read my post again.
the supposed split between St Helens and Leeds players in the WC squad needs to be addressed now. If these guys get a few sessions together then other players from teams like St Helens, Leeds, HKR etc who are competing against each other at the top of the league will find it harder to be insular when they are called up to the squad later.
I find it funny that people assume it's the England Squad when it's not. It is the first step down the road to trying something new and yet dummy spit quotes like the one from Justin Morgan because 2 of his players aren't in this initial group just fan the flames for fans of teams who have players they THINK should be picked
I repeat....it is the first stage of a new way of building a squad that will hopefully gel and be able to give the ANZAC lot a proper game.

I understand what you're saying but it's a shame we have to resort to measures like this to integrate the players. After all not only were the split rumours denied by the RFL in the WC 'inquest' press conference, but these are professional sportsmen we're talking about. If there's a few faces that cause some animosity they should be told in no uncertain terms to shape up or ship out.

Also apart from the obvious media criticism this system leaves itself open to, isn't there a danger that cliques within the squad could be formed amongst those who are brought together early - leaving the remainder as 'outsiders' to form their own? IMO, there's a fairly high risk this system will actually cause what it was initially brought in to get rid of - two separate groups.

Whilst it's obvious to anyone with half a brain that this is neither the match squad or the complete 'elite' squad, why name exactly 17 players?! The whole thing yet again smacks of the usual RFL blind leading the blind method of organisation.

I think we understand that, but even as a first step, it leaves something to be desired IMO.

Firstly the things I think are good about it.
It is different. I had severe reservations about the Saints-Leeds domination of the WC squad and the shortage of props. But, when people said that the club combinations and familarity might give England an edge, that a small mobile pack would be well suited to the firm pitches in Aus and that we should just trust Tony Smith, I bought into that. He seems to have learnt the first two lessons (and I have certainly learnt the third). Now he has picked an abundance of props and some fresh faces from less fashionable clubs for his first elite group, while avoiding throwing the baby out with the bathwater. It is good to see LMS, Westerman and Myler given a chance to develop. Tom Briscoe too, but whereas the first three might learn from Peacock, O'Loughlin and Burrow, Briscoe appears to be the best we have, in Tony Smith's view. There are arguably two better (now) English wingers at Hull FC - certainly their anti-Fox brigade were waving the spectre of Calderwood or Raynor being included, much more prominently than T.Briscoe. This squad seems like a stunning vote of no-confidence in English wingers (and fullbacks). Of course, it might be the opposite, TS might regard himself as spoilt for choice and just be delaying a difficult decision. Saying that and name-checking a few players would then have been a good idea.
To me, leaving out Fa'asavalu or Morley to include David Hodgson or Peter Fox, would have been wiser - but then Huddersfield or HKR fans would have felt aggrieved that their club was the only English SL team without representation. I realise that Smith shouldn't spend his time worrying about keeping divs like me happy. He'll be judged on results in the 4 nations. Until then, I am entitled to my doubts - this 'squad' has allayed some old ones, but created a couple of new.

Fox and Briscoe not in the squad, am I the only Rovers fan that isn't bothered about it?

Nope, see my posts on the subject. I have always hated Rovers players being selected for in season internationals, in fact I remember once in the 80's we had 7 named in a GB squad and none were allowed to play the match before. Its a nightmare.

Sorry fellow Robin, I didn't read the whole thread, you're right though, when the likes of Casey, Holdstock, Fairburn, Watkie and co were stripped away, it left the likes of Robinson and Lydiat to play against Hull.











































And still win.

Would of liked to see Adamson in the squad. If he carries on how good hes been this year he should get in the squad some time. Hes been as good if not better then Myler this year from what i have seen.