He was in the last squad when he was still at Salford. He deserved it then and he deserves it now.

Watkins deserved to be in the last time it was picked and Wane clearly has stuck with those players and that’s fair. I don’t think Watkins will keep his place come World Cup time unless there’s a real pick up from these first two games but it’s such early doors and he’s more than capable if challenging. That centre area is cut throat though, so whoever gets in will have earned it.

You'd assume Thompson is going to play 13 so that adds some size, although ball handling skills nowhere near the level of Burgess or O'Loughlin. Same with Ryan Sutton - Wane liked playing him at 13 occasionally.

Agree on the hookers too. Picking 4 in the squad seems a bit crazy but it is very competitive. Hopefully he doesn't put one on the bench just because he can't pick between 2 of them. At least McShane can backup in the halves I guess at a push.

Sutton played 13 last weekend and was absolute quality against the titans

You're not wrong there Salesim, it's amazing what a new colour jersey can do for a players ability.

There are lots going on here. Simply being in form for your club counts for nowt.

Farrell great SL player never played well for England.

Connor somewhat inconsistent SL player but always played well at international level.

Wane is RL’s equivalent of Eddie Jones knows what he knows and sticks with the same old. I expect England to do as well in the WC as they did in the 6 nations.

Wane has a rugby brain. The squad list went out before round 2. Training next week and he will know the score. Too many reading into what should be..

Never been played in the right way for England, being used off the bench or in spells from the start. Farrell’s biggest attribute is his unbelievable engine, which means he does 80 minutes every week for Wigan and as opposition forwards are tiring, he’s getting stronger. His record is phenomenal for us on every score, tackles, lack of missed tackles, assists, try’s, metres and so on. I have never in my 30 odd years watching rugby league come across a guy as criminally underrated. He is World Class for us but because he’s not 6ft 5 and 18 stones or he’s not mouthing off and getting in to scrapes, he gets pigeon holed as ‘too small for internationals’. I love John Bateman and he’s been to the NRL and proved how good he is, well Liam Farrell has been every bit as good for us as John Bateman has been at every step of the way. They’re both fabulous players and whilst different in style I cannot split them in a Wigan shirt.

We’re lucky as a country to have both of them and Elliot Whitehead and I expect Wane will figure out a way of starting all three. That’ll do for me. I don’t think leaving Jake Connor out is a sign Wane doesn’t know what he’s doing, in fact it’s probably the total opposite. Keep a notoriously up and down player on his toes, keep pushing him and come World Cup time, if he’s still playing as well as he’s done in a whopping two games, I expect he’ll make the 17.

Wane will do it correctly. Its his gig.

The worry is that I saw Ryan Papenhuyzen playing last week and thought ‘I hope they pick Tedesco’. Then I saw Tedesco and thought ‘I hope they pick Latrell Mitchell’. Then I remembered that Mitchell is just as good in the centres, so he’ll play there.

“The squad has been selected on form”.
If someone could tell me what Dom Manfredi has done in the last few years? Hasn’t he made about about 20 appearances in five seasons? He’s clearly got ability, but you can’t claim a player is ‘in form” when he’s played so few games.

He’s the only player in the squad whose place I question and that’s as a Wigan fan. He shouldn’t be in as things stand but I think Wane is picking him on the basis of knowing how good he can be but without him getting through a season or even more than ten games, it’s too hard to judge if it’s possible he could get anywhere near his previous levels. If he can then he’s talented enough to push Makinson and Johnstone but as things stand they look like shoe ins for the final squad and the 17.

Their quality in that position is mind boggling. Even in the unlikely event that those three are unavailable they could pick Gutherson or Trbojevic and they'd still be miles ahead.

If Wane can get a performance at international level out of Farrell that is on a par with what he does for Wigan then great. It depends if he sees Thompson at 13 or not as you have to pick both Whitehead and Bateman to start. Take the point about Connor - just hope he doesn't take his bat home.

Tomkins generally doesn't return the ball, he hands it off to his winger. He did that for Wigan under Wane so I'd assume that's what will happen again for GB.

Good squad in my opinion. Nailed his colours to the mast with Tomkins, as already been mentioned, and Williams is the first choice 7. Lomax is almost certain to partner him, fitness allowing. The hooker position is the only key spot that seems open. Interesting to see which direction he goes, but I suspect it will be Roby. Good mix of youth and experience across the spine of the team. That would give Wane the best shot at winning it.

Bateman will be one back rower. He’s spoken before about Toby King, who has continued to develop and is a probable rather than a possible on current form. Magilvary has proved himself a handy international winger, makes a lot of ground, but Makinson might offer more on that right wing position. Johnstone I’d fit would be a great threat on the left wing.

I think, baring an unbelievable run of form from someone on the fringe, the bulk of the squad is settled.

Not sure Lomax is almost certain to partner Williams, Gale went well last year at Leeds IMO and would offer a better kicking game. He would be my choice.

As a St. Helens fan, Lomax doesn’t have the pace required for international level

I'd be alright with him if Williams is injured, but it's one or the other IMO. You need an organiser and kicker in there. When you try to make Williams the main man and give him too much ball he starts trying to do too much and running up his own backside. Gale would be a good partner to take that pressure off him and let him pick his moments, as he does at the Raiders with Wighton as his partner. Gale tore us apart in the CC semi doing just that. Nothing flashy but it does translate well to international level.

I’d be amazed if he didn’t go with Lomax. Especially with Tomkins as an added creative/kicking option. Personally I prefer Gale, but Lomax is winning big games and is a good defender.

It'll depend on form/fitness on who partners Williams, but it's likely to be Gale or Lomax or possibly a wildcard in Connor.

We'll need a good kicking game as building pressure will be vital. We need two players able to stand the ball up in the in goal area on both sides of the pitch. Hodgson has a good long kicking game so if he can be coached not to overplay then I'd pick him as starting hooker.

Like Farrell, has Lomax ever had a good game at international level? I can't recall one but maybe he has.

Tomkins
Makinson
King
Farnworth
Johnstone
Williams
Gale
Burgess
Roby
Cooper
Whitehead
Bateman
Sutton

Clarke
Lees
Thompson
Walmsley

Nothing much springs to mind.

Now what about Gale?



We'll be playing Garry Schofield and Sean Long in the halves at this rate.