Combined Nations All-Stars 29 man squad named

[EagleEyePie]

That's a pretty weak looking England side. Even some of the bigger names in the team are in nowhere near the good form they were in last season and quite a few are long past their best at international level. Then of course there are those who are in no form at all.

I mean it might not matter too much in terms of the result because the All Stars team will be lucky if it includes more than one player who could realistically be described as a 'star'. 

[RigbyLuger]

He's been watching a different Warrington to all us of if selecting players "on form" there.

[Scubby]

49 minutes ago, UTK said:

https://www.rugby-league.com/article/60268/shaun-wane-names-england-squad-to-take-on-combined-nations-all-stars

Wane has now named his 20-man squad for this match.

Matty Ashton (Warrington Wolves), Joe Batchelor (St Helens), John Bateman (Wigan Warriors), Mike Cooper (Warrington Wolves), Liam Farrell (Wigan Warriors), Ryan Hall (Hull KR), Matty Lees (St Helens), Michael McIlorum, Mike McMeeken (both Catalans Dragons), Paul McShane (Castleford Tigers), Tommy Makinson (St Helens), Mikolaj Oledzki (Leeds Rhinos), Joe Philbin, Stefan Ratchford (both Warrington Wolves), Sam Tomkins (Catalans Dragons, Captain), Alex Walmsley (St Helens), Jake Wardle (Huddersfield Giants), Kallum Watkins (Salford Red Devils), Jack Welsby (St Helens), George Williams (Warrington Wolves)

We are in deep doo doo for the opening WC game against Samoa if they put anything like their best 17 out. 

[Man of Kent]

9 minutes ago, Scubby said:

He has been #### for 2 seasons now and plays like an Oompa Loompa

He was poor against CNAS last year. Too small for an international forward.

[Spidey]

Too many from relegation zone Warrington for me

[Scubby]

Just now, Spidey said:

Too many from relegation zone Warrington for me

How on earth can you justify those selections? Gives off really bad vibes. 

[Scubby]

It's just been mentioned on Twitter that England players who don't make the 17 may turn out for the All Stars. What sort of half baked #### is this? Can't they find 17 to turn out for the All Stars?

We have France with their best squad out in years playing a threadbare Wales. That is a proper test match.

[DavidM]

Tell me that doesn’t say Joe Philbin , please . Surely it’s a misprint and it means Maggie Philbin , who would have considerably more post contact metres 

[DavidM]

Hopefully every English player in the NRL stays fit and Herbie is a quick healer 

[Scubby]

All starts pick England's best two hookers?  

https://www.rugby-league.com/article/60270/ellery-hanley-names-combined-nations-all-stars-squad?fbclid=IwAR0lg5tDkX0iYTxjdbghvEbImZkpQR-HWkmfrS8UVP4656hqcKZs5AM19kY

 

[Barley Mow]

Is that really the best we can put out?

We never expected those playing in NRL to play this match and I know some others are injured, but the whole point of playing the Combined Nations instead of a real international was to test the likely team (or close to it) against decent opposition. If this is close to the likely team, the world cup could be a disaster.

As for England players in the CN team, that is a joke. 

[DavidM]

Why are England players playing against England ( again ) ? 

[Scubby]

1 minute ago, DavidM said:

Why are England players playing against England ( again ) ? 

It's been mention that the 3 squad players who miss out from England's 20 may also get a run out for the All Stars  

[Barley Mow]

7 minutes ago, Scubby said:

All starts pick England's best two hookers?  

https://www.rugby-league.com/article/60270/ellery-hanley-names-combined-nations-all-stars-squad?fbclid=IwAR0lg5tDkX0iYTxjdbghvEbImZkpQR-HWkmfrS8UVP4656hqcKZs5AM19kY

 

It makes no sense to me.

When Leeming wasn't in the England squad I assumed whatever ruled him out of Leeds' last match against Huddersfield ruled him out of the England squad too. 

[The Hallucinating Goose]

Well that's a disaster of a team. I'm gonna go start learning the Samoan national anthem to sing at St James' Park. 

[Damien]

22 minutes ago, Scubby said:

All starts pick England's best two hookers?  

https://www.rugby-league.com/article/60270/ellery-hanley-names-combined-nations-all-stars-squad?fbclid=IwAR0lg5tDkX0iYTxjdbghvEbImZkpQR-HWkmfrS8UVP4656hqcKZs5AM19kY

 

Just when this All Stars concept couldn't get any more laughable......

[Phil]

On 23/04/2022 at 08:32, Old Frightful said:

Billy Ocean's?...I think we could have guessed that.

Seriously though, I wonder if Connor's Grandad was one of the Windrush people?, he certainly will have been about the right age I would have thought.

I know his family, yes he was 

[Jughead]

Laughable team, laughable opponent, laughable concept. 

[clogdance]

Nice of Wigan's 'head of rugby' to give quite a few of their squad a weekend off. 

[DimmestStar]

Ryan Hall has been playing consistently well all season and deserves his inclusion. Anyone who watches him every week knows this. Great finish to fend off Makinson for his try this week.

Surprised that Lachlan Coote is not in the all stars team his current form is outstanding and there is no recognised full back selected.

[StandOffHalf]

Weak-looking for the halves, hooker, starting props, and loose forward (I see Oledski and Lees as more impact bench options). Surprised and disappointed that Mikey Lewis isn't there to get a feel for the set-up. Leeming deserved to be the starting hooker IMO - if Roby isn't coming back. Instead, he'll be on the Other Nationalities team...

Something like this:

FB: Tomkins

RW: Makinson

RC: Watkins

LC: Welsby

LW: Hall or Ashton

SO: Ratchford

SH: Williams

PR: Walmsley

HK: McShane

PR: McMeeken

SR: Farrell

SR: Bateman

LF: Nobody stands out. If you want crash, bang, wallop, perhaps Philbin? Or put the solid, dependable Batchelor there.

Bench : Oledzki, Lees, Cooper, whomever of McIlorum and McShane doesn't start

In general, pretty uninspiring. I don't think McShane or Ratchford should be anywhere near an England squad at the time being. I personally would have had Chris McQueen in the squad.

 

[DavidM]

3 minutes ago, StandOffHalf said:

If you want crash, bang, wallop, perhaps Philbin?

Crash bang get walloped pushed backwards Philbin 

[StandOffHalf]

I would have had Smithies in the starting side at loose forward. I think he is big and powerful, and made for the international scene. 

Harry Smith deserved to be included as well. He would have been an extra option in the halves. He's been playing very well, and I feel that he could have what it takes to succeed at this level.

Those two and Leeming stand out to me as obvious omissions, where they would have strengthened and added potential class.

[StandOffHalf]

9 minutes ago, DavidM said:

Crash bang get walloped pushed backwards Philbin 

He runs hard and he's a toughie, but he's no giant. At his best, he's a solid player. I wouldn't have him in the England squad though.

[Futtocks]

3 hours ago, Toby Chopra said:

No Liam Marshall?

But, but, but all the great experts on here said they had 100% cast-iron proof that Wane would pack the side with his Wigan favourites! What happened?