The only issue I have about Tomkins at FB is that he doesn't seem to like running the ball back into traffic. He will be under tremendous kick chase pressure against Australia and the last thing you want is someone who will try anything to offload rather than take it up and take the hit. It puts a lot of pressure on the wings to get back to take the pass.

Having said that, I would play him at 7 and have Hardaker at 1.

I also think he has continually shown he is very vulnerable under the high bomb.

Jack Reed wont be playing which means that Watkins will probably get a game as he would have been behind Cudjoe and Reed

I had hoped we had moved on internationally from picking our best 13 players and trying to shoehorn them into a team, even it means playing them in roles they don't fulfill for their club sides.

Only in the minds of Hudds fans.

Very poor attempt. Getting a bit nervous about Thursday it would seem.

Shame about Reed's injury.

I don't know what the pecking order would be, but I will say that both Cudjoe and Watkins have been outstanding pretty much every time I've seen them this year. Cudjoe is certainly a far more complete player than he was this time last year. I think you can debate whether he's been better than Watkins, but I doubt it's only Hudds fans that would have Cudjoe in pole position.

Rather than argue I'd rather celebrate the fact that SL has 2 really exciting English centres for the first time in quite a while (since Senior and Gleeson I guess, though I think this pair could be better). I've only really seen Reed in international matches, so not for a while. I was under-whelmed then but if he's developed as well as people are suggesting then that's happy days in the long run.

Agree on Cudjoe/Watkins. Both brilliant. Which is why I would have them centre and wing, and keep them swapping outside one another throughout the game.

No Disappointed you went all out to beat Wigan so you would not have to play us

Maybe if Reed was fit and as good as I'm told he is. But for me what's excitin about Watkins and Cudjoe is that they're both genuine centres: they're strike runners who can also create space for their wingers. I'm not sure you could say that of people like Atkins or Goulding, for example. We produce so few of those that it would seem a shame to me to push either onto the wing.

We also have plenty of wing options with Hall, Briscoe, and Charnley. I would have no qualms about seeing Lineham out there should two of those 3 be injured either.

Tomkins is a big worry defensively but he isn't going to be dropped and it looks like Reed and O'Loughlin will miss the tournament. Charnley is a great finisher but I have doubts over him defensively in big games. I haven't really seen the likes of Kirmond, Ferres, Ellis and Farrell but Ablett had a stormer on Thursday and I would hope that is what he brings to England. Tough choice on the bench with Lunt, Burrow, Higham and Ratchford providing a lot of competition for one spot. I feel we lack one or two props but S. Burgess can easily move up. We could really do with Peacock, so i've gone for Singo who runs just like him, probably a year or two early though. I'd go with:

1. Tomkins
2. Lineham / Briscoe
3. Watkins
4. Cudjoe
5. Hall
6. Widdop
7. Sinfield
8. Graham
9. Roby
10. G. Burgess
11. Westwood
12. Ablett
13. S. Burgess

14. Lunt
15. Singleton
16. Hill
17. Ellis

Again you are showing youself up. It would seem obvious to me that a champion team could never throw a game. More to the point The Wigan game is perfect prep for the play offs for both Leeds and the pies. Unlike Shudds who had a tag match v wakey and a week with feet up. IMHO Anderson has made a major mistake.

He really struggled in the cup final didn't he...

1 Tomkins
2 Charnley
3 Watkins
4 Cudjoe
5 Hall
6 Sinfield (C)
7 Chase
8 George Burgess
9 Roby
10 Sam Burgess
11 Farrell
12 Kirmond
13 O'Loughlin

14 Graham
15 Lunt
16 Tom Burgess
17 Ferres

18 Myler
19 Crabtree
20 Luke Burgess
21 Reed
22 Hardaker
23 Crooks
24 Westwood
25 Ablett

No one picking the best half back this season? Matty Smith?

As I said I would pick Hardaker because of what he would offer in terms of protection at FB and the flexibility it would allow us with regards to Tomkins. However, if I were to be picking a pure winger, Briscoe is probably the better player but hasn’t fired to his potential this year, Lineham has real promise for the future but isn’t the finished article. Only Charnley has stood up and demanded the spot not taken by Hall, Charnley would rightly be a bit aggrieved if any other winger was picked ahead of him.

Gold.

Matty Smith making the Dream Team is the final nail in the coffin of democracy.

It was only a dream.

Democracy marginalises the wise.

If it's picked by players though it becomes a meritocracy

I thought this was voted for by journalists? In which case it's an old-fashioned quasi-democracy in which the democratic process is controlled by an unelected elite.

What is that, is it a bird, is it a plane no it ios the Irony flying past Wilkos head.

Next time i will put a wink by my post so you get it.