Bite and go into attack mode? Do you think the press care about a dozen or so posters on an obscure internet forum? Get a grip, people are expressing their opinions but it has no effect on the real world

It's a gathering of players who are front runners th make the squad. By time the nrl based players are added that means if you ain't made this squad meet up now your very unlikely to get in it. Not impossible but unlikely
We've played and beaten saints THREE times. Our front row instrumental every time
Yet only Taylor in. Saints whole front row in. Saints fans been banging on about walmsley been crap all year. It's unbelievable

I don't believe Wayne Bennett had anything to do with who was on that list, some joker from the rfl must off

It really isn't worth discussing until October

Roby over Houghton - I get that. Despite Roby playing behind a punch of wet socks this year, he's still been their best player, imagine what he'd do behind our pack. Unfortunately for Houghton he has two hookers in Roby & Hodgson slightly better than him, and Clark who'll be a better bench option. Those are the three hookers I expect Bennett will go with injuries permitting.

I can see what Bennett's done. Get the last squad together with a few new faces, tell them what he's all about, tell others to pull their fingers out if they want a place, what he expects from them etc. There's still 4 months of RL to be played yet, so not really the time to get upset. We'll see what his squad is like come October.

Well said doomy!

I think the only player who might be a bit peeved is Shauly....but if they all get their heads down I think a few could still make it. And if they don't, England's loss!

Betts. That's why an English assistant

Betts should be nowhere near the England set up, that is for sure!

Can't disagree with that. The only cause for grumbling would be if talentless thug McIlorum somehow got into the squad at the end of the year.

Jamie Shaul should have been a certainty for that squad. OK he's had a couple of indifferent games but he has been the best full back in Super League this year. Hardaker like many Leeds players has had a nightmare. I've noticed Joel Tomkins is in there! what a joke.

Roby for me is the most consistent player in SL, I don't think I've seen him make an error, and his engine is equal if not better than Houghtons, in a better squad it would show more, if he was in the FC squad right now I think he would convert those in the Houghton for England campaign.

Being objective as I don't see him every week, what are Shauls weaknesses?
He's a very quick dynamic player, always been impressed with him.

This

Catching the high ball yesterday! although he his normally very solid

He's not called Sam

or play for Wigan.

Surprised Bennett could stay awake long enough to hold a coffee morning.

Fully agree with Jake.

Whats pi****g me off is that, I get all the "coffee morning" "meet and greet" "hello to last years squad" etc etc. we all get that I think. And I think its a good idea in principle. Its just the way its been executed thats the problem.
I wonder if it really means nothing to Houghton, Shaul, Watts Bowden etc and other form players in other teams, when they can see exactly whose been invited ?

You've got to admit in the light of actual on the field playing form, its a total travesty. Including many players who've been consistently labelled as rubbish this season by their own fans when at the same time many in-form players who have outperformed them have not been asked in "for a coffee." Well it's just plain wrong.
The bias towards 2 teams in particular is painfully obvious and smells bad to me.

So its up to our 4 mentioned above, and others, to raise the bar even higher i suppose. Which may not be a bad thing for all concerned, But it shouldn't have to be this way.
Poor man management by Bennett and Betts in my book, which could easily disillusion rather than motivate. I'm sure Radders will manage that one for our players should it be an issue.
Rant done.

What's to say our form players even like coffee?

any squad that's got matty smith in it,cant be taken seriously.phil windley had more talent.

Bennett might even get rangi chase to make a comeback.

Good point pal, never thought about that.
False alarm,

Bennett will probably find his 'Gold Blend' after all.

Finally someone who understands the hooking role. Roby can only do so much with what he has to work behind. A 9 in attack is only as good as their pack. For example, look at Houghton this year. He has always been a good player but this year he looks a great one. He hasn't turned into a great player over night, it's just the players he is playing behind are winning the arm wrestle and are better players.

Another case in point is Clark. He was great in 2014 for Cas. He then went to a struggling Wire side in 2015 and struggled. He didn't turn into a bad player over night, it's just difficult for a 9 to play well behind a dominated forward pack. Often you hear 'Houghton out played Roby' or back in 2014 whenever we played Cas 'Roby outplayed Clark', both nonsense statements. Hull FC's pack have dominated Saints' pack this year meaning Houghton has had more to play on the back off, that's all it is. It was the same when Saints played Cas in 2014.

We have some fantastic 9's at the moment. Roby, Hodgson, Houghton and Clark all look top players. For me, however, Roby with Clark coming off the bench would be my personal choice despite Hodgson playing in the NRL.

Did Bennett even watch our team play? I believe he spent most of his time watching the middle and bottom teams in the league.