England Bolters for the Ashes

[NRLandSL]

Still early in the season but who are some outside players you believe could or should make the England side.

I’ll start with Harry Robertson, he is a special talent, shades of Ponga. Hanley has also been great too and I could see him getting in with an injury or two.

[WN83]

Oliver Wilson and Morgan Gannon from what I've seen so far this season. Harry Robertson possibly but I think he needs another year or so to settle in to a position and develop physically. 

[MZH]

It might just be a year or two early for them, but both the young Hull wingers (Martin and Barron) will be in the frame very soon. England have produced a few good wingers in recent years, but they are rarely great athletes like these two. Fast, tall, powerful, and neither of them are afraid to roll up their sleeves and do the donkey work either.

[JM2010]

Harry Robertson, Morgan Gannon, Zak Eckersley, Matty Nicholson, Morgan Smithies, Umlya Hanley and Lewis Martin should be putting pressure on the squad from last year if they’re form keeps up

[StandOffHalf]

I've been impressed by young Oliver Pratt at Wakefield. 

James Harrison from Warrington could be among the props.

Jez Litten from KR could be a good change-up hooking option with his darts.

Dean Hadley is a workhorse. Minchella is there or thereabouts for loose forward, but he's behind Radley and probably Knowles.

James McDonnell puts himself about for Leeds. I like his energy.

Harry Robertson is an incredible talent. Not sure he's big enough yet to go up against the Roos.

Liam Marshall has got to be in contention for one of the wing spots. Big Sam Walters could offer something a bit different. He's lanky and knows his way to the line.

Hanley is obviously behind Wardle and Herbie, but if he keeps playing as he has been, then he'll be there among the back-ups.

Nicholson would seem to have a good chance of making the squad as well.

[NRLandSL]

10 hours ago, StandOffHalf said:

I've been impressed by young Oliver Pratt at Wakefield. 

James Harrison from Warrington could be among the props.

Jez Litten from KR could be a good change-up hooking option with his darts.

Dean Hadley is a workhorse. Minchella is there or thereabouts for loose forward, but he's behind Radley and probably Knowles.

James McDonnell puts himself about for Leeds. I like his energy.

Harry Robertson is an incredible talent. Not sure he's big enough yet to go up against the Roos.

Liam Marshall has got to be in contention for one of the wing spots. Big Sam Walters could offer something a bit different. He's lanky and knows his way to the line.

Hanley is obviously behind Wardle and Herbie, but if he keeps playing as he has been, then he'll be there among the back-ups.

Nicholson would seem to have a good chance of making the squad as well.

Yeah I would put Nicholson over Bateman, I think Batemans days in the England jumper are over unless he has great year or injuries. Nicholson Looks a real threat on the right edge for Canberra and very strong defensively.

Can’t wait to see Nsemba go up against the Aussies though, will be incredible. He will be the best back rower in the world come a few years time.

i would pick Robertson even if doesn’t play, good to get him some experience in the England set up, he will likely become an England all time great IMO.

Edited March 26 by NRLandSL

[Charlie]

If all fit 

 

11)kpp

12) nsemba 

13) Radley 

we need the pack to step up. Thompson will start but others need big seasons 

[NRLandSL]

4 minutes ago, Charlie said:

If all fit 

 

11)kpp

12) nsemba 

13) Radley 

we need the pack to step up. Thompson will start but others need big seasons 

Defenitly, Get Knowles in off the bench aswell.

this would be my starting side-

1-Welsby
2-Young   
3-Farnworth   
4-Wardle   
5-Ashton
6-Williams
7-Smith
8-Thompson
9-Walker/Clark
10-Walmsley
11-Nsemba  
12-KPP    
13-Radley

14-Lewis
15-Lees
16-Knowles 
17-McMeeken

[WN83]

Not a bolter but looking at this form this season, it looks like the time for Mike McMeekan to take on a bigger role. He's 30 years of age now, has good experience and looks really confident in his own game. He's be a starting player for me if his form holds. 

[Harry Stottle]

Now this is a test series, the ultimate test series, it is not a series to give up and commings international experience nor is it one for one last hooray given to those who have served the country well previously.

I have always maintained that International selection should be given and adhered to for those player's who are strictly the in-form players as the series approaches and have performed well for at least the last half of the season, be it they are International rookies or those who have amassed a fair few caps, but the overriding factor must be they are the form players.

No more of the coach deciding early doors who he thinks will be in form come the end of the season, like Macnamara did at the start of the '13 season and naming his half back partnership of Chase and Sinfield, when they were both surpassed in the season by the Man of Steel Danny Brough.

[WN83]

3 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

Now this is a test series, the ultimate test series, it is not a series to give up and commings international experience nor is it one for one last hooray given to those who have served the country well previously.

I have always maintained that International selection should be given and adhered to for those player's who are strictly the in-form players as the series approaches and have performed well for at least the last half of the season, be it they are International rookies or those who have amassed a fair few caps, but the overriding factor must be they are the form players.

No more of the coach deciding early doors who he thinks will be in form come the end of the season, like Macnamara did at the start of the '13 season and naming his half back partnership of Chase and Sinfield, when they were both surpassed in the season by the Man of Steel Danny Brough.

I don't think it's ever as straight forward as picking 'form players' in Internationals and players having a history of performing at their best, in the biggest games should and does always come in to it. 

Would you pick somebody in rotten form? probably not but would you pick a proven top level player, who plays well in big games but might not be in their personal best form, over a guy unproven at the top level, who is absolutely smashing it? It's a balancing act, with loads of factors to weigh up. If the first test was tomorrow, I think you would say guys like Ollie Pratt, Lewis Martin and Oliver Wilson have out performed Jake Wardle, Matty Ashton and Luke Thompson for example but would I pick them over those 3? not a chance IMO. 

[StandOffHalf]

31 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

Now this is a test series, the ultimate test series, it is not a series to give up and commings international experience nor is it one for one last hooray given to those who have served the country well previously.

I have always maintained that International selection should be given and adhered to for those player's who are strictly the in-form players as the series approaches and have performed well for at least the last half of the season, be it they are International rookies or those who have amassed a fair few caps, but the overriding factor must be they are the form players.

No more of the coach deciding early doors who he thinks will be in form come the end of the season, like Macnamara did at the start of the '13 season and naming his half back partnership of Chase and Sinfield, when they were both surpassed in the season by the Man of Steel Danny Brough.

I agree that the coach should pick his best team. Form is important, as is past playing exposure and experience at this sort of level.

Only a handful of those touted here as possibles will make the squad.

[Harry Stottle]

23 minutes ago, WN83 said:

I don't think it's ever as straight forward as picking 'form players' in Internationals and players having a history of performing at their best, in the biggest games should and does always come in to it. 

Would you pick somebody in rotten form? probably not but would you pick a proven top level player, who plays well in big games but might not be in their personal best form, over a guy unproven at the top level, who is absolutely smashing it? It's a balancing act, with loads of factors to weigh up. If the first test was tomorrow, I think you would say guys like Ollie Pratt, Lewis Martin and Oliver Wilson have out performed Jake Wardle, Matty Ashton and Luke Thompson for example but would I pick them over those 3? not a chance IMO. 

Thanks for the reply, but you are basing your example on 5 games into the season, I did say that if a player had performed well for at least the last half of the season that would be the time for consideration for selection, now if those players Pratt, Martin and Wilson were out performing Wardle, Ashton and Thompson over that period from say mid June to the seasons end would that alter your thinking?

[JM2010]

For me it’s a mixture of form and how they would handle the Aussies. We need a big athletic team with a bit of grunt in the pack and one or two players who can do something a bit different. I’ll have a go at naming a side on current form and the above attributes

1. Welsby

2. Young

3. Farnworth

4. Wardle/Eckersley/Hanley

5. Johnstone

6. Williams

7. Smith

8. Walmsley 

9. Clark

10. Thompson 

11. Nsemba

12. Nicholson/KPP/Gannon

13. Radley

14. Oledski

15. Knowles

16. Nicholson/KPP/Gannon

17. Lewis 

[WN83]

9 minutes ago, Harry Stottle said:

Thanks for the reply, but you are basing your example on 5 games into the season, I did say that if a player had performed well for at least the last half of the season that would be the time for consideration for selection, now if those players Pratt, Martin and Wilson were out performing Wardle, Ashton and Thompson over that period from say mid June to the seasons end would that alter your thinking?

Not massively tbh, certainly in the cases of Ashton and Thompson because they've shown what they can do for England and in huge games (in Thompsons case). You put a timeframe of 6 months on it but it's impossible to put any real timeframe on 'form'. There's a lot to be said for players having form for performing in big games and for England. It's the same in all sports. We get it in football, cricket etc and people calling for form players to be picked but I don't think I've ever seen an international coach pick a side that you would say is purely based on form. 

Outside of form there are so many factors to consider that it makes picking a purely form team impossible. Coaches will have relationships with players, know what they can do at their best, know what they bring to overall camp and to training, what leadership qualities they have and so on and on and on. 

[Archie Gordon]

We need in-season rep fixtures.

[arcticchris]

We have a pretty settled 1-7 of good quality with some decent back up options. Back row should be a point of strength if correctly selected.

We need someone to have Man of Steel type season at 9 and demand selection as this is a slight weakness as things stand.

Mikey Lewis should make the bench to come on and offer a spark along with cover at full back, halves and hooker. If a centre or wing goes down you can shift Welsby and put Lewis on at full back. 
 

My biggest concern is that beyond Walmsley (who has a concerning injury record) and Thompson, the front row lacks size and proven test level quality as we can’t afford to be struggling to reach halfway and then kicking on the back foot consistently.

[WN83]

20 minutes ago, arcticchris said:

We have a pretty settled 1-7 of good quality with some decent back up options. Back row should be a point of strength if correctly selected.

We need someone to have Man of Steel type season at 9 and demand selection as this is a slight weakness as things stand.

Mikey Lewis should make the bench to come on and offer a spark along with cover at full back, halves and hooker. If a centre or wing goes down you can shift Welsby and put Lewis on at full back. 
 

My biggest concern is that beyond Walmsley (who has a concerning injury record) and Thompson, the front row lacks size and proven test level quality as we can’t afford to be struggling to reach halfway and then kicking on the back foot consistently.

I'm bias I guess but I really think Brad O'Neill is made for international Rugby league but we'll have to see how he comes back from his injury. He makes his return this Sunday and it'll take time but I'm hopeful he can get himself back to his best before the end of the season. If he can replicate how he played against Penrith, on the international stage, then we have one hell of a player. Any kid that will take it to James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota for 60/70 minutes and not take a backward step, has plenty about them. 

[GeordieSaint]

34 minutes ago, WN83 said:

I'm bias I guess but I really think Brad O'Neill is made for international Rugby league but we'll have to see how he comes back from his injury. He makes his return this Sunday and it'll take time but I'm hopeful he can get himself back to his best before the end of the season. If he can replicate how he played against Penrith, on the international stage, then we have one hell of a player. Any kid that will take it to James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota for 60/70 minutes and not take a backward step, has plenty about them. 

Glad he’s back playing. Certain starter for me at the end of the year if all goes well. Absolute animal defensively with good distribution as well. 

I worry about our props… I think it’s the only position we are weak in if everyone is fit. 

[WN83]

14 minutes ago, GeordieSaint said:

Glad he’s back playing. Certain starter for me at the end of the year if all goes well. Absolute animal defensively with good distribution as well. 

I worry about our props… I think it’s the only position we are weak in if everyone is fit. 

I'd love to see Walmsley keep his form and fitness up and if he then wants to be involved, he'd be a shoe in. Him, Thompson and McMeekan would be my first 3 picks. I worry about a lack of go forward from Lees but if he's rotated with the right partner and you have big metre makers like Nsemba in the second row, you can cover that and he has some huge attributes.

I'm pretty optimistic that Havard, Wilson and Oledzki have it in them to step up as well. I think more than any position, prop is the one you can really build your reputation in internationals and hopefully come the end of the series, we'll see these lads in a bit of a different light. 

[GeordieSaint]

2 hours ago, WN83 said:

I'd love to see Walmsley keep his form and fitness up and if he then wants to be involved, he'd be a shoe in. Him, Thompson and McMeekan would be my first 3 picks. I worry about a lack of go forward from Lees but if he's rotated with the right partner and you have big metre makers like Nsemba in the second row, you can cover that and he has some huge attributes.

I'm pretty optimistic that Havard, Wilson and Oledzki have it in them to step up as well. I think more than any position, prop is the one you can really build your reputation in internationals and hopefully come the end of the series, we'll see these lads in a bit of a different light. 

Is Harvard playing? I have not seen much this season as we got rid of Sky. Great talent. I am not convinced by Oledzki… but again, that’s based on the last couple of seasons rather than this year. 

I’ll be gobsmacked if Walmsley makes it to the end of the year uninjured. 

[JM2010]

18 minutes ago, GeordieSaint said:

Is Harvard playing? I have not seen much this season as we got rid of Sky. Great talent. I am not convinced by Oledzki… but again, that’s based on the last couple of seasons rather than this year. 

I’ll be gobsmacked if Walmsley makes it to the end of the year uninjured. 

From what I’ve seen and read so far Oledski  has had a pretty good start to the year 

[arcticchris]

3 hours ago, WN83 said:

I'm bias I guess but I really think Brad O'Neill is made for international Rugby league but we'll have to see how he comes back from his injury. He makes his return this Sunday and it'll take time but I'm hopeful he can get himself back to his best before the end of the season. If he can replicate how he played against Penrith, on the international stage, then we have one hell of a player. Any kid that will take it to James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota for 60/70 minutes and not take a backward step, has plenty about them. 

Also rate him highly but he hasn’t seemed to be in the conversation despite all he has already achieved at a young age.

He is Micky Mac with an upgrade in creativity and speed.

[WN83]

24 minutes ago, GeordieSaint said:

Is Harvard playing? I have not seen much this season as we got rid of Sky. Great talent. I am not convinced by Oledzki… but again, that’s based on the last couple of seasons rather than this year. 

I’ll be gobsmacked if Walmsley makes it to the end of the year uninjured. 

Havard has got a bad hamstring injury again and will be out for a huge chunk of the season unfortunately. If it's as long a recovery period as his last one, he should be back about August. I'm not sure he'll have enough time to get to a level required for an Ashes series but never say never. 

[WN83]

5 minutes ago, arcticchris said:

Also rate him highly but he hasn’t seemed to be in the conversation despite all he has already achieved at a young age.

He is Micky Mac with an upgrade in creativity and speed.

He played in France ln the mid season test and got injured not long after. He's a Shaun Wane style player if ever there was one but coming back from an ACL makes him an outside bet IMO. Long term though, I think he's the man to take the 9 shirt.