I've some sympathy with your view, but I think I agree with kentcat. How can Scotland, for example, build anything if their squad one year jumps ship the next just because the players fancy the brighter lights. Look at Carvell. He has played for Wales, and so playing for England he not only weakens the Welsh side, but he denies the chance for an England youngster.

I would like to see players decide on their international side early on and then be made to stick with it. Look at the farce down under, where half the New Zealand tri-nations winning side were playing for other countries in the World Cup. At least Great Britain was always a composite side.

FWIW, I would prefer to see GB back anyway. Give me a GB-Aus test series over any other international rugby league idea.

And therein lies the problem. That's how most feel it seems, which makes it hard to sell any other clash to the rugby league punter.

not in my opinion.

Brough has seen a lot more pressure and adversity in his career.
He's seen life in the lower divisions, experienced Grand Finals and a CC final and captained a team in a world cup out in Australia. He's been written off as a junior and as a senior and has had to rebuild his career on both occasions.
I think his mental strength has been tested and proven more than a young Sam Tomkins.

As for attitude, I'm talking about the type of attitude that all good scrum halves should have, the type of attitude that Andy Gregory and Alex Murphy had and the type of attitude we've craved in an English scrum half for years.

Personally would have loved to see Brough and Tomkins have a run out together think there style would complement each other nicely, its a real odd choice to chuck Myler in there for me, he has been average for much of this year, his defence is questionable and he is not a form player.

Smith has not helped himself with some of his selections regards the bias claims in my opinion.

Oh I agree, I don't want players to be jumping ship left right and centre, However. . .

The RFL changed the rules by disbanding GB, they removed any chance of Brough etc ever playing against the best in the world. They did so in the full knoweledge that Brough and many others had only opted to play for the other nationalities because it offered them an international platform from which to put a case for GB selection. after decades of scewed selection policies which favoured the top four clubs who can blame those players for seeking another way in.

It suited the RFL to let these players opt for a Celtic nation as it strengthened those nations at a time when the RFL were seeking some credibility in Scotland, Ireland and Wales.

My point was how Ben Harrison and Chris Bridge can then play for Ireland in last years World Cup and instantly get picked for England whereas Danny Brough played in the exact tournament and doesn't qualify?

What about Jarryd Hayne - Fiji + Fuifui Moimoi - Tonga????

At the start of a World Cup cycle I think a player can declare there intent to represent whichever nation they qualify for and the "gardening leave" period usually 2 years I think is not enforced.

hendo, well done hendo!!!!

I will be angry if Myler makes it into the Four Nations starting 17. He has done nothing to justify a start, and Eastmond and Burrows should take priority, and if he does get a start, we are back to club coaches preferring their own players. Noble did the same with Harris when he brought him back into League, used the national side as a training ground for his club side.

Quote ="Slugger McBatt"I will be angry if Myler makes it into the Four Nations starting 17. He has done nothing to justify a start, and Eastmond and Burrows should take priority, and if he does get a start, we are back to club coaches preferring their own players. Noble did the same with Harris when he brought him back into League, used the national side as a training ground for his club side.'" He has been named against France news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 318747.stm

Quote ="Slugger McBatt"I will be angry if Myler makes it into the Four Nations starting 17. He has done nothing to justify a start, and Eastmond and Burrows should take priority, and if he does get a start, we are back to club coaches preferring their own players. Noble did the same with Harris when he brought him back into League, used the national side as a training ground for his club side.'" He has been named against France news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_l ... 318747.stm

What is Westwood doing on the bench? Myler starting? I think it's time for a change of coach if he can't see past his club colours

Infact, i think even Tony Smith has no confidence in Myler if he is including Eastmond on the bench coupled with Roby! Why not put up the white flags now!

I actually rate Westwood, as a rough tough secondrow, his hands let him down from time to time but he offers a physical approach that no other secondrower does enjoys mixing it adds some mongrel to the pack.

I agree, i'm not saying i dislike Westwood but if your going to have Roby and Eastmond on your bench and Morley at prop then i really do think you need to go with two prop forwards. It just seems a very strange bench

It seems a very strange team! Not selecting Tomkins is a joke, England jumpers should be earned not given away. Myler has not earned his jumper regardless of the opposition, and should not be playing, he should not even be in the squad, his selection along with that of Lee Smith is a joke.

I should think the reason for leaving sam out is to save him for the new zealanders and aussies, as for smith quality player going to union no reason to cut the cord yet,
would we not pick a quality RU player if he came the other way to league, so how I don't think the 4 nations is going to get good viewings

I hope you are right regarding Tomkins but think you may be wrong, this game should be where we build and form relationships, it should not be a trial game like Wales.

Smith in my opinion should not be rewarded with an international cap for a sport he is turning his back on, Hunt is not in the Aussie squad.

the aussies have more to select from and greed is now the norm they just go where the money is,

I posed a question to my lad the other week, if he was to go professional would he play for Wakefield or Keighley as we know Barry Eaton and he chose to play for Barry as he enjoyed being trained by him, that did surprise me for a second but then goes to show how a player can respect a coach and the influence they can have on them, while coaches come and go players then have to renew relationships with their new coaches and don't see eye to eye,
doesn't take long for them to move on then money is the big factor, I don't hold nowt against Lee for moving on let him have a reminder how good the game is in league

I hold nothing against Lee Smith either, fair play to him, but i think representing your country in a sport is an honour, it has nothing to do with money, he has though chosen to cross to a new sport, will not be involved in the next World Cup and has the opportunity to go out on a high, this should not be encouraged in my opinion. I again think if he had no Tony Smith connection that he would have no chance of an England shirt.

Ask Barry for my conditioning routines back they were given in goo faith to one of his players not intended for the full squad!

is that why they got promotion

connection to TS has made the difference lets put Sykes in stead

Regardless of who we put in we are still going to get smashed, all we get from Smith is a lad who is going to take the benefit of his experience against the best in the world forward to union.

Gleeson should be in ahead of Smith, Yeaman should have another shot, his last go he was awesome but was dropped for no reason by BN and has struggled since, he deserves a shot.

There are plenty of this Australian touring party that that have been offered huge contracts in Sl and refused them as they want to represent there state and country, if England continue to give away shirts to people not deserving we will continue to see our National team, the most important team in the game in my opinion fade.

Myler is an outstanding prospect the fact is we dont have ONE international class halfback in SL
as for bloody McGuire hes the most overrated stand off in SL and dont even get we started on Pryce

think you are right there. mcguire well over rated. think you are wrong about international class halfbacks in sl. think if brough had a team of internationals around him like mcguires had and a set of international props in front of him i think brough would shine.. we would finally get an english halfback with a kicking game. i also think eastmond will shine given half a chance. ( what the hell was lee smith doing there?)

Dropping it from GB to England and the shirt giveaway, two reason why i have no interest in the international game.

Have always made at least one test match in the past but not anymore.