England train-on squad: Ryan Atkins (Warrington), Tom Briscoe (Hull), Jodie Broughton (Salford City Reds), Sam Burgess (South Sydney), Garreth Carvell (Warrington), Tony Clubb (Harlequins RL), Peter Fox (Hull KR), Ben Harrison (Warrington), Jamie Langley (Bradford), Andy Lynch (Bradford), Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook (Harlequins RL), Mick Higham (Warrington), Adrian Morley (Warrington), Scott Murrell (Hull KR), Richie Myler (Warrington), Chris Riley (Warrington), Nick Scruton (Bradford), Michael Shenton (Castleford), Paul Sykes (Bradford), Liam Watts (Hull KR), Joe Westerman (Castleford), Ben Westwood (Warrington), Gareth Widdop (Melbourne Storm), Kirk Yeaman (Hull).

Murrell, Fox and Watts added from Hull KR.

Ryan Atkins, Garreth Carvell, Ben Harrison, Mickey Higham, Adrian Morley, Richie Myler, Chris Riley and Ben Westwood added from Warrington.

HIGHAM


Even Carvell



The rest, fair enough. Except maybe Myler is debatable, he can't get in Wires side anymore, but I suppose he is one for the future.

If Carvell can get in the squad then I hope Fielden and Coley get some recognition as well, they've been better than him IMO this year.

Highams just crazy, if we are that desperate for hookers for england then we are completely screwed.

And yes I know its the train on squad, but highams not good enough to even be in that.

No Wigan Players? Ridiculous!

I hope your being sarcastic there.....

Me?

Never!

Let's hope there's no Wigan players picked until 3rd october

Looks like its a case of, if your english your in

Higham had a good second half against Hudds to be fair to him - in all honesty, i don't think any GB hookers are up to much...

No players from Leeds, Saints, Wigan or Hudds.

IMO the England team should be:

1. Widdop (would have been sam at 1 and mcguire at 6 if he wasnt injured)
2. Briscoe
3. Gleeson
4. Atkins
5. Fox
6. Sam
7. Eastmond
8. Graham
9. Lunt
10. Morley
11. Joel
12. Ellis
13. O'Loughlin

14. Fielden
15. Roby
16. Burgess
17. Westwood

Ahead of him i'd have Roby, Lunt, Moore + Diskin. Add to that Sinfield should play there at international level as he isn't quite international class at LF.

There's 5, surely you don't need anymore in the squad?

I know Leeds aren't flavour of the month over here, but Briscoe *and* Fox over Hall? Seriously? Are you that desperate not to name a Leeds player in there?

Halls still the best English winger we've got. And by some distance too.

His finishing and defence are a class above anyone else, and he's one of the few backs we've got who could stand up to the aussies physically.

Thats another reason I'd be inclined to play Widdop at FB, Tomkins just isn't strong enough yet to be that last line of defence. His defence is top notch when part of a unit, his technique to bring down people it first class, but they can just run through him 1 on 1.

Widdop
Atkins
Gleeson
Bridge
Hall

Would be my backline. Doubt Gleeson will get a mention at all though, will Pryce be fit?

bridge isnt going on the tour, staying at home to be at the birth of his child.

Myler, you must be having a laugh. He has been poor.

Widdopp
Hall
Gleeson
Atkins
Briscoe
Tomkins
Eastmond
Graham
Sinfield
Morley
Ellis
Burgess
Lockers

Roby
Tomkins J
Fielden
Crabtree (was quality against them last year)

TBH I'd forgotten about Hall. I'd have him over Fox. Didnt even realise I hadnt put a Leeds player in their either. However the ones who have represented England in the past havent exactly done a sterling job have they?

Says something if our preferred choice is a loose forward. Diskin and Roby have hardly set the world alight at international level. Lunt and Moore i'm not sure about either...

True! Forgot about that, bring in Briscoe on the wing and move Atkins into centre then.

Roby is a quality player, he's done well at international level imo. Thats not where we've fallen short before.

Diskin is underrated imo, not international class I agree, but he's the best of the rest.

Lunt and Moore are still a bit unknown, they've both shown glimpses of their possible talent but then have been played out of position since.

However, all of the above are miles better than Higham.

By picking Carvell and Higham (the latter I presume off his 2 tries on Saturday

) Macca is already proving his in-ability as a coach.

He MUST MUST pick Fielden for the 4N. Carvell, is average at best IMHO. Coley and/or Fielden are twice the player of him. As for Higham, decent at club level, international level? Questionable.

For an international side 'average at best' and 'questionable' just doesn't cut it. You could argue a few players for that ie. Sykes, Lynch and Murrell are the same.

Then again, it doesn't matter who Macca picks - we ain't gonna win it nor or we gonna beat the Aussies or the Kiwi's. Might beat PNG mind you.

Anyone think Daz Goulding could get a call up to the team? Considering he was 2nd highest try scorer he knows his way over the whiteline and is in form, he must be in with a shout!

Harsh on Lynch there in particular, I'd have him at Wigan in a shot.

Widdop
Briscoe
?
Atkins
Hall
Sam
Eastmond (if fit)
Graham
Sinfield
Morley
Burgess
Ellis
O'Loughlin

Joel
Fielden
Roby
Westwood

That'd be my side, probably with Gleeson in the centres as you know he's just going to be solid.

I'd have Crabtree over Westwood as he did well last year and i think we have to go with 4 props. Also Gleeson in the centre as has been said.

God knows what we'll do if Eastmond isn't fit, Burrow? Brough? Sam with Brown or someone at stand off?

If Westwood was on the bench he would be coming on as a prop, he is a good SL 2nd row but agains the Aussies you need that x factor which Ellis, Burgess and Joel have. That being said I'm sure he could play prop against them and do well, maybe a switch to prop fulltime for Westwood would make him blossom even further IMO.