Super League play-offs to be ‘really revealing’ in England halves selection as George Williams’ role confirmed

George Williams will captain England at this year’s Rugby League World Cup with head coach Brian McDermott providing some insight into his halves selection, something that will be heavily influenced by the Super League play-offs.

Earlier in the year when he spoke to media for the first time since landing the job, McDermott confirmed that the then-injured Williams would be his captain and he’s now asserted that nothing has changed his mind on that matter.

“He’ll be my captain,” McDermott asserted, going on to speak about the form that the Warrington man has shown in recent weeks.

“He’s a rum little bugger, he’s keen as anything, and while he was injured, you could just tell. He came back from injury early, but you could tell if there’s anybody going to come back from it early, it would be him.

“I’m really pleased to see the form that he’s in now, the intent that he’s got while he’s playing. He’s not feathering about on his feet and waiting for the game to come to him, he’s going and getting the game and that’s George Williams all over.

“When we’ve had the groups meetings, and we certainly had the spine meeting, the way that he would speak on there and just have a bit of maturity, he’s certainly got some maturity back on as well.”

McDermott still unsure if he takes three or four halves

With Williams locked in as captain and therefore presumably a starter, the debate will rage about who plays alongside him with key candidates being Harry Smith, Jake Connor and Mikey Lewis, all of whom will feature in the Super League play-offs.

When asked what his plans at half-back were in terms of how many he will select to the 23-man squad, McDermott conceded that he might not be able to take specialist cover at both stand-off and scrum-half.

McDermott said: “Whether we take a six and a seven to back up the six and a seven that I have in mind to start, I’m still not sure. We’re certainly going to take another half. We need to take another half.

“But if we take two halves as cover, it has an impact on how many covers we have for our outside backs, what cover we have with the back-rowers, what cover we have for the other spine members as well.”

Dictating that will be form, particularly how players deal with the Super League play-offs, as he said of play-off performances: “It’s going to be fascinating, really revealing.

“It’s a difficult one with the spine members. I’ve got to see them play in finals. I think everybody would understand who the spine members are going to be or what pool of players I’m choosing from but there’s another couple out there that the finals will reveal.

“Can they handle the big occasion? Can they handle the game when there’s so much on the balance? I don’t know if I’ve answered that question with clarity, but I’ll certainly be taking one half as back-up. Whether I take two or not is dependent just yet.”