Gareth Widdop has one of the half back spots sewn up.

But based on recent form Liam Sutcliffe and Daniel McGuire may deserve the other spot next to Widdop.

Do you agree? Which player would you choose? Or would you choose a different player?

Sutcliffe is still early doors, I'd prefer he gets a full season or two before been thrust in to it. I thought McGuire suggesting he wasn't done at international level was laughable 2 years ago. End of last season he showed glimpses and this year he's really put his hand up, the pace isn't the same, but he's improved in other areas.

You forgot to add homegrown players such as Scott Dureau, Luke Walsh, Travis Burns, Terry Campese.

But I have in fact only selected players who grew up in a home, rather than in an orphanage or a refugee camp.

But in any case some fans on here seem to think that Liam Sutcliffe will be ready for international duties by year's end.

I'd say Sutcliffe out of the two.
The end of season competition against NZ would be a good test.
Unless Tomkins goes back to Wigan as a half I think we'd better get a young lad ready for futures sake for say a World Cup because McGuire won't be available for such a competition.

People need to calm their t1ts regarding Leeds and Sutcliffe at the moment. He needs a run in the side in the halves before anyone starts talking about an England call, plus his defence needs to improve a lot before he's ready.

McGuire is in great form and if he's still playing well should be considered, as should anyone else who meets the selection criteria, but there's plenty of RL to be played before the squad is picked.

The fact that Maguire is now being discussed as an England player is scary.
Although nobody can doubt that he's an excellent support player, the guy has lost some of his pace over the past couple of seasons and
he would be ripped apart by the Kiwis or Aussies.

Tomkins would be a better option and possible Rachford, even Brough (although I think he's Scottish

)

McGuire lost his pace over 5 years ago, and I'd still wager he was quicker than Matty Smith, and Kev Brown.

I agree on Tomkins.

I was being polite

Why have you chosen Danny McGuire? Was he included in the last England squad?

Hope McGuire does not get selected, better having a good pre season at Leeds next year may be his last. Sutcliffe is a future England player (injury permitted) but not ready yet needs another 12 months to really kick on.
However both ayers form if it continues cannot be ignored as candidates for an England shirt.

The best England qualified half back I have seen this year is not even on your list, Try looking at a few Cas tigers games & a certain Mr Gale might get your attention.

My error to omit Luke Gale.


Unfortunately in my eagerness to make things right I changed the poll which, as I didn't realise, obliterated all 26 previous votes. Liam Sutcliffe was just ahead of Daniel McGuire.

My apologies to all who have voted before. Please vote again in the new poll..

I'm still trying to work out why anyone seriously thinks that McGuire and Brough should be anywhere near an international shirt now. Thurston & co would eat them alive. At least when Mcguire was younger he was worth playing but Brough

, not even half as good as the other one trick pony Sinfield!!

Sutcliffe is a 13 not a half back. At 13 he's nowhere near the same level as O'Loughlin or Sam Burgess who can and will play 13 for England.
McGuire's days as an International are gone. He'd do himself a favour by announcing his International retirement.

Widdop at 6 and Smith at 7 for England up to now!

I'm sorry, but even now in McGuire's twilight years he's got more ability than Matty Smith will ever have. And Sutcliffe doesn't seem to be doing a bad job of playing at 6.

I've never been that taken with McGuire; flattered, I think, by those around him, especially the much-maligned Sinfield. And in fact, I think the Aussies have more respect for Rob Burrow than McGuire.

The Aussies wouldn't give a stuff about any of our halfbacks if we're being honest.

I thought Smith did OK last year but his lack of a running game is a major weakness, particularly alongside Widdopp, who's also more of a playmaker than runner. Unless they're split left and right (which may be the case) I'd probably go for more of a runner than playmaker alongside Widdopp.

As an aside, why would anyone want to move Sutcliffe to loose forward? He's quite big for a 6, but he's pretty quick and has the skills of a stand off. If anything his size is a plus. The days of the ball handling 13 are hopefully disappearing - the peculiarly British obsession for adding an extra playmaker at 13 has played its part in retarding the development of halfbacks. I'd prefer Sutcliffe to stay at 6 and become a proper stand off, not some hybrid forward.

So to answer the original question, I don't know. I'd say Sutcliffe is a long way from ready yet and McGuire clearly isn't a long-term solution.

That list just shows how far behin the NRL we are

Funny, that. I've always thought the dull, defensive, Australian obsession with effectively playing another prop at 13 (with one or two exceptions like Glen Stewart) was a shame, too.

I feel compelled to defend Mcguire here and also say you can't have seen very much of him so far this year.I thought Danny was pretty much a spent force by the end of last year but he seems to have improved as a creative force so far and some of the passes for tries he has made have been sublime.The great support play of days gone by is still there despite him not quite having the legs to finish moves now but his general all round game seems of a much higher quality, far from relying on Sinfield who has been a bit part player so far with injury and the news of him moving on.Danny has stepped up big time, and rightly has earned consideration for Rep. Selection on merit. although from a Leeds perspective i do hope he gets overlooked so he can concentrate on a couple more big years with us.

Tbh, I though McGuire was good in the 2nd half of last season particularly during our Cup run including the final. I actually feel he's underated by a lot of Leeds fans. His passing game and movement with and without the ball has always been greater than his half back partner's at Leeds.

I have always found a persons view of Danny McGuire a good barometer for their knowledge of RL

I agree but it seems this season he has taken on the role of chief playmaker.In recent years that hasn't been the case but he has shone so far with the added responsibility.long may it continue

I don't deny McGuire has been very decent for Leeds this season, but at international level...