Brian Mc Dermott has consistently talked about England having a "point of difference" in the Rugby League World Cup but eyebrows were raised when the head coach opted to leave Jake Connor out of the squad again. Connor was controversially left out of England's 3-0 Ashes drubbing last autumn by then head coach Shaun Wane and has once again had a strong season for Leeds Rhinos that led to his Dream Team inclusion. However, Mc Dermott has opted for George Williams, Harry Smith, and Mikey Lewis as his half-back options, with Sydney Roosters centre Hugo Savala also a capable half-back.
For Mc Dermott, the players in that heavy Ashes defeat series were not the issue, but the game plan enforced that has been tried and failed many times before. "It is not a case of changing players as such, although through the tournament we will pick the team that we think can best get the job done each week, but I believe last year that they didn't play with the points of difference," Mc Dermott said. "They just tried the usual things - they tried to put the ball on a certain pat of grass and then tried to shift the ball to beat Australia on the outside." "I don't suggest that's what England's done all the time but you have got to play with the point of difference and the reason not many people will do it is because sometimes it doesn't come off and there's a risk element to that." "You have got to have some courage. There is a way of playing which asks more questions of team's defence when you have got the ball rather than just loading up for one shape per set." While Mc Dermott believes Lewis fits the "game model" more than Connor, he understands that, on form, Connor has had a strong season. However, alongside form, having led a team in a big game also came into his thinking, which he noted Lewis did in the Challenge Cup and World Club Challenge. "I believe Jake's had a really good year.
He had an outstanding year last year, got a Man of Steel and again has played with a leading team this year," he added.
Source: Sky Sports Champions League · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing