George Williams misses out after he was not considered match fit having last played a month ago; the squad includes six uncapped players - Tom Davies, Ash Handley, Morgan Knowles, Paul McShane, Mikolaj Oledzki and Joe Philbin
Monday 21 June 2021 18:23, UK
England head coach Shaun Wane has confirmed his 19-player squad for Friday's mid-season fixture against the Combined Nations All Stars at Warrington's Halliwell Jones Stadium.
The squad includes six uncapped players - Tom Davies, Ash Handley, Morgan Knowles, Paul McShane, Mikolaj Oledzki and Joe Philbin.
Knowles and Philbin represented Wales and Ireland respectively in the last World Cup and have now switched their allegiance to England.
Former Canberra Raiders half-back George Williams is not considered match fit, having last played for the Raiders more than four weeks ago.
It means Wane will start the game with Leeds skipper Luke Gale and St Helens stand-off Jonny Lomax as his half-backs, although the versatile Stefan Ratchford is an outside option.
Warrington centre Toby King is ruled out with a knee injury sustained in his side's win over St Helens, while Salford full-back Dan Sarginson misses out after being handed a three-match ban for a high tackle in his team's win at Huddersfield.
Huddersfield three-quarters Jermaine McGillvary, who was a virtual ever-present under previous coach Wayne Bennett, and Jake Wardle are the other players omitted when Wane trimmed his squad to 19.
Loose-forward Joe Westerman is hoping to win his second cap, seven years after making his debut, and his Wakefield team-mate Reece Lyne looks certain to play as the only specialist centre in the 19.
Ratchford, Handley and Wigan second-rower John Bateman appear to be Wane's most likely options for the other centre spot.
Davies and his former Wigan team-mate Sam Tomkins are making the journey from the south of France by car because there are no suitable flights.
The club did not want to risk putting their players on a scheduled flight because of the Covid-19 situation and a private jet, which is their normal method of travel to England, was not an option.
England squad: John Bateman (Wigan Warriors); Daryl Clark, Mike Cooper, Ben Currie (all Warrington Wolves); Tom Davies (Catalans Dragons); Liam Farrell (Wigan Warriors); Luke Gale, Ash Handley (both Leeds Rhinos); Morgan Knowles (St Helens); Reece Lyne (Wakefield Trinity); Jonny Lomax (St Helens); Paul McShane (Castleford Tigers); Tommy Makinson (St Helens); Mikolaj Oledzki (Leeds Rhinos); Joe Philbin, Stefan Ratchford (both Warrington Wolves); Sam Tomkins (Catalans Dragons); Alex Walmsley (St Helens); Joe Westerman (Wakefield Trinity).
