What 24 would you have picked? And would that be capable of beating Aus?

No real shocks
Heighington and Brown should be nowhwere near this squad selection and whatever you think of Tomkins he is still the best full back back up to Hardaker.
The quicker we get rid of Bennett the better.You can see there is no passion or interest in the position for him.
I just wonder what imput the assistant coaches and hanger ons like Peacock have with naming the squad.
The quicker we get Daryl Powell in the job the better.

Watts > Hill
Sneyd > Brown
Shaul > Ratchford
Ward > Heightington

That's off the top of my head but would all improve the squad in my opinion. Everyone knows we haven't got the player pool the Aussies have but we make our pool smaller by continually picking from the same group. Regardless of how good some players perform they'll never get in and regardless of how poor some are, they always get picked.

There's 5 players combined from the top 3 teams in super league (the three teams to win silverware) and 4 from Warrington who were abysmal. How can that be right?

I Know what mean, picking a 24 man squad out of the player pool we have, how much different could you make it? But this squad is nothing the aussies aint seen before and will do what they always do, Houghton would of been perfect to play against them, I know im biased , but how, Watts Houghton Snyed and Shaul have not made that squad is sole destroying.

My starting pack would of been

Watts
Houghton
Walmsley
Whitehead
McMeeken
S Burgess

Big mobile and aggressive

The backs have always been our weakness, but Shaul at fullback would of added some real pace and offer something different, I'd of even been tempted to take connor for a centre spot after is end of season form, Watkins will be a weakness.I like Percival, but apart from him, we look weak. Gale and Widdop in the 7 and 6 look ok, on the wings, Hall always performs well against the Aussies and Nz. Just think taken some of those players who have not had great seasons instead of the likes of the hull players I've mentioned is really poor, predicatable and will end with same outcome

Ratchford and Brown are baffling selections to me. From a selfish FC perspective this obviously benefits us but with Mini, Sika and Faraimo involved that’s a fair few core players who’ll be late returners to pre season. Doesn’t it go on until December as well? Not ideal but I guess 3 of the 4 are well integrated in the squad so not too disruptive.

What have your lads done to Wayne Bennett.
Watts would be the first forward on the team sheet for me.
And Ratchford/Lomax over Shaul ??

Not even going to question Sneyds exclusion for Kevin Brown .

Does the coach actually watch any SL matches.
Ive backed Tonga at 25/1 anyway .

To be fair, if they put me ion charge of Australia I'd pick a bunch of no hopers so you can't really blame bennett

Agree with you re Tom Burgess who finished the season as the best English prop out here. Completely agree with the Tomkins omission. He has been average since he left England to play in New Zealand. Bennett will play Widdop in the halves. I would have preferred Watts to Taylor.

3 of the 5. Final is Dec 2. When does pre-season start?

I’d missed Miloudi being picked, but him being back late less of an issue really. Normally senior players are back mid November but obviously those involved in the WC need a few weeks off, so maybe an after Christmas thing.

I think its usually november 1st for the players not involved in the internationals. first week or so is fitness tests, rehab etc so maybe no on field training until mid november. however with the world cup starting later this time, maybe the whole thing will be put back a bit

Hull came back late Nov last yr. Imagine this being the same.lot of games these last 2 yrs
Regarding England a lot of pants in a twist over the squad. But tbf I can see the starting 13 being mostly what you'd expect
Some baffling decisions in squad..brown especially. I'd of taken Shaul but even as a hull fan I couldn't start him barring injuries. His strength is his speed. But you simply don't run around people at that level and his weaker aspects would be exposed 10 fold.
Watts send offs errors and pens are what's done him. There will be a game plan and players to implement it. Watts can't do that. Gave 2 scores away in the semi. If they were thinking of him they'll of put a pen through him when he tried an offload when leading in a semi and thus losing. He's gotta find the balance between match winner and match loser. I looked at the stats of him and Taylor for the year. You can see why they fancy Taylor over Watts. Top end stats metres,av gain tackles etc all evens ish..but watts cost us as a team 32 more defensive sets over the year via pens and errors. I'd of taken him for all that..i just get why he's not going.
There are other places to look than Hill tbf. The only wire player I'd of taken in the squad.
Heighington is the 1 that gets me. Unbelievable and embarrassing. Our pack is a strength. We've plenty of options before that
I'll support us but when we fall short I'd like to see Bennett out. All the sell outs like peacock Shorpe Anderson and Betts gone and Powell and Radders in.

The reason the squad selection has wound me up is because I am really looking forward to seeing the RLWC, but now not so much. If we had selected players on form then I think we would have given a good account of ourselves

I really disagree regarding Watts and Shaul.

Watts is exactly what we'd need - he is big, aggressive and has great hands. His discipline issues have been a tad unlucky for me. He plays 'on the edge' and that's Wattsy, take him or leave him. I don't want us to select choir boys to play in the pack. Some of the cards he has received have been debatable and I would like to think Bennett watches SL matches

Shaul is deserving of a place, he is easily one of the top 3 or 4 english FBs and without Hardaker or Tompkins I think it's madness not bringing him into the squad. I understand your points regarding his flaws, but if we never play him then we'll never know. Personally I have a lot of faith that he would do well

No Miloudi at the World Cup - he's been chucked out the French squad. Rumours of him being hammered and fighting in a club after their match against Jamaica last night. Looks a talent,.but ing stupid and a liability

Sounds more trouble than he’s worth.

[urlhttp://www.lindependant.fr/2017/10/14/xiii-de-france-miloudi-exclu-de-la-selection-n-ira-pas-au-mondial,3060121.php[/url

Trouble seems to follow Miloudi around. Do we really want this sort of character at the club influencing the young players?

In a word, “No”, doesn’t seem like he’s going to add much, BUT we could have said that of Kelly, guess we have to have faith in Lee and the rest of the club, but I am afraid I fear the worst.

Dont think he will be around long enough for that to happen

You would think he'd keep his head down while he's waiting for a disciplinary. But some never learn.

... he was found not guilty.

Sorry missed that.

Scotty T last one off the park today.

Comparing Shaul to Lomax is a bit unfair..Lomax only played 19 games to Shauls 33 in 2017. Bennet wants his fullback to pass and Shaul does not do that.

Much better to have a full back who isn't even first choice in that position for his club and who misses 3 out of every 4 matches cos he's made of brittle plastic

I am not saying Lomax should or should not be the full back. i am just pointing out that the figures are not a fair comparison. Bennett wants a linking fullback and Shaul does not do that. Do i prefer Shaul to Lomax..yes! but i am not i charge of England.