Fans vote to present England a fierce challenge

England star Danny McGuire believes the rugby league public has served its country well by helping select a fiercely challenging Exiles squad for next month’s International Origin match.

When it comes to shows like X-Factor, some of Britain’s choices regarding highlighting talent have been dubious given the emergence of such absurd acts as Jedward and Wagner.

However, having been asked to vote for the best 13 NRL club-trained players in Super League to form the backbone of an Exiles side to face England on June 10, the sport’s knowledgeable fans have shown they do largely recognise quality when they see it.

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The RFL have announced the overseas stars the British public has rated worthy of facing Steve McNamara’s side and Exiles coach Brian McClennan – who gets to select another nine players in the 22-man squad – is not left disappointed.

Castleford Tigers’ Rangi Chase, the competition’s most valuable player so far, received the biggest backing, earning 83 per cent of the vote as top stand-off, which may see him in direct opposition against Leeds hero McGuire.

Hull FC’s Australian duo Mark O’Meley and Craig Fitzgibbon dominated the polls for the prop and back-row positions, respectively, as they seem set to back up their New South Wales representative honours for the Exiles while Leeds’s Danny Buderus – who will captain the side – was an overwhelming pick as hooker.

“I imagine some of the results were quite tight because all the players up for selection were very talented,” McGuire told the Yorkshire Post, after fans were given a choice of 34 to select from in British sport’s first public voting system of its kind.

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“To come up with that team is pretty good. It’s very strong, so there’s going to be competition for places in their team as well as the England side.

“It’s set for a great game and something the fans are looking forward to. I had a good look myself, and a few people asked who I thought should have been in it.

“I’m not saying I’d have picked that squad exactly but most of the players have either played Origin or for Australia and New Zealand.

“They deserve to be in there and it’s a real test for England.”

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Former Australia captain Buderus, who launched the new Exiles jersey yesterday, added: “The idea in getting the fans to select part of the team has generated awareness and some real talking points around the match.

“Normally, for international games, you’d start two weeks out building up to it but with those talking points, coach selections and those of the fans, this has been on the radar for the last two months which can only be a good thing for raising the sport’s profile.

“Our biggest challenge will be gelling as a unit as we will have less than a week in camp as a group.

“The beauty is that we know each other from our backgrounds in the NRL and it won’t take us long to adapt to each other.”

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McClennan had already selected five players – all included in the fans’ top 13 – and, along with his assistant, Castleford coach Terry Matterson, will pick another one in each of the next four weeks.

The class of talent available to him, particularly in the back-row, is illustrated with Hull KR’s excellent Clint Newton failing to get in the supporters’ top three, while Leeds full-back Brent Webb is another sweating on his place.

Conversely, the ex-Kiwi coach has selected Louis Anderson despite the Warrington second-row not gaining a single public vote from more than 10,000 registered.

“The fans have made some very intelligent selections and it mirrors the type of squad I am looking to build,” said McClennan.

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“Their picks will serve as the nucleus of my squad going into the game against England.”

Eight Yorkshire-based players have been named with joint-Super League leaders Huddersfield Giants having the most in three – Kiwi back-rows David Faiumu and David Fa’alogo along with another New South Wales Origin star Luke O’Donnell.

Buderus is joined by Headingley team-mate Kylie Leuluai, making McGuire all the more determined to win selection in England’s plans – they are without Sam Burgess, who is sidelined for four months with an ankle injury – and face his Leeds colleagues on their home ground.

He only returned from an eight-month lay-off just over a week ago but has since impressed in wins against Crusaders and Castleford to show he is on the road to recovery after that knee injury.

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McGuire, who faces a battle with club captain Kevin Sinfield and Huddersfield’s Danny Brough for a half-back slot, admitted: “With this England game a couple of months away, it’s a bit of a target, but I’m just enjoying playing for Leeds at the minute. If that comes, hopefully I can be involved. I still know I’m a few weeks away from being 100 per cent fit and firing.”

However, he showed all his trademark acceleration to score a quality try against Castleford.

“I’m still a little nervous; it’s going to take a while to get full confidence in contact and my speed back but I suppose instinct takes over on the pitch,” he said.

“You just do what you’ve got to do and it was a great feeling to get over after eight months hard work. Sometimes you’re not sure whether you’re going to come back the same player, but mentally that’s the biggest challenge.”

dave.craven@ypn.co.uk

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