Sky Sports, following on from the re-running of the Clash of the Codes, have put together a hypothetical Union 13 together to “more than match their league counterparts”.

They selected:
1. Kurtley Beale; 2. Johnny May; 3. Tevita Kuridrani; 4. Manu Tuilagi; 5. Josh Adams; 6 Richie Mo’unga; 7. Will Genia; 8. Billy Vunipola; 9. Cobus Reinach; 10. Kyle Sinckler; 11. Maro Itoji; 12. Brodie Retallick; 13. Owen Farrell

While it will never happen, we have time on our hands. So who would your line up in the RL 15 for the return fixture?

To be fair, that’s a quality 13

Retallick at 12, doesn't have the engine nor the hands IMHO, from these shores I'd have Tom Curry, the current England RU no.7, great engine, great speed, good hands, tackles without fear and is very committed, he'd be perfect for league, I'd say he's a vastly better version of Liam Farrell

Depending how the rules were set up, the game would be exactly as every other cross code game.
There isn't a Union 13 that could beat a League 13 playing RL and the same is true in the opposite direction.

There are plenty of players in both codes that could make the switch but, unless there was going to be 12 months+ for the Union boys to learn about our game, they would get mullered against league opposition, particularly in the forwards.
Mind you, stopping Vunipola from 10 metres out would be interesting

They would need to change some positions about. Genia would be better at 9 than 7 for example. A union scrum half is basically our version of dummy half.

The skil levels passing wise are nowhere near. It takes 4 passes to get to the wing usually rather than 1 or 2. The All Blacks side are the closest match to a league side skill wise. Would be interesting to see them give it a go.

I'd love to see a repeat of the RL vs. RU games, especially England vs. England.

Not an expert on Union positions/roles but our 15-man could be something like.

15. Makinson
14. Johnstone
13. Gildart/Connor
12. Lomax
11. Manfredi
10. Widdop/Gale
9. Clark
8. Thompson
7. Bateman
6. Whitehead
5. J. Jones
4. Philbin
3. Walmsley
2. Hodgson
1. Watts

And if it were played to full Union rules, the "league" side would only ever see the ball to kick it off to the opposition.
Same shaped ball but, significantly different games.

The mauls and scrums would actually be dangerous for the League lads to take part in.

I know they didn’t have contested scrums but they also thought that in the Wigan series and tbf Wigan did get hammered on penalties but as the game went on it became a lot more even. IIRC Wigan won the second half.

Mauls aren’t as dangerous but you’re right the league side would be dominated at that part of the game.

Would be interesting to watch again though and would get a massive TV audience and sold out stadiums.

There are aspects of the area where league could not compete with union, especially in the set piece. But if, I’m the above scenario of England vs England, I’d go with:

15. Tomkins; 14. Charnley; 13; Burrell; 12. Lomax; 11. Makinson; 10. Sneyd; 9. McShane; 1. Philbin; 2. Milner; 3. Thompson; 4. Whitehead; 5. Jones; 6. Smithies; 7. Bateman; 8. O’Loughlin

Not the best league team, but a mix of players who have crossed codes, some talented ball players and a dogged back row who would scrap for anything.

I’d love to see it as a one off. The last game was a generation ago, and I think it would be an interesting battle, commercially and on the pitch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjkZMzEv9nE Not quite a generation ago...although not exactly full strength lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjkZMzEv9nE Not quite a generation ago...although not exactly full strength lol

Saints played Sale on the early 00s. Half of each. Saints won the league half with ease and sale won the union half with ease.

Sorry but I saw Charnley playing Union several times and basically what he did was stand on the touch line as far away from the ball as he could looking completely lost. The best decision of his life was returning to RL. If it was an RL challenge great but for a return fixture not a good idea.