They've been gradually building towards this since Mcnamara took over in 2010. The regular training camps, the professionalism of the set up, fresher younger players being selected, the cohesion of the team play. McBanana cops some flack but he's set some real foundations in place.



What it needs now is a top quality coach to swoop in and add those finishing touches to what has been built. Like Maguire taking from noble at wigan. Smith from powell at leeds. Someone who comes into the team with everything in place and pushes them on to that next level.

I know it's not a popular model, but England's current talent is result of the franchising system. Clubs weren't recruiting to stay afloat and are producing there own talent, I know the top 4 have always promoted but this England has an even spread from all clubs. 10 years ago you wouldn't of had players from cas or huds in the team. Long may it continue when you compare this England to the England of 2008

I agree 100% and said the same at the game today.



McNamara has improved many things but we just look like we need somebody to push his hard work over the line.



Either way a long term de idiom needs to be made. If he stays then he stays until after the next World Cup as a minimum.

Worst thread ever but anyway, the last time Jared Warea Hargreaves spearheaded the Kiwi pack they lost by 30.

didn't read the thread just saw the author so instinct tells me

Going to show my bias here...you think Hill wouldn't make the first 17? For me it was between him and Graham for player of the series.

Who cares. A badly depleted England team managed by Mcbannana whohasnt got a clue, managed to beat France by about 200 points recently.



Super league has been so good for the french national team hasnt it



Regards



King james

At the start of this series when I thought about a potential 17 if George Burgess/Walmsley been fit I'd have possibly considering a team without Hill in it. I couldn't have been more wrong!



Literally the first name I'd put on the sheet now. He has been excellent and is constantly racking up the metres. Aside from one poor offload today he's been immense.



What a group of props we have by the way! Hill, Graham, George Burgess, Tom Burgess, Cooper and Walmsley. That's a scary set!!

Silliest comment ever.



You obviously didn't watch the Sydney Roosters in 2015. In the latter half of the season JWH was the outstanding prop in the NRL -- better than either James Graham, Jesse Bromwich or George Burgess.

A lot of players potentially classed as missing for England as well!



I've included McGillvery and Smith because they missed 2 of the 3 Test matches



Tomkins

McGillvery

Reed

Watkins

Hall

Widdop

Smith

Graham

Roby

G Burgess

S Burgess

Whitehead

O'Loughlin



Houghton

Hill

T Burgess

Walmsley

Regarding Graham. It may just be me, but I don't think he's been as good in this series as in previous tournaments. He's looked slower, he passes less at the line, and he runs an odd diagonal angle that reduces his go forward after contact, and takes up the space of the runners outside him.

Based on the evidence so far I don't think the NRL has made him any better than he was.

Jason Taumololo and JWH in his recent form have been inspirational forwards like the two missing Burgess brothers, George and Samuel.



But the actual play making skill level missing from the Kiwis this series, in the form of Kieran Foran and Shaun Johnson is the major factor that has no equivalent among the missing Englishmen.