Just wondering what players people think are putting a late run together to be included in the England squad? I think McNamara runs the squad a bit like the England cricket squad where is harder to get out then in but if he were to look at a couple of outsiders who's putting a case together?



At Wigan the two that have really come on strong and ate putting great cases together are Matty Smith and Scott Taylor. Smith is pulling the strings like an old pro at the minute and is full of confidence. As for Taylor he's fully settled now and had worked hard on his fitness and he's on fire. He's just such an awkward player to deal with and is constantly drawing defenders in and driving them back.

Agree with the call on Matty Smith. He is the kind of scrum half who moves his team around the field well and has a good kicking game. Very underrated and not sure why he is not often mentioned in discussions on England squads, I think he could do a good job for England with a big pack to manage.



Scott Taylor is in a very competitive position and despite the fact I would pick Sam Burgess as a back row forward there are probably a few too many players in front of Taylor at the moment (Graham, Hill, G Burgess and Crabtree would be my four props with Carvell ahead of Taylor and I would also consider Tom Burgess who I think has been strong for Souths in the second half of the season)

Players who have been in form for the majority of the year should be in but it doesn't work like that so there really isn't any point making suggestions as Mcnamara has his 'gang' and thats that really.

To be fair to McNamara, that ‘gang’ has been selected so he can bring them together regularly throughout the year for elite training sessions. Whether this is effective only time will tell but at least he has put some structure and continuity around the squad which must be a good thing. It shouldn’t stop him bringing in two or three bolters at the end of the year but the squad is clearly pretty settled

It's an left field call but call but I wouldn't mind Whiting at 13. Hits harder than any one and gets the job done. I can't see I'loughlin been fit. Unfortunately for Whiting he's probably the type of player who's face just doesn't fit.

We could do alot worse if O'Loughlin isn't fit. He is among the best back rowers we have in his own right imo, so throw in his utility value and he would be a good addition to the 23 man squad.

The Whiting love-in I getting a bit ridiculous now. He's a solid player in just about every position he plays but nothing more. He's similar to Gareth Barry in soccer.

He's a lot more than solid as a backrower. Quality player who would be an asset to any club in the division.

He brings a hell of a lot more to the table than the likes of Carl Ablett.



Fwiw I don't think he's good enough for the 17, but he is a handy player to have available.

Adam Swift, if he had played the whole of the season he would probably have scored 50 tries

Whiting makes Wellens appear like Usain Bolt on speed.

I know this but i personally dont agree with it, its more or less saying to his 'gang' that they are going to be in the squad regardless of how well they play in club Rugby cos they are in the gang'.



There's probably 6 or 7 players who are better/played better than some if his elite bunch but wont get a look-in cos they aren't part of Macca's 'gang', to me that is wrong but each to their own.

So does Paul Gallen. Don't need speed to play at 13

the fact that people like JJB and Wilkin are constantly involved in the promotion of the WC from an England point of view suggests to me that they are nailed on for the squad

And we will never win anything with th in the team

Agreed. I don't know if anyone saw Mcnamara interview on Love Rugb League, but Mcnamara basically said no player who was not in his ETS and plays for a team outside the play offs is been considered for the WC.



So MOS contender Danny Kirmond is not in his plans, yet Ben Cockayne is traing with the squad now.



As much as I would love an England victory, I just cannot see it with him in charge. Clueless.

Or that they are two of the most intelligent, articulate rugby league players that you could possibly put up for media duties. Two players who are likely to at least spark the interest of an otherwise ambivalent mainstream media.



I defy anyone to sit and listen to JJB for ten minutes and not be absolutely engaged by him, whether you agree with what he's saying or not.

Lets hope they can talk us to a win then

I've posted squads on forums and discussed selection with friends and I simply don't see how we will be able to find places for guys like Wilkin, JJB, Morley etc without leaving out some players that should be totally nailed on for a squad place on merit.



If JJB and Wilkin make the final squad I can only see it being at the expense of Liam Farrell and Brett Ferres and that simply can't happen...can it?



You want an element of consistency to selections but ultimately you have to pick your best players.

Personally I can’t see what Liam Farrell offers that JJB doesn’t. In fact they both suffer from the same problem as Wilkin as International forwards, they are too small and will get bullied by big international packs. At least Wilkin offers some versatility

Wilkin shouldn't be playing international back row, imo. There's a very strong argument that he's not good enough for the Saint Helens' back row, never mind England.



Also, he's been playing half back all season.

I'd probably agree about him being too small and I've left him out of 17 man squads I've named but I'd give him a squad place above JJB. His forms better and he's more dangerous with the ball.



I'd probably select Kirmond or even Hock ahead of both though in a first 17. I'd have Ferres as my bench second rower at the minute.

Gareth Barry has 53 England caps.





Personally, I wouldn't have Whiting in the England side even though I think he's a fantastic player. Whiting's best position is 13 but I'd prefer to play Sam Burgess there. He could be decent to have in the 23-man squad, though.



The biggest debate for me, in the forwards, are for the two second row positions and the backrow interchange spot. Ellis? Westwood? Farrell? Ferres? to name a few. They're all good players but there's only 3 spots. Hopefully players like Wilkin, Ablett, etc, aren't picked.