Steve McNamara has included seven uncapped players in his 24-man England squad for the autumn internationals against France and New Zealand. The squad, which will again be captained by Wigan’s Sean O’Loughlin, includes 16 survivors from last year’s Four Nations in Australia and New Zealand. The new faces include the Huddersfield winger Jermaine McGillvary and the Castleford half-back Luke Gale, both of whom have enjoyed excellent seasons in Super League.
The Wigan trio of John Bateman, Joe Burgess and George Williams, who all played in the 22-20 Grand Final defeat by Leeds on Saturday, are also included in the hope of winning their first cap. The NRL-based forward Mike Cooper, who toured with England last year, is included again, but has yet to be capped.
The St Helens hooker James Roby returns at the expense of last year’s man of steel winner, the Warrington hooker Daryl Clark, with six players – South Sydney Rabbitohs’ George Burgess, St Helens’ Alex Walmsley, Leeds’ Stevie Ward, Brisbane Broncos’ Jack Reed, Warrington’s Stefan Ratchford and Wigan’s Joel Tomkins – not considered because of surgery during the close season.
“We spent a long time selecting this squad and there were some close calls with a lot of competition for places,” McNamara said. “There is a tremendous challenge in front of us against the best rugby league nation in the world. New Zealand will be formidable opponents.
“There is a strong core of players that have come through the England system over recent years and have the desire, appetite and quality to do English rugby league proud in this tournament. Our aim is to win our first home series against southern hemisphere opposition since Great Britain defeated New Zealand in 2007.”
England will play France in a warm-up game at Leigh on 24 October before a three-Test series against the Kiwis, with games being played at Hull’s KC Stadium, the Olympic Stadium in London and Wigan’s DW Stadium throughout November.
England’s 24-man squad to play France and New Zealand
John Bateman, Joe Burgess (both Wigan), Tom Burgess (South Sydney), Mike Cooper (St George Illawarra Dragons), Leroy Cudjoe (Huddersfield), Ben Currie (Warrington), Liam Farrell (Wigan), Brett Ferres (Huddersfield), Luke Gale (Castleford), James Graham (Canterbury Bulldogs), Ryan Hall, Zak Hardaker (both Leeds), Chris Hill (Warrington), Josh Hodgson (Canberra), Jermaine McGillvary (Huddersfield), Sean O’Loughlin (Wigan), James Roby (St Helens), Matty Smith (Wigan), Sam Tomkins (New Zealand Warriors), Kallum Watkins (Leeds), Ben Westwood (Warrington), Elliott Whitehead (Catalans), Gareth Widdop (St George Illawarra Dragons), George Williams (Wigan).
