www.internationalrugbyleague.net/apps/blog/ Michael McIlorum and Ian Henderson are English now apparantly.

www.internationalrugbyleague.net/apps/blog/ Michael McIlorum and Ian Henderson are English now apparantly.

Born in Leeds, the question is more should he have played for Ireland in the first place.

Same applies to Henderson really.

No Ryan Atkins, still paying for his poor performance 18 months ago.

He's easily the best centre in superleague and has been since last season.

My only issue is players 'switching' nations. Does my head in.

I'd have had Gaskell in there. I think he's better than Lomax.

I also think Chase is lucky to get in based on his form so far.

Atkins deserves another chance as he has improved since his scaredy Cat performances, he will be surpassed this season though by Callum Watkins who looks a class above IMO.

There's a number of better players than Lomax but he's the one who's getting the hype, the latest flavour of the month.

If he played for say Wakefield he wouldn't be nearly as hyped up as he is.

Mcilorum was English last year.

Switching alligence between the poor nations is ok, otherwise how would you get a player of Micky mac's quality turning out for Ireland? These players make the emerging nations of a higher standard.

The trouble is with the residency grounds, it only makes the big three stronger when cherry picking the smaller nations better players e.g Uate.

Erm Uate switched nations after playing for Fiji so that's a bit of a contradiction.

If it's fine for McIlorum to switch back from Ireland to England then surely it's fine for Uate to change from Fiji to Aus?

Maybe his decsion to turn his nose up at selection last year has put him out of favour.

Peacock and Morley being in there is depressing, considering that this is supposed to be the run in to the world cup at the end of next season.

Bailey and Ablett being in is even more depressing.

What do we think the Exiles squad might look like this year? Obviously a few players have left/retired/switched nationalities...

1. Brett Hodgson (Warrington)
2. Pat Richards (Wigan)
3. George Carmont (Wigan)
4. (Matt King Replacement)
5. Francis Meli (St Helens)
6. (Rangi Chase Replacement)
7. Thomas Leuluai (Wigan)
8. Tony Puletua (St Helens)
9. (Danny Buderus Replacement)
10. Mark O'Meley (Hull)
11. Iosia Soliola (St Helens)
12. Willie Manu (Hull)
13. (Craig Fitzgibbon Replacement)

14. David Faiumu (Huddersfield)
15. Louis Anderson (Catalans)
16. Kylie Leuluai (Leeds)
17. David Fa'alogo (Huddersfield)

18. (Glenn Morrison Replacement)

Carmont out, Millard in
Lauluai to hooker
Finch at stand off
Dureau at scrum half

Then whoever at loose forward.

no room for Michael Monaghan?

Joel Monaghan for Meli

1. Brett Hodgson (Warrington)
2. Pat Richards (Wigan)
3. George Carmont (Wigan)
4. DARRELL MILLARD (Catalan)
5. JOEL MONAGHAN (Warrington)
6. SCOTT DUREAU (Catalan)
7. MICHAEL DOBSON (Hull KR)
8. Tony Puletua (St Helens)
9. MICHAEL MONAGHAN (Warrington)
10. Mark O'Meley (Hull)
11. Iosia Soliola (St Helens)
12. Willie Manu (Hull)
13. STEVE MENZIES (Catalan)

14. **prop**
15. ANTHONY LAFFRANCHI (St Helens)
16. Kylie Leuluai (Leeds)
17. Thomas Leuluai (Wigan)

waterhouse

as above but with Sam Moa (Hull FC) as the replacement prop

Kaufausi at the Broncos would be a good interchange prop and Southern at Wakey would be a good backrower.

I would have promoted Danny Houghton to the elite squad been outstanding last season and has started this season well, better all-around player than Mcllorum IMO.

Not sure how Atkins is not in the squad should be in before Yeaman that's for sure.

Exiles team for would be:

Hodgson
Richards Carmont Millard J Monnaghan
Dureau Dobson
TP M Monnaghan O'Meely
Delaney Waterhouse
Menzies

T. Leuluai, Kaufausi, Soliola, K. Leuluai

Atkins is clearly England's best centre, so his lack of involvement pretty much has to because of the issues in his personal life that made him request he wasn't selected for the previous series. There is no way he could be left out of both squads given his form last season and this.

What are Morley and Peacock doing? Why haven't they retired yet? I think it's very, very silly they've been selected and accepted the call ups. Why couldn't they let someone else who will actually still be playing when the next meaningful series is played?

And Gareth Hock? What is going on there? He was an utter mess last season when he returned and completely disrupted Wigan's tilt at the title, so is 5 games this season enough to be selected for England now? He must have been outstanding in those?

Not sure how Atkins has been left out of the squad, he's a quality player.

Also not that I condone it but if we are in the business of taking players that are not English then we should try get Brett Delaney. He is one of the best second rowers in the league. It is an area where we do have a lot of dept though.

JP and Morley wont retire till after the World Cup but with no real end of season competition I wouldnt bother playing them against the Exiles. The need to preserved as much as possible before the World Cup. They are the best 2 props in SL. Prop isnt a position where you need to develop combinations with your outside man like you would as a hooker/half back or wing/centre.

Going from that squad what do you think the England team will be against the exiles? I'd go:

Tomkins
Hall Watkins Yeaman Briscoe
McGuire Brough
JP Roby Morley
Westwood JJB
Sinfield

Mcllorum, Carvell, Mossop, Hock

Imo Sinfield needs to play loose against Australia next year or not at all. Man for man we are not as good as them so there is no point in trying to beat them at there own game. We need to be tactically different if we are to beat them and a ball playing 13 over a direct 13 is he way to go imo.