Your mission tonight (should you choose to accept it) is to make Steve McBanana look a bigger t*t

than he already does, i know he doesn't need any help doing it but try your best!

www.skysports.com/opinion/story/ ... .htmlStevo says I think Mr Atkins will want to prove a point and I really hope Mr McNamara is at this game. It could work two ways. Either the England manager could be slightly embarrassed as Atkins has a stormer of a game and wins man of the match; or he gets totally outplayed by the youngster Watkins. If that is the case then Watkins would not have only elevated his way into the squad, but he may have played himself into the starting 13. i just dont see atkins getting the better for watkins

www.skysports.com/opinion/story/ ... .htmlStevo says I think Mr Atkins will want to prove a point and I really hope Mr McNamara is at this game. It could work two ways. Either the England manager could be slightly embarrassed as Atkins has a stormer of a game and wins man of the match; or he gets totally outplayed by the youngster Watkins. If that is the case then Watkins would not have only elevated his way into the squad, but he may have played himself into the starting 13. i just dont see atkins getting the better for watkins

Who cares if Atkins is in the squad or not?? I don't - 4 pointless games to get injured in.... no thanks.

Maybe Mcnamara wants to select players who want to play for england

As well as Australians, New Zealanders and Scots/Australians.

...who will play for anyone who will have them.

why? was unaware Atkins had made himself unavailable!

Quote manco="manco"why? was unaware Atkins had made himself unavailable!'" He did last year: www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/wol ... r_Nations/

Quote manco="manco"why? was unaware Atkins had made himself unavailable!'" He did last year: www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/wol ... r_Nations/

rangi chase made himself unavailable when he decided he wasn't english and played for the exiles!

Quote SEB="SEB"He did last year: www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/wol ... r_Nations/'" Quite, and I'll take some convincing that this is why he wasn't selected this time, for right or wrong. He's the form English centre in the league, and if that were the only criteria, I struggle to believe he wouldnt be in. Watkins and Hardaker have bags of potential, and I'm excited to have them in our 3 and 4 shirts this year, but I'mm not going to claim they are ahead of Atkins on form at this point.

Quote SEB="SEB"He did last year: www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/wol ... r_Nations/'" Quite, and I'll take some convincing that this is why he wasn't selected this time, for right or wrong. He's the form English centre in the league, and if that were the only criteria, I struggle to believe he wouldnt be in. Watkins and Hardaker have bags of potential, and I'm excited to have them in our 3 and 4 shirts this year, but I'mm not going to claim they are ahead of Atkins on form at this point.

I would speculate Atkins desperately wants to play for England, just not McNamara.

Watkins in particular must be very close to getting the shirt. A fine prospects who I'd have at Warrington in a heartbeat. Hardaker much less so but he does have potential.



I love watching international rugby league and I don't like people who dismiss it as a waste of time. However, whilst I appreciate that McNamara is only trying to win, this stuff about selecting Australians and New Zealanders leaves a sour taste and makes it more difficult to be supportive of the international game.



As for Atkins, listen to McNamaras interview on Radio Manchester. He was asked a direct question. He said he wasn't going to comment on individaul players but listed criteria they had to fulfill to be in one of his bonkers squads. If memory served it included 'fitting in with the group'. He placed emphasis on that. Reading between the lines I suspect that's why Atkins hasn't been selected.