England Squad for the Four Nations

Who would you choose in your squad for the upcoming Four Nations? Any bolters? Any youngsters deserve a chance to stake a claim?

For me, the biggest weakness is in the centres. Do England have anyone good enough for this level?

Center is our biggest problem id go for Atkins and Yeaman with Joel Tomkins as backup as he could cover back row aswell . Welham is having a good season for Hull KR but he does worry me in defence .

I hope players get picked on merit not on name .

shenton will be 1 centre and proably atkins? I wouldn't say any of the england centres are world beaters maybe worth playing someone out of position to add more flair there

I wouldn't even have Shenton in the squad he hasn't had a good season at St's . He would be picked on past exploits not form .

Dont know about the centres thing, think for the first time in alot of years theirs a bit of hope with the centres, sure they would be behind 6+ first choice Aussies but on the day can course trouble and are definatly closer than previous years

Kirk Yeaman, Joel Tomkins, Jack Reed (if he'll play), Ryan Atkins Kris Wellem have had big years in the position (2nd coming of Yeaman)

My team for first game would be

Tomkins
Charnley
Tomkins
Yeaman
Briscoe
Widdop
Brough
Graham
Roby
Peacock
O'Loughlin
Burgess (is he gonna be fit?)
Sinfield

Houghton
Morley
Jack Reed
Crabtree

Think there are alot of changes could be made but the spine of Tomkins, Widdop, Brough, Roby, O'Loughlin and Sinfield for me are set in stone for me

Would you not play Gareth Ellis?

Any time I've watched Yeaman play, I would never have thought he was anywhere near good enough for international rugby.

Bad news is that Widdop could be out with an ankle injury.
I would give Welham a chance, as his play and defence has improved massivly this season. Other backs i think nailed on are S Tomkins, Briscoe, Brough. Other than that the other places are open.
In the pack, other than Roby, Possably Graham, Ellis and Sinfield the same.
Just an idea, i don't like him, but maybe Bailey off the bench, as he has been playing well this last few months?

Defo play Ellis but it though he was out injured?

I think Yeaman has had a really strong year, but is one of the spots i think i would be up for grabs

The only picks im set in stone in my opinion on are Tomkins Widdop Brough Roby O'Loughlin and Sinfield. We could have ball handling opions all over the pitch. Thats a potential 6 natural halfs on the field at one time, if they can compliment each other there will be options all over the field

putting players at 1, 6, 7, 9, 13 who only really excel behind a dominant pack, in support play, when the team has a role on (eg robinson burrows mcguire myler) is no good when playing a team that will rarely get those senarios against and i feel we have done it too many times in the past

It's fine having all those creative options but England need real strike runners to prosper.

We have attacking players , of the top 10 tryscorers in Superleague 8 could play for England . The problem is Australia and New Zealand are just better then we are at putting teams under pressure

With the inclusion now of Jack Reed and Chris Heighinton into the England squad we are going to be more competitive for sure.

Lomax should be at least in the 17. England should have a monster pack if everyone is fit with the inclusion of Heighinton, McNamara will have to make a desision.

It's great we now have options in crucial positions , lets hope we dont get anymore injurys or loss of form .

my team as it stands now would be

1 S Tomkins
2 T Briscoe
3 J Reed
4 R Atkins
5 R Hall
6 G Widdop
7 D Brough
8 J Graham
9 J Roby
10 J Peacock
11 G Ellis
12 S O'loughlin
13 K Sinfield

14 J Tomkins
15 J Lomax
16 E Crabtree
17 C Heighton