England will get their World Cup campaign under way against Samoa on Saturday October 15 at St James’ Park in Newcastle; the hosts are opening the tournament; winger Dom Young has been preferred to veteran Ryan Hall in the 19-man squad
Last Updated: 13/10/22 12:55pm
Dom Young is named in Shaun Wane’s 19-strong squad for England’s opener
England head coach Shaun Wane has named his 19-strong squad for Saturday’s Rugby League World Cup tournament opener against Samoa at St James’ Park.
Winger Dom Young has been preferred to 34-year-old Ryan Hall, England’s record try scorer, after making a big impression in last Friday’s warm-up match versus Fiji.
England are facing Samoa for the first time in five years and the home side will be led by captain Sam Tomkins.
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Take a look at Dom Young’s try-scoring efforts for Newcastle Knights in the NRL
Young, a 21-year-old former Huddersfield player, scored one try and created two more in England’s 50-0 win and is present in Wane’s 19-man squad, which contains just one other specialist winger in St Helens’ Tommy Makinson.
Makinson, rested against Fiji, won the Golden Boot after making a spectacular entrance onto the international stage in the 2018 Test series against New Zealand. He says playing in a World Cup on home soil will provide the highlight of his career.
“This will go straight to the top,” Makinson said. “It just doesn’t come any bigger.
“It’s every kid’s dream to play in a home World Cup and now it’s about delivering. Hopefully we can start it in style and get the job done.”
Wigan second rower John Bateman was the only player unavailable as he continues to serve a three-match ban carried over from the Super League season.
Wane has named all three half-backs available to him and the inclusion of Michael McIlorum as the only hooker suggests he will put Jack Welsby’s versatility to good use.
Oledzki was one of two injury doubts after damaging a shoulder playing for Leeds in the Grand Final and one of his fellow front rowers, Mike Cooper or Chris Hill, are expected to drop out of the 19 when Wane shows his full hand 90 minutes before kick-off.
The inclusion of another 21-year-old, Kai Pearce-Paul, indicates he could be on standby in case second rower Mike McMeeken fails to recover from a foot injury.
Pearce-Paul is one of five uncapped players, alongside Young, Victor Radley, Marc Sneyd and Herbie Farnworth.
Kallum Watkins, Tom Burgess, Hill and Elliott Whitehead are the four survivors from the team that lost to Australia in the 2017 World Cup final.
England’s 19-man squad: 1. Sam Tomkins (captain), 2, Tommy Makinson, 3. Kallum Watkins 4. Herbie Farnworth, 6. Jack Welsby, 7. George Williams, 8. Tom Burgess, 9. Micky McIlorum, 10. Luke Thompson, 11. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Victor Radley, 14. Dom Young, 15 Morgan Knowles, 16. Matty Lees, 17. Mike Cooper, 18. Chris Hill, 20. Mike McMeeken, 21. Marc Sneyd, 24. Kai Pearce-Paul.
