Here's my take on the squad named, posted on RLFans yesterday:
Rob Burrow - I don't believe the hype about him and I certainly don't have confidence in him starting at 7 for us. Should compete with Higham for an 'impact' bench spot, I wouldn't have picked him though.
Paul Deacon - Gets about his business effectively enough but we need more than that at this level. In Long and McGuire's absence I think Thorman is a more realistic alternative than the above 2.
Brian Carney - A shoe-in in spite of his patchy season, he wasn't up to much in 2004 either but he still produced the goods for GB.
Keiron Cunningham - Shoe in.
Nick Fozzard - Others have been better than him (would have gone with Ward personally) but I can't say I'm overly upset at his inclusion. He's a tough character and he'll front up.
Gareth Ellis - Taken a lot of flak on this thread but defensively he is top class and his versatility is an asset. I'd give him a bench spot.
Stuart Fielden - Shoe in.
Lee Gilmour - Has always performed at this level in a variety of positions, solid and consistent and he's knocking on the door for a starting shirt.
Martin Gleeson - Shoe in.
Iestyn Harris - He's been superb from what little I've seen of him in 2005. He looks a step ahead of most other UK halves with ball in hand and I think he could be worth a run at 7 with Sinfield outside him.
Richard Horne - I'm a big fan and he provides options all across the backline and at hooker at a push. Deserves an opportunity at this level.
Mickey Higham - He impressed me on GB debut last year and he has played pretty well since he came back into the Saints side, but his selection is questionable. I'd have thought Godwin might have been in with a shout for this position.
Paul Johnson - Had a solid season all across the park and is another who has always performed well at this level. Could be a bolter in the back row.
Jamie Thackray - Fully deserved after a superb season, he'll be a big asset from the bench.
Adrian Morley - patchy form since he donned the Red, Amber and Black but he was magnificent in the GF and more often than not he performs on the big stage. Shoe in.
Jamie Peacock - Shoe in, he's been phenomenal in the playoffs and he's a big game player.
Leon Pryce - Has played himself into one of the wing spots IMO. Big, quick, agile, he's got all the attributes and that famous indiscipline of his seems to have been tempered over the last 3 months.
Gareth Raynor - Good player but you have to wonder why he has a place over Calderwood.
Keith Senior - Fitness permitting, a shoe in.
Kevin Sinfield - Fully deserved after a superb season as Leeds' main pivot. I have every confidence in him to do a good job, but only if he plays at 6.
Chev Walker - He's a talented player but I don't agree with how he was used last time out. Cover for the centres in all probability.
Paul Wellens - Shoe in.
Stephen Wild - I really have tried to think logically about this decision and I'm at a loss. I'll give most people a chance but apart from a lively start to his 1st grade career he's done absolutely nothing of any kind to justify this. I was baffled when he got picked last year but I'm typing these words and shaking my head in utter disbelief that we have to even discuss his inclusion.
Jon Wilkin - Another which i simply cannot understand, he's been shoved around the park at Saints and although he's never been particularly poor, he's never done enough to make a spot his own on a regular basis. I expect he'll take on Karl Pratt's role of being able to fit in a few positions in an injury crisis.
From that squad my curent line u would be something like:
Wellens
Carney
Gleeson
Senior
Pryce
Sinfield
Harris
Fielden
Cunningham
Morley
Gilmour
Peacock
Ellis
Higham/Horne
Johnson
Thackray
Fozzard
