1. Sam Tomkins
2. Joe Burgess
3. Dan Sarginson
4. Kallum Watkins
5. Ryan Hall
6. Gareth Widdop
7. Matty Smith
8. James Graham
9. Josh Hodgson
10. George Burgess
11. Elliot Whitehead
12. Joel Tomkins
13. Sean O'Loughlin

14. Daryl Clark
15. Stefan Ratchford
16. Tom Burgess
17. Chris Hill

I've read a lot of comments on social media, especially from Saints and Warrington fans that this side he has picked further proves how much of a to$$er he is. I don't think that's a bad side at all, maybe a couple of changes here and there but generally on the money. Thoughts??

Whilst I think picking Joe Burgess for the squad is ok, I don't think he should be starting. He definitely looks like he could have an international future but he's only at the end of his first full year at SL level and we have two very strong choices in Hall and Charnley to play ATM. Going over there with the squad will be a good learning experience for him but save his debut for home soil if possible. Messed Ryan Atkins up something rotten last time we went to Oz and Briscoe was dragged off at halftime once over here vs Australia, no need to put Burgess in that potential situation, he's still got a bit of learning to do yet. Would even play Hardaker on the wing in front of him if an injury does occur to one of the aforementioned starters.

Shenton surely has to be in before Sarginson. Ratchford has played loose this year but having him on the bench makes it look too lightweight for me, whilst are 2nd row options aren't amazing I've rather put one of Ferres or Farrell on the bench instead of him.

I'd have Hardaker at Full back as he's a better defender than Tomkins and move him into the halves with Widdop. Agree about Ferres and Farrell, I'd pick one in the 13 before Joel Tomkins.

Has Tomkins spent any time at 6 this year? If he has I would consider moving him to 6 instead of Widdop. I've yet to see Widdop make much of the chances he's had in an England shirt. I'd keep Smith at 7 either way, he's a no nonsense link player who gets the ball wide rather than doing to much himself. Good balance with a running 6, and a good kicking game.

Unless Widdop has been on fire in the NRL (I wouldn't know) I would have Ratchford ahead of him.

I would not be fussed either way with Charnley/Burgess on that wing. Happy enough with either. I'd put Shenton in ahead of Sarginson.

I'd keep J. Tomkins in, from the squad we've got. Ferres has been out of form, but at least has a physical presence, Farrell is just not an international player in a million years. Bench probably needs another forward. Can't have Clark and a halfback really.

Hardaker
Burgess
Watkins
Shenton
Hall

S Tomkins
Smith

Hill
Hodgson
Graham
Whitehead
Tomkins
O'Loughlin

G. Burgess
Clark
T. Burgess
Ferres

Would agree with this, except the Farrell view. I would have Farrell in long before Joel Tomkins, Ferres, Whitehead, or O'Loughlin. Other than that agree with it.

I like Farrell for his work rate. I just think he's too lightweight for test matches.

I suspect we'll see whether I'm right.

I still have reservations about Whitehead defensively, but he does bring a bit of flair and something different in attack. He's a risk, but I'd take that risk.

O'Loughlin is a great divider of opinion, like Sinfield. I think he's a terrific player though.

Hardaker
Burgess
Watkins
Shenton
Hall

Widdop
Tomkins

Hill
Hodgson
Graham
Whitehead
Ferres
O'Loughlin

Clark
J Tomkins
T Burgess
G Burgess

I would go with the Burgess bros. off the bench.Hill and Graham are of high enough quality to start big and match the Kiwis and Aussies and to have the 2 brothers coming on when the opposition are tiring a bit could give us an edge.

As others have said, Farrell is a fine SL player but is just too small for the international game, same bracket as JJB for me. and i also think that Mac will stick with Ferres as he had a very good WC.Our second row is our weakest area imo.

Put Burgess and Roby in the pack and we'd look very competitive. However, without Burgess our BR looks w@nk and generally lighweight, and we'll lose a huge amount around the middle without Roby.

Farrell runs more metres than any of the other second row forwards selected, also his defensive record of only 12 missed tackles all season is very impressive, although he can give a few silly penalties away.

I'd go with this BUT would have Farrell in there above his team mate...I really do not see what J.Tomkins offers?? Farrell runs good lines and this makes up for his lack of size IMO

Name me any 30+ tackle per game player that doesn't?

Agree, but I didn't want to appear to be Wigan biassed.

Matty Smith is way off international class, but with the squad I'm not sure of the alternatives. Tomkins & Widdop have more flair but possibly less structure. Ratchford & Widdop? I'm not convinced HB is Ratchford's best position. Whitehead & Ferres for SR, Farrell is not big enough.

Matty Smith will do a job alongside a half with more flair. Halves who can do flair and structure would be lovely (sadly the Aussies have them) but we don't have any. So I think we need somebody like Smith alongside somebody like Tomkins or Widdop.

I'd go for Widdop and Tomkins in the halves purely because I doubt an over-cautious approach will serve us well. That also gives Hardaker, who's never been less than effective all season season, the full back berth.

Quote ="tigertot"Matty Smith is way off international class, but with the squad I'm not sure of the alternatives. Tomkins & Widdop have more flair but possibly less structure. Ratchford & Widdop? I'm not convinced HB is Ratchford's best position. Whitehead & Ferres for SR, Farrell is not big enough.'" Whitehead has missed 5X the number of tackles that Farrell has, and Farrell makes more clean breaks than either Whitehead or Ferres. Whitehead is in the top 10 for tackles missed, can we really afford to have someone so poor defensively playing against Aus or NZ? Being bigger doesn't mean being better. www.superleague.co.uk/matchday/player/1927 www.superleague.co.uk/matchday/player/2228 www.superleague.co.uk/matchday/player/10147

Quote ="tigertot"Matty Smith is way off international class, but with the squad I'm not sure of the alternatives. Tomkins & Widdop have more flair but possibly less structure. Ratchford & Widdop? I'm not convinced HB is Ratchford's best position. Whitehead & Ferres for SR, Farrell is not big enough.'" Whitehead has missed 5X the number of tackles that Farrell has, and Farrell makes more clean breaks than either Whitehead or Ferres. Whitehead is in the top 10 for tackles missed, can we really afford to have someone so poor defensively playing against Aus or NZ? Being bigger doesn't mean being better. www.superleague.co.uk/matchday/player/1927 www.superleague.co.uk/matchday/player/2228 www.superleague.co.uk/matchday/player/10147

Widdop was in the running for the Dally M medal (finished 5 or 6th if memmory serves), he has to be the first choice in the halves.

Quote ="Rogues Gallery"Whitehead has missed 5X the number of tackles that Farrell has, and Farrell makes more clean breaks than either Whitehead or Ferres. Whitehead is in the top 10 for tackles missed, can we really afford to have someone so poor defensively playing against Aus or NZ? Being bigger doesn't mean being better. www.superleague.co.uk/matchday/player/1927 www.superleague.co.uk/matchday/player/2228 www.superleague.co.uk/matchday/player/10147'" Here is why he's a gamble. He also produces more phenomenal offloads and wonder plays. I dunno whether it's worth it. I'd give it a go though. I think the clean breaks could be a little deceptive - he does tend to run out wide, and the ferocity of Wigan's forward play up the middle does tend to suck defences in and create space out wide. That being pretty much the game plan. I daresay I will be accused of Leeds bias (unfairly as there are very few Leeds players I'd pick this year) but I think Ablett has been better than either Farrell or Ferres this year. Dunno whether that's what the stats say. Farrell won't let anyone down. Question is do we take that or gamble on something more? I'm not sure there's a right or wrong answer to that.

Quote ="Rogues Gallery"Whitehead has missed 5X the number of tackles that Farrell has, and Farrell makes more clean breaks than either Whitehead or Ferres. Whitehead is in the top 10 for tackles missed, can we really afford to have someone so poor defensively playing against Aus or NZ? Being bigger doesn't mean being better. www.superleague.co.uk/matchday/player/1927 www.superleague.co.uk/matchday/player/2228 www.superleague.co.uk/matchday/player/10147'" Here is why he's a gamble. He also produces more phenomenal offloads and wonder plays. I dunno whether it's worth it. I'd give it a go though. I think the clean breaks could be a little deceptive - he does tend to run out wide, and the ferocity of Wigan's forward play up the middle does tend to suck defences in and create space out wide. That being pretty much the game plan. I daresay I will be accused of Leeds bias (unfairly as there are very few Leeds players I'd pick this year) but I think Ablett has been better than either Farrell or Ferres this year. Dunno whether that's what the stats say. Farrell won't let anyone down. Question is do we take that or gamble on something more? I'm not sure there's a right or wrong answer to that.

Widdop and Smith in the halves for me. Widdop’s played very well for the Dragons this year until a bit of a slump toward the last few weeks.

Tomkins defending in the line would be a defensive nightmare.

Backrow is a conundrum. I’d have Farrell in there for his workrate and he misses very few tackles. He needs to be alongside with a bit of an attacking threat. Ferres didn’t look out of place last year but hasn’t looked great for Hudders. J Tomkins hasn’t been back long enough for me to see if he’s up to it but he does offer some pace and versatility. Whitehead is great with ball in hand but still a defensive liability.

I’d go for

Tomkins
Charnley
Watkins
Shenton
Hall
Widdop
Smith
G,Burgess
Hodgson
Graham
J,Tomkins
Farrell
O’Loughlin

Clark
T,Burgess
Ferres
Hill

Smith will pass, which he does quite well, & kick, which he does less well. That's it, he doesn't create & he doesn't support breaks, as he lacks the pace. If Tomkins is up to it at HB he should start with Widdop. Do a job is polite for average. I accept that, if Brough is Scottish, there's not much else.

Farrell is a brilliant club player but not big enough at international. How many world class players of his size can you remember? We are not going to win the games by trying not to lose them.

I'd have Ferres in ahead of Joel Tomkins based upon the great showing he made at last year's world cup and Shenton over Sarginson but otherwise Schofield's 17 looks pretty good.

Tomkins' defence in the line worries me less than his defence at fullback. DCE and Cronk are deadly accurate with both high and cross-field kicks, neither of which Tomkins deals with particularly well.

Both Cronk and Cherry-Evans seem to have so much time when kicking it seems putting pressure on the kicker in the NRL isn't such a high priority. Perhaps if we could exert some pressure on either of these two we might blunt their effectiveness

Yep. Agree with that.