Many players have weakened their reputations and others have improved a reputation in these playoffs -- both Super League and NRL

Here is the 23 man squad I would pick as of today:


FB: Sam Tomkins,

FB/CE: Zak Hardaker

WG: Ryan Hall, Tom Briscoe, Josh Charnley

CE: Jack Read, Kallum Watkins,

SO: Gareth Widdop, Kevin Sinfield

HB: Danny McGuire, Rangi Chase

LF: Sean O'Loughlin

LF/2R: Sam Burgess

2R: Gareth Ellis, Ben Westwood, Gareth Hock

PR: James Graham, Jamie Peacock, Eorl Crabtree, Luke Burgess, Chris Hill

HK: James Roby, Rob Burrow


Reserves/Standby: Michael Shenton, Leon Pryce, Adrian Morley,

This team will compete with Australia.

No to those + Peacock retired from international Rugby League already.

Burrow shouldn't be anywhere near the squad at hooker when there's Danny Houghton & Daryl Clark.



If by compete you mean lose by 40, I agree.

Why would Luke Burgess get in the squad now when he couldnt when at Leeds and winning Grand finals?

is it because he plays in the super dooper NRL now?

he has had a strong season in a top 4 NRL team, that's why.

A few of those players I wouldn't have in even if we were in the middle of a injury crisis.

I would select

FB: Tomkins, Hardaker

WG: Hall, Charnley

CE: Watkins, Reed

SO: Widdop

SH: Lomax

General back cover: Ratchford, Makinson

As of yet I am undecided who deserves the other HB role.

LF: Lockers

2R: Ellis, Westwood, Hock, S.Burgess

PR: Graham, Mossop, Hill, L.Burgess, (final prop place is still up for grabs, some good players around)

HK: Roby, McIllorum

players who I would never take:
Sinfield
JJB
Ablett
Tickle
Wilkin

even though i have gone to this effort, we really dont know. there could be a young player that comes from know where next season to grabs a squad place.

Hey, Im a Leeds and Luke Burgess fan and agree he has had a decent solid season in a top 4 side as you say.But IMO he is doing nothing more than he did in a Leeds Shirt and most rival fans would have laughed at the inclusion of him in an England squad a season ago.Obviously playing in the NRL for a season has turned him into a World Class International quality prop so i will wind my kneck in....

Based on the season he's just had, Luke Burgess should be a lock to be in the England squad now. He's improved vastly.

Here's my 23-man-er:

FB - Tomkins, Ratchford.
W - Briscoe, Charnley, Hall.
C - Atkins, Reed, Watkins.
HB - Widdop, Lomax, Pryce, Chase.

P - Burgess, Graham, Crabtree, Lynch, Hill.
H - Roby, Houghton.
BR - Westwood, Ellis, O'Loughlin, Hock.

Just a bit of fun init.

What about Manu?

Chrisy Heighington anyone?? NRL legend and proud englishman!

Bit of fun with squad numbers attached, also 23 depends if he's English next year or not.

1-Sam Tomkins
2-Ryan Hall
3-Jack Reed
4-Ryan Atkins
5-Tom Briscoe
6-Gareth Widdop
7-Rangi Chase
8-Sam Burgess
9-James Roby
10-James Graham
11-Ben Westwood
12-Gareth Ellis
13-Sean O'Loughlin
14-Danny Houghton
15-Adrian Morley
16-Chris Hill
17-Gareth Hock
18-Stefan Ratchford
19-Josh Charnley
20-Eorl Crabtree
21-Garreth Carvell
22-Ben Harrison
23-Willie Manu/Andy Lynch

Tomkins
Hall
Atkins
Watkins
Charnley
Widdop
Brough
Carvell
Roby
Graham
Ellis
Westwood
Burgess

Houghton
Hock
Mossop
Hill

Reserves: Hardacre, Reed, Ratchford, Briscoe, Crabtree, Morley, McClorum, L Burgess, O'Loughlin, Myler