Same weekend we play Saints and they have Eastmond, Roby and Graham in the squad. I seem to remember Graham backing up and playing two games in one weekend once.

In some respects that is good as we will have a full squad to pick from. But it is certainly a bit of a snub. How Mcnamara sees Scruton as a better player than Crabtree is staggering.
even looking at the stats their is only one winner

crabtree scruton
games played 14, 15
average metres per game 102, 96
average metres per drive 7.13, 6.51
average tackles per game 23, 24
total season offloads 21, 11
season tackle busts 28, 29
season missed tackles 7, 18

or Tom Briscoe over either Hodgson or Cudjoe

I don't think Cudjoe is ready yet and Hodgson is not really international class.
I personally think if anyone has been pushing it has been Luke Robinson.

I just think Scruton before Crabtree is an insult. He did the business against Australia and New Zealand last autumn and after the obvious three Graham,Peacock and Morley he is the next best prop in Super League.

I actually think Eorl hasn't hit the heights of last year, and doesn't warrant a place in the squad. I think Mason has been our most consistant prop since coming back from injury, and for a friendly against France should feel hard done to, as should Robinson.

Well, if anyone has a point to prove we are playing McNamara's team on Sunday.

Who cares? It's a totally meaningless game against inferior opposition which serves no purpose at all. We need to get our season back on track and fast, so all the better that we don't have players risking injury and being allowed a breather from their struggling club's commitments. Also a snub from McNamara might just give them the kick up the rectum that they are clearly in need of at the moment, don't they'll be that d though.

No he is not stella Mason and Griff have been better than him, and i agree with Mable Mace is the one that must feel badly done to IMO he is a better prop than scruton.

TBH can't see how Scruton has got in, Coley has been head and shoulders above Scruton this season, and all our props unfortunately.

I can't see how Hodgson hasn't got a wing spot tbh. He's been great whenever i've seen him this season.

I agree Crabtree has not quite hit the ground running this year, i believe our players have suffered from all the turmoil of recent club off field activities that have impacted on the on the field activities and now on their international careers. It has been a poor season with a few plus points. The lads need now to push on for their club and show pride this year or we will drop out of the top 8.

Crabtree may not have been at his best by his high standards this season but he is still head and shoulders our best prop. Read the stats on the super League website. They tell the true story of form over a season. Our other props don't come close. Mason is the nearest as his go forward is good but he does not offer the extras required at international level like offloading and tackle busts.

As for Andy (penalty machine) Coley. Go and compare his performances to Crabtrees and you will see it is laughable to say he is better than any of our props. Just beacuse he makes a couple of half decent eye catching runs each game does not make him a good player. It is what he does over eighty minutes that counts.

To be fair to Scruton he is not a bad player and i have seen worse players selected for England but i hope Crabtree goes out and proves a point on sunday.

Crabtree, Mason and co need to knock the Bradford pack on to their backsides this weekend. Show Macca how big a mistake he has made to ignore our pack.

Graham wont be backing up as you play stains on the friday, the day before England play France.

I know that - you probably read my post on the VT before posting on here.

To me its the massive problem with picking a coach thats still working for a club.

Simple as that.

Plus its a bloody dire coach too. Soonest his tenure ends the better imo.

it's a nothing match anyway - why risk our players with an additional trip to France when they can play for us against a depleted Saints team.

It is a nothing match but it is still a big honur to play for your country.
And England seem to be taking it seriously by flying the three Australian based players over.
What i cannot understand is Engalnd not experimenting a bit more. I cannot see the benefit of playing the likes of Morley and Peacock as there is nothing new to learn about them and at their age i am sure they can do without the extra game.

Maybe he wants a big win to start his tenure in the hope that some people might actually believe we stand a hint of a chance of beating the Aussies!

I agree though that picking Morley and Peacock is totally pointless. Morley in particular is playing great and is IMO certain to be picked at the end of the year. Peacock moans about playing too much, is just back from injury and then they pick him anyway. More edges than a broken urinal!

I think the point about wanting a big win is spot on. MacBananan must be bricking himself about how badly he will be mauled after we lose to the aussies with him at the helm.

TBF i dont think any of our players have done enough to deserve an international call up this year, obviously with my C&G specs on i would have liked to have seen Eorl there again but as has been said he hasn't hit the same form this year

to me im amazed eorl hasnt been picked, the only 3 from last years tri nations final dropped are eorl, briscoe and fox and for the life in me cant see why, eorl had a outstanding tri nations surely that should have counted when we came to pick the next squad, i agree about peacock and morley both shouldnt have played for me lynch and eorl should have been picked instead. Granted he hasnt been as good this year but over the last month has certainly picked up his game, to me it beggars belief that tom briscoe is picked in front of hodgy particularly after the way he was exposed by the aussies at wigan.

Lynch was out of contention because he is carrying a knee injury.

Most neutrals on the VT seem to think Macca has not made a bad first of his selections. Scruton and Lynch have been an outstanding front row pair for us this season. He's given Scruton a chance now to show how he handles himself on the international stage, like happened with Crabtree previously. What is wrong with that? Why not keep your powder dry till you see who he picks for the big ones that matter later in the year?

By the same token - why fly two players half way round the world and why play Peacock and Morley? Mason and Coley could have been given a chance to shine for Example.

nothing wrong with him picking scruton for this match its morley and peacock i dont really understand, surely they are certs for the tri nations so why not leave those two out and pick 2 younger props instead, didnt realise lynch was injured does that mean he wont be playing on sunday?.