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.

I guess we are where we are. If he's on form I'd be very tempted to put Connor at No6. He has stood out at test level.

I’d put Lomax in that same bracket as Farrell in saying has he ever been played in the correct role? He came through at Saints as a halfback but was quickly used as a utility back and shunted around. He’s been superb these last few seasons as a halfback but at international level I can only ever remember him playing a bit of fullback and a few games from the bench at fullback or stand off.

I’m like a couple of others in thinking Williams and Lomax are too similar and ideally you want one of those with an organising halfback but we’ll have to see who is available. It’s been a slow start for Gale and there aren’t many of that style around the league.

You have to wonder why Wayne Bennett consistently chose the likes of Kevin Brown, Luke Gale, Jackson Hastings, George Williams infront of him?

I think if Connor came in it would be at FB with Tomkins in the halves.

I'd be happy with that.

if you want to go down that rabbit hole, then also wonder why Wayne Bennett thought it a good idea to play Blake Austin on the wing.......

i know that in itself is weird, i always wondered why he didn't put austin at centre and connor on the wing, who had some wing experience, surely more transferable skills and responsibility going from SO to C.

....and Stef Ratchford on the wing in another game.