A weird one from Wane for me. There are real positives in there including him involving the 'gun' young players we have. It's fantastic to see the likes of Harry Newman, Jack Welsby, Jake Wardle, Lewis Dodd and Kai Pearce-Paul being selected.

The selection of Ryan Hall is an eye opener. Still good enough for Super League I guess, but international level? Some other baffling selections, particulary John Bateman. He's barely Super League level since he came back from Australia, what exactly is Wane rewarding him for? Liam Marshall is another who is fine at Super League level, but for whom internationals are a leap. No selection for Tom Johnstone is a baffling one, given he's called up a few wingers who are clearly not good enough.

There are maybe 7 or 8 players I wouldn't have had in that side. For me, the train on squad would be for those who could potentially feature in the WC. Are we really suggesting that Jerry Mc, Hall, Sarginson and Lyne are going to be picked in the squad at the end of the year??

People like Will Pryce, Griffin, Mikey Lewis, Connor should be in that side, as well as Johnstone

Yeah, all good shouts. I'd completely forgotton Connor, I don't think Wane likes him.

It’s irrelevant, just draw names out of hat, not a chance of making the final anyway.

Lol

You say LOL, but back it up? Bateman has been utter rubbish since he came back from Australia. Far from the player he once was. He shouldn't be anywhere near the England team.

Have you seen it differently?

Down year last year compared to his standards but been superb in the opening 3 rounds this year. Over 100m last 2 weeks and top 10 in tackles despite not playing in the middle.

Also proven he’s world class by being the best second row in NRL 3 years ago.

One of the first names on the team sheet.

3 years ago you say?

Yep 2019

2020 he played well after missing the start of the year with a shoulder injury

2021 admittedly down year.

Hardly a million years ago, or is he over the hill at age 28.

My fellow fc fans will bang on about Connor but hes only great against likes of Salford Huddersfield and Leigh

And gives away far too many penalties and gets done for pace ( Liam farrell last season

Tompkins is better and would have lomax in front of him at full back aswell

Griffin should be in 100% one of the best centres in UK

Will pryce should be in going to be a superstar

Reece lyne sarginson and Hall are ridiculous not even good for their clubs now

Judging anyone by Lam's coaching is impossible really.


Reportedly Wane doesn't like Connor's attitude, which is understandable as he's got to be one of the most disliked players in the league. Hardaker may soon find himself out of the Wigan lineup, so not sure how he gets into the England squad. Glad to see KPP included though, he's had a very strong start to the season.

How does 158 metres, 31 tackles and a try in his last game against previously unbeaten Huddersfield do you?

Of course he plays for Wigan so surely there's a candidate from Saints returning worse figures who is more worthy of a place...

I didn't see that, so looks like he's turned up for a game finally. He got bullied last season and went for 42 metres against Hull KR, most of them probably after he'd been tackled too

.

I'm not biased in terms of who the players play for at all. Some absolute puddings in that squad, Wane isn't really trying. Obviously a conflict of interest having the England coach also be the concealed head coach of a SL side.

[uWell, you are[/u

And as for conflict of interest, I reckon a coach of an opposing nations World cup team shouldn't be in charge of a SL club sabotaging England's preparations.

Yeah - Mostly the above is absolute Rubbish, but as you started it I thought I'd join in

two things have previously let connor down
1) his lack of pace
2) his attitude
Theres little he can do about no 1 - and that is only going to get worse, he should be out to prove he's "not just quick" as others can be
he seems unwilling to do anything about no 2 to make up for no 1. The aussies would just laugh in his face.
we need reliability not liability.

Griffin is solid - but is he international calibre - not sure.
Will pryce -



.you are basing that on what - a few highlight clips? hes played a handful of games and is yet to prove himself (im a giants fan by the way) theres time enough for the lad!
the rest are only making up training ground numbers.

For me Johnstone and Makinson should be our wingers, we,ve got too many standoffs in the squad and not enough scrum halves, maybe see how Dodd turns out at the end of the season. Plenty of quality to choose from in the pack. Centres and full back not many world class players in that lot.

Second row is a concern. Props, hooker and loose are fine.

Farrell/Bateman- there you go sorted.

Hooker ?
Loose ?

Loose is most probably nailed on……Knowles

If Wane can shove a rocket up the backside of the player to make him play to his size…..could go McMeeken

Or maybe Whitehead

Bateman being picked for England just shows how out of touch Wane is.

Why was only 18 months ago the NRL loved him and he would still walk into most teams now but he REJECTED NRL to come back yet people think makes him a bad player suddenly





Austrialia beat us 6-0 and they are far weaker these days slater, Cronk, Smith and Cordner all retired

They didn't care apparently yet celebrated like..... Well yeah a world cup win





Only true RL fans know about origin

World Cup is what puts RL on the map

That's weak at Super League level. Farrell I have a great deal of respect for, he's been a very good servant to Wigan over the years. But he's on the way down and has never been international standard. Whitehead and Currie would be better shouts.

Morgan Knowles is the loose forward, no debate at all there. Hooker is a choice between Hodgson and Clark. Leeming and McShane make the squad but won't win more than a few games this season for their clubs so will be difficult for them to sustain a claim against those two.

It was more the 12 months he spent being thrown round like a dogs toy by James Bentley and every other forward in Super League to be fair. He was absolutely shocking last season, I've no idea how he kept his place in the Wigan team, let alone England. He needs to get that form he had in his good year in the NRL if he wants to get in the side for the World Cup. Having his club manager and mate Wane picking the team no doubt helps enormously, as he's not there on merit at the moment. He did apparently have one good game last week however, so the signs are more positive than they've been for 18 months I guess.