Leigh Leopards boss Adrian Lam has backed star centre Umyla Hanley for an England call-up at the end of the season.
Hanley was named in the top five of the Super League Man of Steel rankings this week, in what Lam says is richly deserved recognition.
The most recent set of rankings were chosen based on performances between rounds 10 and 18, and in that time he scored three tries and bagged seven assists in seven matches.
His efforts have been highlighted by not only the Man of Steel panel, but by his head coach as well, who has always been a huge admirer of the centre.
Lam has now bagged Hanley to reach the next level of his career, and that is making his international debut.
“He has been unbelievable,” Lam said to the media this week. “I think [he’s] a player that should be a part of that England squad for the World Cup, in my opinion.
“I think he competes as good as anyone in Super League. He has got X Factor about him.
“He is very professional. He inspires our team every single week, so I think he should be a part of that one way or another.
“It is no surprise that he is in that top five there, and he has missed a lot of games as well, so imagine if he had played the extra six or seven games where he would be.”
Lam believes that another one of his stars should have been involved in the top 10 rankings, after a huge middle third of the season that has seen him really step up due to other injuries in the squad.
“I would probably have gone towards Joe Ofahengaue,” the Leigh boss said when asked who can feel unlucky to miss out. “I think he’s been, if not the best, one of the best front rowers in the Super League this season.
“He’s a great leader. He’s been inspirational to the group. Without Robbie Mulhern and Owen Trout at times, he’s been on his own for a lot of it and certainly stood up.
“[He’s] injured at the moment, but I presume he’ll be close to where that top five is as well.”
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Why Adrian Lam believes England need Leigh Leopards star at World Cup
Lam was pressed further on his comments regarding Hanley for England, and why he would be a great fit for Brian McDermott’s side.
The centre was not included in the initial 38-man performance squad released in June, though at that point he had only played four games in the season and was only starting to find his form.
That long-list of a squad is not finalised, and players such as Hanley and Josh Thewlis of Warrington still have a chance to make the plane come October.
The Leopards boss was asked whether he’d received any communication from the national side’s coaching staff about what Hanley and any other potential England hopefuls need to do in order to increase their selection chances.
He confirmed: “I haven’t had any word from any of the England officials or the coach or anything like that, but they don’t really need to, to be honest with you.
“We know, and Umyla knows what he needs to do. He needs to play well here for club first and foremost, and by doing that, the accolades come off the back of that.
“His teammates are trying to help him as well, but he can’t have done much more so far. He’s been unbelievable.
“Like I said, he competes as good as anyone in Super League. He inspires the team here, and he’s getting better and better every single week.
“I think England need someone like him in that squad with some X factor about him that can set the standards and help them be successful in the World Cup.”
