon of a coach decided to drop him for the next game. When playing in the outside backs he was very often our most dangerous player.

Before Pryce's injury last year he was sensational, playing at a level the likes of Kevin Brown can only dream of.

His injury record means I'm surprised he's in there, but if he recovers from injury he's obviously one of the most talented backs in England.

Yep, as I just said the inclusion of Mcguire is a joke, same with JJB and Peacock. How the hell can you pick Peacock or Crabtree over Mossop, this is a coach that haprs on about "building for the future" absoulute muppet.

Welham in there too. Good with ball in hand but his defence is dreadful.
Nowhere near International standard.

Couldn't agree more, it would be (even more) painful (than usual) watching him line up against the aussie backs.

And with that statement - Steve McIdiot will pick him just to try and prove you wrong

I don't catch as much NRL as I'd like. Am I right in thinking Burgess is out injured but Widdop and Ellis are fine? If so:

1 - S.Tomkins
2 - T.Briscoe
3 - J.Tomkins/R.Atkins (still can't decide if Joel's good enough at centre)
4 - M.Shenton
5 - R.Hall
6 - G.Widdop
7 - D.Brough
8 - J.Graham
9 - J.Roby
10 - A.Morley
11 - G.Ellis
12 - B.Westwood
13 - S.O'Loughlin

14 - E.Crabtree
15 - B.Harrison
16 - R.Myler
17 - J.Peacock

I wouldn't be confident with that team but it's the one I'd go with. Where the hell are Farrell and Mossop?

The worrying thing is, probably our best centres on current form are Atkins/Bridge/Shenton, none of which are international standard IMO, its going to be painful viewing against the Aussies.

Oh god, that probably is our best 13.