Predicting the 23-man England Rugby League World Cup Squad with key halves call made

Brian McDermott will announce his England squad for this month’s Rugby League World Cup tomorrow (Monday), and with just 23 places up for grabs, it’s an incredibly difficult job.

Of course, Saturday evening’s Super League Grand Final will be fresh in his mind and whether that’s impacted his selection is unclear, but McDermott was clear when speaking to the media in September that the play-offs would play a role in who he picked.

McDermott confirmed: “Nobody’s that far in front and nobody’s that far behind. If somebody goes in finals and smashes it out of the park, he gets picked.”

Two men who have both had great play-off series were Saturday night’s wing stars, Tom Johnstone and Matty Ashton, and predicting whether both of those men go or just one has been an incredibly tough call.

So too have the half-back selections, with last year’s Ashes snub Jake Connor crashing out in his first play-off match, whilst Wigan’s Harry Smith did the same, but Wakefield’s Jake Trueman went all the way and lifted the Grand Final.

Ahead of the official announcement for the Rugby League World Cup squad, here’s Serious About Rugby League’s selection and an explainer on why.

What could England’s Rugby League World Cup squad look like

Splitting the playing squad into the back line, the halves and hookers, and the forward pack, almost every player selected can cover multiple positions – something that is vital in tournament football. We’ve also included a list of a player at each position who can consider themselves very unlucky to miss out on our selection, and whose selection to Brian McDermott’s squad would not be a surprise at all.

The back line

Full-back is a problem position for England as neither of the men who played their in the Ashes have been in either good form or playing at the position, with AJ Brimson spending the year in the centres whilst Jack Welsby has also been moved about plenty. Either way, both men look likely to be picked and they do offer positional versatility elsewhere.

Dom Young is the shoo-in on the wing, a Grand Finalist with Newcastle and an athletic freak. Matty Ashton or Tom Johnstone is the decision on the other wing and if Brian McDermott is 100% nailed on one of those two, then the other may be the man to make way for an extra forward and following Johnstone’s Man of the Match Grand Final performance, perhaps it’s Ashton who drops out.

In the centres, the world’s best Herbie Farnworth is an obvious pick. Billy Smith could debut for England with his versatility a huge plus, whilst injuries to Ash Handley and Jake Wardle, as well as Umyla Hanley‘s brilliant form to end the year sees him selected. The Roosters’ Hugo Savala, who can also play in the halves, is the wildcard here who is not selected but would not be a surprise to feature in McDermott’s squad.

Halves and hookers

George Williams has been locked in as the England captain, McDermott has said as such, but who plays next to him is the question. Neither Harry Smith or Jake Connor had an excellent play-off series, but they’re England’s best and most-experienced and McDermott was clear that there would be cover in the halves so both are selected. As mentioned, that cover could be Savala, or even Grand Final winner Jake Trueman, who was named to the 38-man performance squad and has been brilliant throughout the play-offs.

Man of Steel Brad O’Neill took last year’s Ashes snub personally and he’s seen by many as the starting nine so it becomes a case of what you like in support of him. Jez Litten was England’s best at the Ashes but Danny Walker has been exceptional in recent weeks, however, Litten’s Ashes experience is favoured here.

The pack

With a total of 12 players selected among the backs and hookers, it leaves just 11 spots for the forward pack so all need to be versatile and that is also why perhaps McDermott, who gets paid far more to make the tough calls than this writer, may make one of those calls on that extra half or winger.

Caleb Hamlin-Uele has made such a strong case to be in this squad that he cannot be ignored and neither can his teammate and captain, Mike McMeeken, who is also capable of covering the second-row. Other outright props would include Luke Thompson, who has quietly been brilliant this year, Leeds’ Mikolaj Oledzki, as well as Huddersfield-born Max King and Brisbane’s Ben Talty, both from the NRL.

In the second-row, Kai Pearce-Paul would be the first name there assuming he’s recovered from the pec injury he suffered in June. One man not selected despite a recent return from injury is Matty Nicholson, though the argument for him is strong. Instead, Junior Nsemba is picked with the versatile Morgan Smithies another NRL star who can cover multiple pack positions.

So too are Victor Radley and Morgan Knowles, the former who can cover hooker if needed, and the latter who has performed well at prop when called upon.

Predicted 23-man squad

Full-backs: Jack Welsby, AJ Brimson
Wingers: Dom Young, Tom Johnstone
Centres: Herbie Farnworth, Umyla Hanley, Billy Smith
Halves: George Williams, Harry Smith, Jake Connor
Hookers: Brad O’Neill, Jez Litten
Props: Caleb Hamlin-Uele, Luke Thompson, Mike McMeeken, Max King, Mikolaj Oledzki, Ben Talty
Second-rowers: Kai Pearce-Paul, Junior Nsemba, Morgan Smithies
Loose forwards: Victor Radley, Morgan Knowles

Unlucky ommisions

Full-backs: NA
Wingers: Matty Ashton
Centres: Hugo Savala
Halves: Jake Trueman
Hookers: Danny Walker
Props: Ethan Havard
Second-rowers: Matty Nicholson
Loose forwards: Ben Currie