Ferres earns McNamara’s England call

Huddersfield Giant Brett Ferres is a surprise inclusion in Steve McNamara’s England squad to face the Exiles.
Giants Brett Ferres is tackled by Rhinos Kylie Leuluai.Giants Brett Ferres is tackled by Rhinos Kylie Leuluai.
Giants Brett Ferres is tackled by Rhinos Kylie Leuluai.

Ferres has been named as part of a 20-man squad for the International Origin game against the Exiles at Warrington on Friday, June 12.

The 27-year-old former Bradford, Castleford and Wakefield second rower was not in McNamara’s 30-man elite training squad (ETS) but has been rewarded for his outstanding form for the high-flying Giants this season.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Brett came very close to being selected in the initial ETS back in March,” said McNamara.

“He has been in outstanding form throughout this campaign and I had no hesitation selecting him.

“We have always had players coming into form that have received international recognition in the past few years.

“We selected Warrington’s Chris Hill last autumn, even though he hadn’t been in the ETS.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I have always said that if players, who are not necessarily established in the England programme, are playing well they will be considered. Brett deserves his call-up and I know he’ll do a job for us.”

The 20-man squad includes 15 players who were involved in the 2012 autumn international series final victory over France last November.

The most notable absentee is Wigan hooker Michael McIlorum, who misses out through injury and is replaced by St Helens’ James Roby, who sat out the 2012 internationals and only made his return from a three-month injury lay-off last night.

There is a place for 36-year-old prop Adrian Morley, the Warrington captain who recently made his comeback from a ruptured bicep, but the game has come too soon for Widnes second rower Gareth Hock, who is currently serving a four-match ban.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Also ruled out through injury are the Leeds trio of Kallum Watkins, Danny McGuire and Carl Ablett and Hull second rower Danny Tickle while, as expected, Huddersfield’s in-form half-back Danny Brough has not been named after confirming he will once more play for Scotland in the World Cup.

England: R Burrow (Leeds), J Charnley (Wigan), R Chase (Castleford), E Crabtree (Huddersfield), L Cudjoe (Huddersfield), G Ellis (Hull), L Farrell (Wigan), B Ferres (Huddersfield), R Hall (Leeds), Z Hardaker (Leeds), C Hill (Warrington), J Jones-Buchanan (Leeds), A Morley (Warrington), L Mossop (Wigan), R Myler (Warrington), S O’Loughlin (Wigan), J Roby (St Helens), K Sinfield (Leeds, capt), S Tomkins (Wigan), B Westwood (Warrington).