On Sunday, England boss Steve McNamara named his 24-man squad for the Four Nations, which takes place later this month.
There were some notable omissions – you can vote for the most shocking here – but generally speaking it’s a well-rounded squad with some serious talent.
Here’s who I think is the strongest possible 17 from that squad.
I want to know who you would pick if you were Steve McNamara – there is a poll below the first 13 players and one below the substitutes. Fill each one out then let us know your thoughts through social media or on our free fans’ forum. We will reveal the results on the website next week.
Full-back
Zak Hardaker
Why? I don’t think anyone can argue Sam Tomkins isn’t a more threatening full-back going forward, but Hardaker’s defensive commitment and proficiency means he would get the nod if I was in charge. I feel over the course of the tournament he could stop us conceding more points than Tomkins would score.
Do you agree with this selection? Vote in the poll below and let us know
Left wing
Ryan Hall
Why? Despite not being the most prolific try-scorer this season, Hall is one of the most complete players at our disposal – he’s hard to stop and is determined in defence. Plus, I think he’s one of only a few English players the Kangaroos and Kiwis fear.
Do you agree with this selection? Vote in the poll below and let us know
Left centre
Michael Shenton
Why? One of 2014′s stand-out centres, Shenton finished the season as Castleford’s joint top try-scorer and also provided a whopping 17 assists. Could be lethal alongside Hall, but I am slightly concerned about his defence – especially if Jarryd Hayne plays opposite him for Australia.
Do you agree with this selection? Vote in the poll below and let us know
Right centre
Kallum Watkins
Why? Undoubtedly a precocious talent in attack and will cause opposition defences no end of stress. However, tackling is not his strong point and, similarly to the Shenton situation, Watkins could find himself head-to-head with Greg Inglis when England face Australia. That’s potentially very dangerous and I wouldn’t be surprised to see McNamara play Liam Farrell and Elliott Whitehead in the centres against the Kangaroos.
Do you agree with this selection? Vote in the poll below and let us know
Right wing
Josh Charnley
Why? Despite his early-season struggles, Charnley again proved he’s the most prolific finisher in Super League, scoring 19 tries in 16 regular season appearances. Joe Burgess will be hot on his heels but, for me, his experience at RLWC2013 gives him the edge.
Do you agree with this selection? Vote in the poll below and let us know
Stand off
Gareth Widdop
Why? He’s proved this season that he’s among the world’s best playmakers. Superb distribution, vision and a great kicking game mean he’s one of the first names on the team sheet. He was just four votes from winning the Dally M Medal in Australia, which is testament to his ability.
Do you agree with this selection? Vote in the poll below and let us know
Scrum half
Matty Smith
Why? In a similar article I wrote prior to McNamara’s squad announcement, I selected Sam Tomkins in this position ahead of Smith. I’ve since had a change of heart. Smith has proved himself at the very highest level in the domestic game and continues to lead Wigan admirably. Additionally, having another kicking option is a great way of catching out opposition defences.
Do you agree with this selection? Vote in the poll below and let us know
Openside prop
James Graham
Why? He’s the best front-rower on the planet.
Do you agree with this selection? Vote in the poll below and let us know
Hooker
Daryl Clark
Why? What do you get if you mix electric pace with a real eye for a gap? Tackle busts. And that’s what Daryl Clark specialises in. The Warrington-bound hooker has been one of Super League’s stand-out players in 2014 and is the natural successor to fellow Man of Steel contender James Roby. He isn’t quite at the Saints stalwart’s level just yet, which is why it’s very disappointing to see Roby out of the squad, but he is the next best we have, in my opinion.
Do you agree with this selection? Vote in the poll below and let us know
Blindside prop
George Burgess
Why? He proved in Sunday’s NRL Grand Final that he’s among the best front-rowers in the world. His 56th minute try, which saw him storm under the sticks from 20 yards out, killed the contest. His experience at South Sydney makes him one of the most useful tools at McNamara’s disposal.
Do you agree with this selection? Vote in the poll below and let us know
Second row
Elliott Whitehead
Why? Whitehead scored more tries than any other forward in the competition this year and was Catalan Dragons’ top tackler, too. A lethal combination that should lend itself to the international scene perfectly.
Do you agree with this selection? Vote in the poll below and let us know
Second row
Liam Farrell
Why? He may not be the bulkiest back-rower at our disposal but there’s no doubting Farrell has what it takes in every department. Solid in defence, threatening in attack, and knows where the try-line is.
Do you agree with this selection? Vote in the poll below and let us know
Loose forward
Sean O’Loughlin
Why? Providing he doesn’t pick up a knock between now and October 25, O’Loughlin will be one of our best players. He genuinely has it all and will be a serious asset to the side.
Do you agree with this selection? Vote in the poll below and let us know
On the bench
Replacement hooker
Josh Hodgson
Why? He’s the only other specialist hooker in the squad. Take nothing away from him, though – NRL-bound Hodgson is a real threat going forward, having a hand in 22 tries in 2014. His defence has raised some eyebrows, though – he missed one in every 11 tackles this season.
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Replacement forward
Brett Ferres
Why? One of the best attacking forwards at McNamara’s disposal, Ferres made more offloads than anyone else in Super League this year. His ability to inject momentum into a game is invaluable and the experience he gained at last year’s World Cup will surely make him a serious contender to start. For me, though, he makes a superb option off the bench.
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Replacement prop
Chris Hill
Why? One of the best forwards in Super League this season, Hill has consistently provided the Warrington playmakers with a platform on which to attack. His ability to eat up the metres is almost unheard of (only Matty Russell made more out of anyone in Super League) and he is unbelievably reliable in defence, missing only 14 tackles all season. It’s easy to see why he’s on the Man of Steel shortlist.
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Replacement prop
Mike Cooper
Why? It’s very difficult to pick between Cooper and Thomas Burgess for the final front-row spot. There’s no doubting Burgess has the potential to make more metres, but Cooper has much more experience and has been a constant for St George-Illawarra Dragons this season, playing in all but one match. Burgess, conversely, made just 14 regular season appearances in 2014, though he did play in the Grand Final and had a blinder. For me, the fact Cooper regularly plays alongside Gareth Widdop at club level is a deal breaker as it can only improve on-field communication between the forwards and backs.
