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With the NRL and Super League seasons coming to a close and the Four Nations just around the corner, who is in line for selection when Wayne Bennett names his England squad in the coming weeks?
Fullback – Jamie Shaul (Hull FC)
Shaul has been an attacking weapon in 2016, recording 14 tries and 21 line breaks.
The 24-year-old is in contention for Man of Steel and deserves to make his Test debut this year.
Wing – Joe Burgess (South Sydney Rabbitohs) and Ryan Hall (Leeds Rhinos)
Since arriving in Australia, Burgess may not have set the rugby league world on fire, but he is still deserving of a spot.
Set to return to Wigan in 2017, Burgess made his mark upon transferring from the Roosters to Rabbitohs, scoring five tries and making numerous line breaks, providing a much-needed attacking spark for a struggling Souths outfit.
Hall has continued to bust the game open in 2016, despite Leeds finishing in the lower echelon of the Super League.
A regular member of the England national team since 2009, Hall is one of the most experienced players available, with 26 tries to his name in Test football.
Centre – Zak Hardaker (Penrith Panthers) and Kallum Watkins (Leeds Rhinos)
In 11 games for the Panthers since arriving from Leeds, Hardaker has scored only one try, however his NRL experiment will increase his understanding of the Australian and New Zealand players – a valuable asset.
Despite only receiving limited minutes at the foot of the mountains, Hardaker still remains one of the best centres in English rugby league.
Watkins leads the Rhinos’ try-scoring, with nine meat pies in a season to forget after winning the treble last year. The dynamic three-quarter is one of the best centres and boasts plenty of experience having been a mainstay in the side since 2012.
Stand off – Gareth Widdop (St George Illawarra Dragons)
He may not have had the best season, but Widdop is still England’s best choice in the halves.
In a nightmarish season for the Dragons, Widdop appeared in all 24 games, scoring 133 points, the seventh-most of any NRL player in 2016. The Halifax-born five-eighth has 18 caps for England to date.
Scrum half – Marc Sneyd (Hull FC)
Sneyd has been one of the best halves in the Super League this season, with 21 try assists to his name as well as 109 goals. He has been an attacking force for Hull and is closing in quickly on his first England cap.
Front row – James Graham (Canterbury Bulldogs) and Chris Hill (Warrington Wolves)
Graham could be in line to take the England captaincy if Bennett opts not to select Sean O’Loughlin for the Four Nations, and the Canterbury firebrand would fit perfectly.
Graham once again led from the front for the Dogs in 2016, with the St Helens product making the third-most metres of any player and the second for forwards, with 4177, as well as 966 tackles.
Chris Hill has terrorised the Super League for the Wolves this season, making a massive 3813 metres at an average of 8.18 per hit-up. In addition, Hill has made 894 tackles.
Hooker – Josh Hodgson (Canberra Raiders)
Hodgson will be one of the first names on the team sheet, having established himself as one of the elite hookers in rugby league alongside Australian captain Cameron Smith.
The Raiders recruit has missed only one game so far this season, bagging five tries and making a gut-busting 831 tackles.
Hodgson will likely have Daryl Clark serving as his deputy after it was revealed that Danny Houghton will prove his services to Scotland following a brilliant season for Hull FC.
Second row – Elliott Whitehead (Canberra Raiders) and Ben Currie (Warrington Wolves)
Since arriving in the Nation’s Capital from Catalans, Whitehead has established himself as one of the premier backrowers in the NRL.
Whitehead has played every minute in all 26 games for the Raiders so far this year, a total of 2099, more than any other player, making 2280 metres and a massive 1022 tackles, the third most in the league.
Currie has been a standout for Warrington, with 17 tries and 13 try assists, adding another dimension to the Wolves’ attack. The 22-year-old is averaging more than eight metres each run and will make his debut for England after missing out during last year’s Baskerville Shield.
Lock – Sam Burgess (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Burgess is a certainty to pull on the England jumper for the first time since the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.
He has had a stellar year in his rugby league return, with 3531 metres and 803 tackles from 23 starts in the cardinal and myrtle.
23-man squad
1. Jamie Shaul, 2. Joe Burgess, 3. Zak Hardaker, 4. Kallum Watkins, 5. Ryan Hall, 6. Gareth Widdop, 7. Marc Sneyd, 8. James Graham, 9. Josh Hodgson, 10. Chris Hill, 11. Elliott Whitehead, 12. Ben Currie, 13. Sam Burgess
14. George Burgess, 15. Scott Taylor, 16. Liam Farrell, 17. Thomas Burgess, 18. John Bateman, 19. Sean O’Loughlin (c), 20. Mark Percival, 21. Jermaine McGillvary, 22. Luke Gale, 23. Daryl Clark
Honourable XIII
1. Tom Johnstone, 2. Adam Swift, 3. Dan Sarginson, 4. Ryan Atkins, 5. Jodie Broughton, 6. George Williams, 7. Matty Smith, 8. Alex Walmsley, 9. James Roby, 10. Mike Cooper, 11. Joe Westerman, 12. Ben Westwood, 13. Chris Heighington
Roarers, who is in your England squad? Do you agree with my selections?
You can find Riley on Twitter @rileypettigrew.
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