So now we know the squad for Australia on July 12th , but is it good enough to beat the Aussies? The Origin games obviously had some bearing after all, having twelve Lancastrians in the 19 strong squad. Lets analyse the squads strengths and weaknesses.

Backs - Radlinski will be full back, not many will argue with that, although I do have a slight doubt on his pace. Unfortunately, this is also Paul Wellens' weakness, if he had an extra yard of pace, he would be truly world class. Compare these with the speed of Lockyear, Hodgson and Peachey, no competition, but our full backs are certainly safer when under pressure.

In the three quarters, we have two crazy selections, Karl Pratt and Lee Gilmour. Pratt is neither an international winger or half back, the likes of Pryce and Hodgson will be disappointed. Gilmour is too soft to be in the pack, plus lacks the class to be an international centre. Obviously Gleeson and Senior will be the centres, which you can't argue with, though again both have faults. Gleeson would like another yard of speed, whilst Senior needs a brain! He is great going forward, but can only pass left and loses the plot when defending against dummy runners. Johnson will be on one wing, who in the origin again proved his weakness head on in defence. He is a passive defender, the Aussies will go over the top of him. I feel they may go with Wellens on the other wing. Without doubt for me we truly lack a World Class three quarter line!

I actually believe three quarter is the Aussie weakness too! Apart from Gidley they are ordinary. Nobody will convince me Tuqiri is world class, I would kick to him all day, he will either drop the ball or let it bounce 50% of the time. Lyon is out injured, so they may go with Timmins who is no world beater, big and strong, well we can handle that. If facing Gleeson we could have real success because Martin will step him all day! The other wing may go to a full back in Hodgson, or give a debut to Tahu, who also wobbles under the kick.

Half back, is a dodgy one. I have a feeling we may see Sinfield start with Sculthorpe. This was tried by Ian Millward, obviously at Waites request. Unfortunately, using Sheridan will not improve matters. Lee Briers should have been half back but his face obviously does not fit! This annoys me most, because I feel Andrew Johns can be a weakness to the Aussies. They will go with him and Trent Barrett for half back. Barrett is talented if given room, we need to stop his supply from Johns. I feel that Johns is blown up out of all proportion by the Aussies. He has a fabulous kicking game allied with good hands and strength, but he is slow! He has had nobody with pace against him at half back for a long time, the last being Adrian Lam in State of Origin and he didn't win that one! Nobody in the present series, Langer is a shadow of the player he was, and, no half back against us in the ashes. Its no coincidence Brett Kimorley was always picked before him and Langer before that, Speed!

The pack picks itself, O'Connor, Cunningham, McDermott, Joynt, Peacock and Farrell with Fielden and King on the bench. I would have picked the same apart from Farrell! If anyone needed proof that he is not as good as people think, look at the origin. Lancashire played superb attacking rugby, with Briers and Sinfield to the fore. Sinfield at loose forward! It was far better rugby than the fare on the Friday, by the way he bottled on the kicks again, a la Grand Final 2000. Scully should be loose forward with Briers and Sinfield the halves.

The Aussie pack is not as fearsome as people make out. Tallis is awesome but the rest are no better than our lads. Webke, Ryles, Vella, Bailey, Civoniceva and Carlaw are big strong lads but need oxygen after 10 minutes. Our boys can play longer so we have to make them work, keep turning them around with good kicks. Fletcher and Hindmarsh could be a partner for Tallis but these two strike me as bottlers. I have seen both have very quiet games when in the big ones. At loose forward they may go for Ricketson. I hope so, he is just a hard working defender who is no threat on attack. My fear is that they will go with Scott Hill, who is pure class. He scares me far more than Johns, he could pop up anywhere and carve us up. He would be the first name on my shopping list if I was a club chairman!

On the selections by the way, I can't help feeling two players have been left out for a reason. I know I don't rate Deacon, but he always had first shout with Brian Noble on the GB set up. All of a sudden he's not picked! Same with Pryce who should have been picked on the wing. It seems to me a little bit of a coincidence that Bradford have decided to play Wakefield on the same day, hence not playing two games in a week like their contenders. Would they have done so knowing they had nobody to partner Robbie Paul at half back? Their squad can cover losing a centre and two forwards. Makes you think doesn't it? Makes me think CORRUPT! This stinks, I wonder how long before someone notices!

On a small matter of dodgy dealings, how the hell can Wigan afford Danny Tickle? I will tell you how, they get a dispensation they did not really need on the salary cap this year of £500,000 to cover existing contracts we are told. Yeah right! They then go out and out bid everyone for Craig Smith and Jamie Ainscough (ha ha dropped a clanger there!), plus they signed Julian O'Neill and Danny Sculthorpe; amazing! Now we have this debacle, even Wiganer Phil Clarke on Sky Sports said he thought that they were supposed to be up to limit. The whole thing Stinks! Bet they don't investigate this one!