Dunbar

A poor performing Australian with a bad attitude in a 'Saints in turmoil' thread. Unfortunately, it could have been one of several players and not obvious.

Who are you talking about here?

I think his entire family would disown him if he did.

It is crazy to think that either Strange or Walker would opt for England. Strange was on the Kangaroo tour last year and Walker is as Australian as it is possible to be and just happened to have been born when his dad had a stint in England.

For England, it doesn't really matter if our centres and wingers are quality if we don't sort out the key issues which is creativity from the spine. Our back line will do a decent job bringing the ball away from their own half, as they did in the Ashes, and our pack will do a workmanlike job, again as they did in the Ashes. But McDermott needs to crack the creativity issue, which is either picking the most creative options and giving them licence, or having a well coached attacking outfit. Wane had neither. Given the amount of time he will have with the team, I think creativity is absolutely based on selection. Pick the best defensive middle forwards with good engines. Pick the most athletic edge forwards and backline we have available. Pick the most creative players we have available in the spine.

I understand that he has to pick a squad that he thinks can get the job done, but the big picture here is that there are three players included that were in the 17 that played in the 2017 World Cup final. In a sport that is increasingly about speed and athleticism, attributes of youth, it feels like we are not moving forward.

Not Mike McMeeken?

Listed in the reserves this week after a successful return through Queensland Cup last week following wrist surgery. Jeremiah Nanai is also back this week for the first game of the year so I suspect him and Heilum Luki will be first choice.

If Brailey is selected as a #9 or #13 over the other options we have, I will be disappointed. That inclusion would be 100% on the comp he plays in.

Fair enough, I think all qualify on birth or at least one parent and I am ok with that. But it seems to be a lot of the old guard in Super League and NRL available players. Only Eckersley and Robertson as bolters from our competition. I would have had more, in the extended squad at least.

Jayden has also been starting at #13 for the Raiders in their last few games. No fault of his, as he has to do what the coach wants, but they have looked less effective without 3 big middles which has been the conserstone of the Raiders game in recent years. I can't believe he is in ghe mix for 9 or 13 as they are two of our strongest areas, so it must be the versatility value.

A positional breakdown of the squad. Obviously a bit if versatility in there with players who can play across a few positions. Overall, pretty good competition for places in most positions. Probably the only one I am disappointed with is full back as I would like to have seen both Thewlis and Taylor-Wray in from Warrington. Can't help but feel we will not see much youth in the World Cup squad again. Full back: Welsby, Brimson Wing: Eckersley, Ashton, Young, Johnstone Centre: Farnworth, Wardle, B Smith, Handley, Robertson Halves: H Smith, Connor, Williams, Lewis, Trueman Prop: Havard, Thompson, Walters, Oledzki, Walmsley, McMeeken, Hamlin-Uele, King, Talty Hooker: O'Neill, Walker, Litten, J Brailey, Clark Second row: Nsemba, Watkins, Pearce-Paul, Hadley Loose forward: Currie, Smithies, Radley, Knowles

Quite a few additions in the heritage category. Jayden Brailey Max King Billy Smith Caleb Hamlin-Uele Ben Talty

Nicholson is injured, yes. Had shoulder surgery in March and was expected to miss 3-5 months.

Of course, it is all opinions in the end.