A month ago I wouldn't have had him anyway near our reserve side. He has put in some decent performances recently though, but still a long way off playing for England. As you say, his defence is woeful at times. It's not his physicality that's an issue particularly, but it's his inability to read the game, & his positional awareness that let's him down.

I'm convinced that's what Bennett will go with too, hence why he played Zak there in the Samoa game.

Whilst Zak has been easily the best FB in SL this season, he still doesn't look completely convincing with ball in hand to pick the right option. Should Widdop play there, a half in great form, it may give our attack more impetus, whilst not losing us anything in defence as he does have experience playing there in the past.

Not saying that is what I'd go with, but that's how I think Bennett may be looking at it.

Hardaker was poor at Penrith and hardly got any game time at all last year.
He looked like a boy playing against men.
He will not worry either Oz or NZ and they may even target him in attack.

Lomax is definitely going to be in there somewhere, whether people like it or not.

Sam Tomkins may have a future somewhere in an England shirt but it certainly won't be at fullback in this World Cup. He is struggling for pace and mobility and if that doesn't come back then he won't have a future as a fullback even at superleague level.

As things stand Hardaker should be at fullback with probably Ratchford providing some utility back up. I'd go Widdop and Gale in the halves as Williams form has gone totally west. A player I'd still be considering for the squad would be James Roby. He looks to be in good form for St Helens and his experience could be very handy.

I don't watch Williams every week so I'll take your word for it that he's out of form but he still has more assists than anyone else in the league this season, playing in a team which has been fairly average with a half back partner in Leuluai who by all accounts has been a let down this season. Don't you think that's still a pretty impressive return for a half back and that he'll look even better alongside someone as good as Gale or Widdop?

He's a supreme talent that's for sure and he is being let down by not having a balanced pairing to play in at Wigan. To let the lad thrive he needs a halfback partner who can take the lead when it comes to the long kicking and the general organisation of the side. I agree that Widdop and Gale provide that but those two in their own right deserve a place. As things stand I think they both have a more rounded game then Williams. There's things Williams can do that those two could only dream of but unfortunately his confidence is very low and he's making some really poor decisions. His assist tally is huge but for every assist there's a poor pass, offload or a panic kick thrown in and as things stand I don't think he warrents a starting spot.

There's time for that to change though and if anybody has the talent to pull it round it's Williams. He could still be a very handy option off the bench in the World Cup. That role may well suit him to a tee at the minute because he'll be free to just play what's in front of him at hooker or halfback and add some impact.

After watching Joe Burgess get spanked all over the park by Cas at Wheldon Rd when in the centres, he should be nowhere near that position. Nor should be we shoehorning people in for the sake of it.

Hardaker is without a doubt the best English Full Back right now. Playing anyone else there, unless Hardaker is injured, would be completely daft.

Jordan Turner at centre?

He had a nightmare along with the rest of his colleagues that night. He did actually show some good touches in the centre in other games but I agree that he's nowhere near ready to play internationally in that spot (although he's a shout for back up winger in the squad now Eden looks to be done).

Watkins and Percival for the centre spots imo with back up being provided by either Shenton or Gildart. In all the mediocrity of our season Gildart has been sensational (when fit) and looks a 'proper' centre. His footwork is superb and he's laying try's on a plate for his winger. His big test this year was opposite Jack Bird in the WCC and he was fabulous. I'd have no issues with Shenton being selected though. He's a steady pick and you know exactly what you get with him.

For me

1. Hardaker

2. McGilvary
3. Watkins
4. Shenton
5. Hall

6. Widdop
7. Gale

8. Graham
9. Hodgson
10. Sam B
11. Bateman
12. Whitehead
13. O'Loughlin

14. Williams
15. George B
16. Hill/Tom B
17. McMeeken

Hardaker needs to play where he is most effective. Shenton is probably the best defensive centre in SL at the moment. Agree with the sentiments on Williams may have a lot of try assists but my god what a frustrating player to watch at times. When you see him not passing when its on, trying miracle balls when its not he needs some specialist coaching in my eyes. I'd love to see Darryl Powell have him for a year! people probably wont agree with John Bateman either but we need someone who will properly stand toe to toe with them and for me our pack members that do are him Sam and Graham. Ryan Hall over Eden (if fit) for me too as he is proven and shows what he can do when played to his finishing is second to none. Think he is massively underused at Leeds

I'd go along with that. Although Hill would be a shoe in and the Burgess' twins would be one or the other. Neither seem to have kicked on since the top year they had when they won it, and they seem to fumble a lot of ball whether it be loose carries or attempting offloads that aren't on. Can't afford two lads who do that in one team against top international opponents.

Would like to see Walmsley get a shot in one of the games.

I think Gildart is definitely one for the future, but to describe him as on fire is a gross over-exaggeration. 4 assists, 6 tries, 8 clean breaks, 18 tackle busts is mediocre. Shenton's are 17, 5, 13 & 34. Not that I am suggesting Shenton should be a shoe in either.

Gildart has barely played after Brett Ferres turned his hand to a bit of wrestling. He's also played in a much worse team too and won't get anywhere near the kind of good ball that Shenton gets. He's probably one for the future though along with Joe Burgess.

Played less than half the amount of games as Shenton as the above poster says so stats match up (other than assists).

My one worry about Gildart is his size. He has the skills but is less than 6 foot & currently about 10-15kg lighter than his competition. Physically Burgess would make a great centre.

I'm not sure about Burgess in the Centre, England RU tried him there in the last World Cup and ended with him being made a scapegoat for their horrific showing, not sure he could recover from that again

I was just selecting that on current form. I would have liked to see more from Hill with Wires poor performances he hasnt gripped hold of the team and played a captains knock (in the games i've seen). I would like to see Walmsley have a go too but his style he just looks very raw still if that makes sense. I do think George B has come back strong from his injury and ban

If you're going to play a left-edge you'd be stupid not to play Gale, Shenton, Hardaker all together, who know each other's games. Percival should be in the squad too but I think they're my three centres of what will be a 24-man squad.

Eden may yet make the World Cup. His season may be done upto beginning of Oct but World Cup is Oct/Nov. May have time on his side in that regard.

Full-back: Hardaker, Lomax
Winger: Eden*, McGillvary, Hall
Centre: Shenton, Watkins, Percival
Halves: Widdop, Gale, Williams
Props: Hill, Walmsley, G Burgess, Graham, Taylor
Hooker: Hodgson, McShane
SR: McMeeken, Whitehead, Bateman, Farrell
Loose: S Burgess, O'Loughlin

I agree that there are huge benefits to a group of players from the same club playing together due to the relationships they have already established with each other.

The only downside is that England won't play anything like Cas. A lot of Cas' attacking moves come off the back of winning collisions and getting quick play-the-balls. Australia will be very happy to give penalties away if they lose the collision and back themselves to defend sets starting close to their line as opposed to clearing the ruck and allowing the roll on.

Eden isnt good enough to be waiting on, especially in a position we are relatively strong.

McShane isnt international class for me, too slow and his style fits Powell, not sure it will fit in to an international set up. I think Walmsley is great at SL level, not agile enough for international RL.

Hardaker, Lomax
Hall, McGilvary,
Watkins, Percival, Shenton
Gale, Widdop, Williams
Graham, Burgess, Hill,
Hodgson, Roby
Whitehead, Ward, Bateman, McMeeken
S Burgess,

With 4 places up for grabs.
1 is O'loughlin's if he wants it and his body is up to it
then one of J Burgess or Makinson,
At least 1 prop, if not two or possibly a utility.

He's played 7 and a bit league games (the bit being when Ferres took him out) so his record stacks up. He also took on Jack Bird in the WCC and came away with a try and a top performance.

I'm not turning this in to a Shenton vs Gildart debate at all . In all honesty I probably would select Shenton as back up centre (Watkins and Percival should be nailed on starts anyway imo) but Gildart is having a great season (when fit). As pointed out he's not the biggest but I think that helps him. He's never been physically dominated in a game to my mind and his defence has got better and better. He's certainly one for the future of but quote for this World Cup.

Wrong Burgess

Clearly a joke