Think Clark was banned at the weekend and not injured. Could be wrong.

We did have 3 in-form halves which made decisions very difficult. I'd go along with your option, Clark has been decent in a mis-firing Warrington side, so far.

And that most likely will be another second rate Aussie.

Kevin Brown maybe ?

One hooker in the squad? What's going on there?

I suspect the plan was to play one of the three half backs on the bench and then give Widdop a spell at hooker while Hodgson had a rest. Maybe they'll draft in someone like Daryl Clark now Widdop is out.

That's very simplistic. One dropped ball doesn't make someone a better player.

I didn't say Hall hadn't, because he has. He's just not as good as Johnstone, unfortunately.

They are different types of winger.

Johnstone has pace to burn and is excellent under the high ball, plus, has superb footwork.
Hal is quick but, not as quick as Johnstone but, he's more powerful defensively and from 15/20 metres out.
If you could take the best from both players, you would have one hell of a player.
mind you, in games like this, you may have thought we would be building for the future, although the World cup may be just a bit too soon for Johnstone.

Against Australia and NZ whoever plays will be up against big and strong opponents. Having seen the likes of Eden, Sargison, Burgess and even a supposedly strong player like Hardaker look like 7 stone weaklings in the NRL, its no surprise that Bennett has gone for size out wide.

Farrell and Bateman may get into the eventual squad, but again really lack physicality at the highest level. You could get away with one, but the idea that footwork or running good lines (as if anyone in SL runs better lines or has better footwork than the best in the NRL) alone will work against Australia is nonsense.

Agree that George Burgess needs to sort himself out. At least with his suspensions he won't be too tired at the end of the year.

He's much better than Johnstone. Until Johnstone proves it in big important matches like Hall has done consistently year upon year for club and country then he can't be consider in the same class.

If Hall or McGillvary were to drop out injured then Burgess would be ahead of Johnstone I'm afraid no matter what Wakey fans think.

I've said it before and I'm gonna say it again - I'm not interested in watching Aussies in an England jersey. It's a joke. Before anyone preaches 'eligibility' and 'Heritage' to me, I couldn't give a monkeys what other countries do or what other sports do, or what the 'rules' are. Heighington was rubbish last time he played for us and he'll be rubbish this time. Wheres this McQueen suddenly appeared from? He's played Origin! Aussie through and through! English born, with English accents play for England. It's bad enough having a convict coach without having players too! I didn't agree with Chase playing for England and he was playing for us in SL at the time, so I'm never gonna accept Heighington and McQueen. I bet McQueen has never even visited here! Ridiculous. And then the RFL have the brass bo*****s to try and get us to pay to watch them play on a live stream! I can't spake!

I agree and disagree.

Yes Hardaker looked wafer thin in the NRL - but is one of the bigger backs in Super League. That says it all.

But I would have no qualms about throwing in Bateman. I think he's the best we've got coming through. I think I'd pick 17 players based on merit - not picking players because they compensate for size lost elsewhere on the park.

Agreed.

It'll be interesting to see how McGillvary goes this week then.

Farrell has played against Cronulla and Brisbane (twice)in the last three seasons and he's been just about the best forward on the field in all three games. His stats have been fantastic and he's come up against some big big bodies like Thaiday, Lewis and Wade Graham.

The thing with Farrell is you're not going to get the best out of him throwing him in for 20 minutes here and there. He plays 80 mins week in week out for Wigan and his biggest attribute is that he's still playing at the same intensity after 79 minutes as he was after 1 minute. His fitness levels are unbelievable and he just doesn't have bad games, in fact he very rarely has anything but a very good game.

England have and continue to waste one of their better players IMO. He doesn't seem to be fashionable enough or get bigged up by the Sky boys enough to nail a spot.

Burgess is a lot bigger now after his year in Sydney. He's bigger than Holmes and Boyd and probably not far off Ferguson now. He's also faster than all 3 of those.

I agree about Farrell, 80 minute all action player but for me, we can't have two or even three blokes on the smaller end in the back row or our go forward would really suffer and we have three players fitting into that category right now in Farrell, Whitehead and Bateman. All excellent players in their own right and similar in that they are 80 minute guys but lack true size to bend the line and off load. i would at the minute go with one of those, alongside Mcmeekan and Sam Burgess. One on the bench and sadly one would miss out.I wouldn't have any qualms with any of those three getting a pick, it should be on form. It's a good headache to have and be interesting to see how Bennett goes... probably McQueen and Heighington

I hear Stefan Ratchford has replaced Widdop in the squad.

Confirmed now, logical selection having been with the squad last year but missing out due to injury.

It's not ridiculous. Every other sport and every other country have athletes representing them that were born overseas. Get over yourself. If you don't like the international eligibility rules you need to complain about them, not England's team selection. International eligibility rules are not down to the RFL.

I agree fully. We're simply playing within the rules that have been set. In an ideal world we would compete with Oz and NZ solely by utilising players who have grown up playing RL in the UK and playing SL week in week out; and win our fair share of tournaments. But we don't. So do we accept this and stick to this moral standpoint of ignoring the advantages the eligibility rules give and essentially cutting off our nose to spite our face or do we attempt to take advantage of them like every other nation does?

Unfortunately we can't afford to ignore available talent. That being said, we have better than Heighington in terms of talent. I imagine he's utilising him for geographic reasons. If not he's using him as he certainly won't be over awed by the occasion, as some are.

Instead of moaning, lets wait and see what happens over the next 12 months.

Because picking over the hill average Auzzies has done us so well in competeting hasn't it?

Anyone know when the Samoan squad is announced ? Cutting it a bit fine especially if selecting players from SL.

Don't know when it's announced, but I'm sure I read somewhere that they had already stated that they wouldn't be selecting any SL based players for this match

I'd take Farrell above Whitehead and Bateman. I think people may be surprised by me saying that about Bateman considering he's been our player of the year for the past two years but I think Farrell is criminally under-rated. He's that consistent I just thinks it becomes sort of boring. He's a quiet sort of bloke, not flashy but what a player. Since he came back from injury last season his game looks to have gone on a level or two and he's in career best form.

If I'm picking out first choice backrow it's the below for me-

11-Farrell 12-S Burgess 13-O'Loughlin

After that Ben Currie would be my next pick if fit with Bateman and Whitehead in behind them. I've been a little frustrated with Batemans lack of aggression in an England shirt so far. He punches way above his weight because of that aggression but he's looked a bit too safe these past couple of series.

No, I won't 'get over myself'. If you read my post correctly you'd see that I have put that I don't care what the rules are. I'm fully aware of them thanks. I've also said I'm not interested in what others do. This is a forum for people to express their opinions and thats mine. I'm not asking anybody to agree with me, although Willzay did (cheers for that mate!). I'm a proud Englishman who wants to watch proud Englishmen representing our country. I'm as entitled to my opinion as you are yours. I don't have to agree with you, just like you don't have to agree with me, but I respect that other people have their own opinions.