Gale at 7, probably S.Tomkins at 6 depending on how he returns from injury

Tomkins has to go fullback, otherwise we'll be stuck with Hardaker at FB and his one-dimensional attacking game which involves getting himself involved in nearly set move, getting the ball at 2nd/3rd receiver, ballsing it up & getting tackled.

I think Hardaker is a much better option defensively and under the high ball than Tomkins. He has a good kick return as well whereas Tomkins tends to hand it off to the wingers.

Tomkins shouldn't really be considered for international selection until he gets back to the level he was playing before his ill fated move, or at least near to that. At the same time Hardaker shouldn't be anywhere near an England shirt, his form doesn't deserve it and his recent spat on Twiiter still shows he's got an immature head on.

Shaul FB

Widdop/Ratchford 6
Snyed/Myler 7

should ratchford and myler end up getting the nod, you'll have some seriously peed off salford fans

So do I. Hardaker is one of the best defensive FB's I've seen, however I see the FB position more as an attacking one than defensive with the broken field running, support play & chiming into the line anywhere unmarked.

If only we could roll them up into one player. Shaul is the closest thing at the moment, as Willzay points out in his picks above. He's been brilliant for us this year, every facet of his game as improved.

Anyone see Schoey's England team in his LE column today?

He had Lilley at scrum half, Lilley?? really?? yes he looks to be a good prospect in the next few years but England scrum half??

Take it with a pinch of Salt, this is Schoey you are talking about and he likes to be controversial as it is his column and he wants people talking, if he had said Matty Smith and Gaz Widdop an eye lid wouldn't have been raised.

The last time I saw Tomkins play in the halves, meast, it was at your place, beating Benji's Kiwis.

But of course he'd need to show club form first in that position, but it's hardly out of the question.

I'd have Tomkins at 6 and Gale at 7 too.

Tomkins is too good a player to leave out and I'd get the ball in his hands as many times as possible.
It then means you can have Hardaker at full back too.
Plus it's not like there's another English stand off staking an indisputable claim for the position.

Tomkins in the halves for me too. The most gifted ball player we have that isn't 30+ years old.

Tomkins hasn't played in a year. And when he did he was poop

Unless he turns in some vintage performances he won't deserve to be anywhere near the England team

But he will be picked, by rep and club rather than form or ability

It's some Australian bloke picking the team, you know. Not Shaun Wane. Or the members of this talkboard.

Your chips will get cold if you leave them out this long!

bennett's first squad will be quite interesting

You need to replace the word 'poop' with 'injured' there pal. He played in very few games in 2015 and the ones he did he was playing with his knee totally knackered as it had been mis-diagnosed by the Warriors medical team.

In 2014 he went very well with his trys and assists stats stacking up nicely against two world superstars in Billy Slater and Greg Inglis.

He's clearly a lad England desperately need fit, in form and in the side. If he is all of those we'll be a better team for it.

I agree, players should earn their internatinoal call ups, not just get picked because of their name.
IMO, Sam Tomkins has done nothing to warrant an England call up, and especially in a position where he hasn't played for years, when there are other players that should be considered who play in that position, week in, week out.

you've not seen much of Gale this season then Willzay ?

How has Gale played generally? He looked to start well but has then maybe faded a little. He had a really poor night against us at the DW when his kicking game was all over the place which surprised me.

He'd be my pick to play alongside Widdop if he can get back to his best of last year and early this year.

Yes - decent season with a couple of niggling injuries which has caused him to miss a couple of games. He hasn't had the impact of last season granted but is still in the top 4 or 5 halves of super league stats. His display against Leeds at The Jungle was magical.

Ahh see that's where we differ, I prefer the traditional Radlinski style FB who makes the bomb a wasted kick and tackles anything that moves. Anything in attack is a bonus IMO.

Me too, A quality FB in those areas can be worth atleast 10 points a game in being a rock at the back.

Well he looked okay tonight.

Gale was sensational tonight... it was only leeds though.

Desperate for a bite tonight aren't we? all that grief from 2011 and 2012 coming out in one big burst



Look forward to seeing Wire do their usual choke job in September...maybe October