Cockayne’s progress rewarded with England squad call

The in-form 29-year-old is the only new addition to Steve McNamara’s 30-man group as they begin their preparations in earnest for the World Cup this autumn.

That is a clear sign of Cockayne’s excellent progress, not just this season where he has amassed six tries in the opening five games, but ever since being sacked by Hull KR for disciplinary reasons barely 18 months ago.

Initially rediscovering himself at Featherstone, where he won a Championship Grand Final in 2011, he has overcome his previous off-field problems to prove he is not just an industrious wideman but genuinely dangerous too since joining hometown Wakefield last year.

McNamara said: “We have been impressed with Ben’s (Cockayne) all-round form in Super League over a sustained period of time and he deserves his call up to the ETS.”

Cockayne, who just last week said he hoped to be in contention and now becomes the first Wakefield player to make the ETS squad, said: “It is an honour to be selected.

“This is hopefully the first step to possibly playing for my country.

“To be recognised amongst the elite of English rugby league is my biggest honour to date.”

McNamara has largely kept faith with those that led England to a tournament victory last autumn against France and Wales meaning there is no recall for Huddersfield Giants captain Danny Brough or Warrington’s Ryan Atkins.

McNamara has also invited three of the Super League’s leading young talents – Bradford Bulls’ John Bateman, Leeds Rhinos’ Stevie Ward and Warrington’s Ben Currie – to the ETS’ first training camp at RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire later this month as part of the England Academy’s trio’s continued development.

England ETS: Ablett, Burrow, Hall, Hardaker, McGuire, Jones-Buchanan, Sinfield, Watkins (all Leeds Rhinos), Carvell, Hill, Morley, Myler, Ratchford, Westwood (all Westwood), Charnley, Farrell, McIlorum, Mossop, O’Loughlin, Tomkins (all Wigan Warriors), Briscoe, Ellis, Tickle (Hull FC), Crabtree, Cudjoe (both Huddersfield Giants), Roby, Wilkin (both St Helens), Chase (Castleford Tigers) Cockayne (Wakefield Trinity Wildcats), Hock (Widnes Vikings).

Hull FC’s Brett Seymour is out of hospital after being involved in a car accident on Sunday night.

The Australian scrum-half, who had just forced his way back into the side at Widnes on Saturday after being dropped for the previous three games, suffered no serious injuries but has been placed on leave with immediate effect.

Hull KR hooker Josh Hodgson has been accused of committing a dangerous foul during his side’s win over Warrington on Sunday.

Hodgson has been charged by the Rugby Football League’s match-review panel with making contact with the legs of Warrington prop Paul Wood “in a manner that involved an unacceptable risk of injury”.

It is a grade B offence which carries a suspension of up to two matches but Hodgson is eligible for an early-guilty plea and has until 11am today to accept a one-game ban or face a disciplinary hearing.