Goal kickers
Andy Farrell - Wigan
Paul Deacon - Bradford
Lee Briers - Warrington
Sean Long - St.Helens
Kevin Sinfield - Leeds
Wayne Godwin - Castleford
Paul Cooke - Hull
Paul March - Huddersfield
Jamie Rooney - Wakefield
Chris Charles - Salford
Jules O'Neill - Widnes
Paul Sykes - London (?)
Full backs
Young Richie Mathers from Leeds has been in very impressive form this year and is battling it out for the GB number 1 shirt with Kris Radlinski and Paul Wellens, who is back to his best after a poor, injury riddled 2003 season. Mathers looks the part and I can really see him becoming the first choice GB full back over the next year or so.
Shaun Briscoe has also been in great form for Hull, scoring a shed load of tries, including 4 against Bradford. Paul Reilly of Hudds has also been playing well. A really tough bloke for his size who takes on the line at full pelt.
Wingers
Brian Carney was cementing his GB number 5 jersey until he picked up a badly broken ankle. Not sure when he'll be back. Quality winger. His team mate at Wigan, Brett Dallas, has been in superb form and looks back to his best. Has speed to burn.
Tevita Vaikona and Lesley Vainakolo are 2 blockbusting wingers for Bradford who help out the forwards and are very familiar with the try line. Vaikona is currently out with a long term knee injury.
Hull's Colin Best always poses a threat to opposing teams with his power, creativity, knack for a try and the speed he has in abundance.
Young Nicky Royle of Widnes is one to watch. Has crossed the try line a few times in his first season in SL and is one of the fastest players around.
Centres
St.Helens pair, Martin Gleeson and Willie Talau have been the in form centre partnership so far. Gleeson has bulked up and is playing out of his skin after a disappointing 2003. I'd expect him to grab one of the centre spots for GB if he's vailable for selection (has betting allegations hanging over his head along with Sean Long. The outcome will be announced later this month).
Gareth Ellis, Wakefield's captain, is a very exciting prospect. Capped for GB against NZ A last year and a real shining star of SL. Has also played back row and stand off (or 5/8 as you Aussies call it) in a season where he has put in a number of man of the match displays.
Keith Senior of Leeds is a world class centre with lots of power and speed. Impressed me a lot in the Ashes last year.
Paul Johnson is finding some of his form of old at Bradford, following his move from Wigan. At Wigan, young Martin Aspinwall continues to impress. Lots of speed and skill. His centre partner, Kevin Brown has also been impressive despite his natural position being at stand off. Still only 19 years of age, Brown looks set to challenge for international honours in the future.
Stand offs
The man of the moment - Danny McGuire. After a couple of seasons of impressing as a super sub, he has really made the stand off position at Leeds his. Playing the rugby of his life with many calling for him to be GB's number 6 in the tri nations. Hard to argue with on current form. Hopefully, he can keep it going till the end of the year.
Lee Briers of Warrington has showed flashes of brilliance this year with man of the match displays against Bradford and Salford. Was in top form last year before a wrist injury ruled him out for the season in July. The Wolves skipper looked overweight and unfit early on this season and has been a bit inconsistent this year. Mainly due to the fact he's playing with broken fingers/bone in his hand. He'll be hoping for a bit more luck with injuries so he can regain fitness and show more consistency. Another contender for the GB number 6 jersey if he can string some good performance together.
Jamie Rooney (Wakefield) was looknig very impressive indeed before he was cruelled with a broken ankle in the Cas-Wakey derby. A good goal kicker and has adapted to SL extremely well since his move from Featherstone. Will be hoping to pick up from where he left off earlier this season and last season. Has a lot of work to do to be considered for international honours but is an under-rated youngster with a lot of skill.
Jason Hooper had an inconsistent and by his own admission, disappointing 2003, where he struggled to find his feet. Played all over the park (centre, 2nd row, hooker, stand off, loose forward, even wing!) and never settled into a position. This year, he has been moved to stand off on a more pernament basis and has become a huge fans favourite on the terraces. Offers solidity in defence in the cnetre of the park.
In a side that's been playing very poorly, Jules O'Neill has stood out. Has lots of ability and Widnes really need him to stay fit.
Brandon Costin has made himself an absolutely vital cog in the Huddersfield team and is key to their hopes of a play off spot, along with Stanley Gene.
Paul Cooke has been playing well at stand off as well, despite seeing loose forward as his favoured position. Has matured into a fine player.
Scrum halves
Sean Long (St.Helens) has been playing some of the best rugby of his life, paicking up MOTM awards in the Challenge Cup semi-final and final. Has been under a lot of pressure with the media and opposing fans calling for his head over betting allegations but has done his talking on the field. A challenger for the GB number 7 spot.
Richard Horne of Hull. Hard to believe he's still 21. Made his SL debut at 16 and looked very special. Can also play stand off but has been at scrum half this year. Dangerous in attack and awesome in defence, this guy really has made an impression on me. IMO, he has to be a starter in the GB team (whether at stand off or scrum half) and I rate him as the most rounded British half back.
Paul Deacon (Bradford). Has a good boot on him. Has been accused of not taking on the line enough in the pass but has introduced this into his game. A goodtactician, distributor of the ball and he has a very good kicking game - both lnog and short. Another challenger for the number 7 spot.
In his final season, Adrian Lam has just come back from a knee reconstruction. Despite the critics being on his back, he always looks a threat and despite having only a few games under his belt since his injury, he took St.Helens apart last weekend. Will get better and better as the season progresses.
One for the future - Luke Robinson. Currently on loan at Castleford.
Props
A number of young forwards who could be challenging for rep honours in the future are coming through. They include Keith Mason (St.Helens), Ryan Bailey (Leeds), Danny Sculthorpe (Wigan), Darryl Griffin (Wakefield), Andy Lynch (Castleford), Andy Coley (Salford) and Paul Wood (Warrington), Nick Fozzard (St.Helens) and Chris Feather
Also in good form is Michael Korkidas (Wakefield). Gareth Carvell was playing well for Hull but has been ruled out with a season long injury.
Stuart Fielden is the number 1 British prop still. With Paul King of Hull certainly warranting a place in the tri-nations with some wonderful performance that have laid down the platform for Hull's good run of form.
One for the future - teenage prop James Graham (St.Helens)
Hookers
Terry Newton and Keiron Cunningham continue to battle it out for the GB number 9 jersey. Cunningham is showing some red hot form after a poor 2003 whilst Newton has been leading from the front at Wigan. Not much between them.
Elsewhere, goal kicking hooker, Wayne Godwin, has been a shining light in what has been a woeful start to the season for Cas. The young number 9 has been trying his heart out for the cause.
Malcolm Alker continues to impress me with some inspirational performances. The twice hitman of the year shows guts and determination on the field that few can match. Including putting in a wonderful 80 minute display just 2 weeks after an emergency operation to take his appendix out. The Salford skipper is one of the most under rated players around.
Matt Diskin has played his part in a emphatic start to the season for Leeds, as has Richard Swain for Hull.
2nd rowers
Andy Farrell (Wigan) has been a revelation since moving there and I hope to see him playing at 2nd row for GB come tri nations time. Lee Gilmour (St.Helens) has also staked a claim for a starting spot. The speedy 2nd row is back to his best since moving from Bradford. He'll have a job to get past the reigning man of steel, Jamie Peacock (Bradford) though.
Loose forwards
St.Helens captain, Paul Sculthorpe looks set to wear the 13 for GB this year. Challenging him is Leeds skipper, Kevin Sinfield. Ryan Hudson has had a disappointing season by all account for Castleford but the England A international has shown that on his day, he is a player blessed with a lot of ability. I also rate England A captain, Sean O'Loughlin (Wigan). I used to think he was over rated but he's changed my mind. Has also played centre, 2nd row and stand off, and has a very bright future ahead of him.
