Harry Smith has been named alongside captain George Williams in England's half-back roles for their Rugby League World Cup opening match against Tonga, with Mikey Lewis left out. Lewis, who pipped 2025 Super League Man Of Steel Jake Connor to a place in England's squad, has not even made the bench for Saturday's fixture.
Hull KR's Lewis, who endured an inconsistent year, did enough to convince England head coach Brian Mc Dermott that he should join captain Williams, the Warrington stand-off, and Wigan's Smith as half-back options. But he will be one of three players, along with Ben Currie and Ben Talty, listed as non-playing reserves.
England face Tonga in Perth on Saturday (10:05 BST), before taking on France in the same city on 24 October and then Papua New Guinea in Wollongong on 30 October. Mc Dermott, who succeeded Shaun Wane in April, has also made a major selection call at full-back, choosing AJ Brimson ahead of Jack Welsby for England's first game in Group B-C, a combined pool of six teams from which the top two will go through to the semi-finals early next month.
Mc Dermott indicated he was keen to use heritage players to ensure the strongest possible squad. Brisbane-born Brimson, who made his England debut in last year's Ashes series, is one of four such players, alongside England debutant Max King. Hugo Savala, part of Sydney Roosters' NRL Grand Final-winning squad, also makes his debut.
Source: BBC Sport · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing