Wednesday 26 April 2017 14:27, UK
It is six months until the start of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup and the countdown clock is ticking.
Wayne Bennett announced his England squad for their Test match with Samoa in Sydney, and it has started a great debate amongst most fans. Do you think he's got it right? Who do you think he's missed out?
We're all used to hearing the coaches talking about the importance of preparation and yet when it comes to international matches, especially ones that are played mid-season on the other side of the world, the time to prepare is almost non-existent. You just turn up and play.
I understand that the majority of the squad played together in last year's Four Nations, but there are three newcomers to the group, plus another who hasn't been in the squad for the last six years.
The Australian-based Chris McQueen might need to learn 12 new names in a short space of time, especially if he's picked in the game-day 17. His selection, along with that of Chris Heighington, is something that I have written about before.
Although you might not like it, international sport is very often a competition between the best players who just wear different colours. Take rugby union, for example. Does anyone care if some of the British and Irish Lions were not born in the British or Irish Isles? It does not seem to have damaged the growth, popularity, interest or sponsorship appeal, as far as I can tell.
It's pleasing to see the progress that Mike McMeeken has made since he first played for the London Broncos five years ago. At 22 years old, he has his best decade ahead of him and it's worth realising that it can take five years of hard work, listening and learning to get the top of "your game".
He has the size, strength and skill to cause trouble for teams and I can't wait to see how he performs against Samoa. It must be very pleasing for the volunteer coaches at the West London Sharks to see how well one of their former players has done. In an area not traditionally known for providing our international players, I can imagine the buzz they're feeling right now.
It was also interesting to see that Alex Walmsley has caught the eye of the Brisbane-based England coach. At 27 years he's had to wait longer than McMeeken. Can he have the same impact Down Under as he has in Super League? I realise that he is now suspended, but I really like Liam Watts as a prop and think he could be close to the squad by the time the season ends.
The biggest surprise to me is that there is only one hooker in the 20-man squad. If Josh Hodgson gets injured in training before the game, who do they ask to play in that pivotal role? I know that you could suggest a few names, but none of them play there regularly, so why would you expect them to do that in a Test match against a highly motivated Samoan side?
I would have taken Daryl Clark, even if it were just to get used to the travel, climate and culture of Australia. If you need players who can live away from home for six weeks and still perform to their potential then you need to know which ones can avoid "home sickness" that unsettles their game. Some players really struggle to live and play well away from their home and this will be one of the considerations when the final World Cup squad is selected.
In my opinion, neither Ryan Hall nor Jermaine McGillvary have been playing close to their full potential for Leeds or Huddersfield. I imagine that Joe Burgess and Tom Johnstone might be challenging those two for wingers' shirts in October.
It's three years since Michael Shenton last played for England but his performances for the Tigers this season must make him a contender. In fact, he scored a try for England against Samoa when they beat them narrowly in Brisbane. Watch out for him in the second half of the season.
By the time we get to September, assuming that they're both fit and playing regularly, I'd imagine that John Bateman and Steve Ward would be on the shortlist for selection. I'm amazed that Liam Farrell is not picked, which makes me wonder if there has been some 'tactical' voting or selection.
The coach may have been limited to a certain number of players from each club, which if true, makes a mockery of the concept about this game being important preparation.
I may be wrong and Wayne Bennett might prefer McMeeken's size over Farrell's stamina, but it fascinates me that Heighington has made the squad ahead of the Wigan backrower. A fan said that it would be to save on the plane ticket but I am not sure if that is true. It will give Farrell extra motivation for the remainder of 2017.
My guess is only as good as yours, but if you got all of the players to vote for their Man of Steel right now I think that Farrell would be in the top three.
We all know that it is not black and white, there is no right or wrong when it comes to selecting a Test team. It's just results that matter, that's all that anyone remembers.
Good luck to the England team when they take on Samoa.
