Hull FC owner Adam Pearson’s attitude troubles England coach Shaun Wane

The Rugby Football League (RFL) yesterday confirmed England will play Combined Nations All Stars at Warrington on Friday, June 25.

That will be Wane’s first game in charge and one of only two games to prepare for England’s World Cup campaign which begins against Samoa at Newcastle on October 23.

Super League which is run by its member clubs rather than the RFL, has arranged a full round of fixtures for the weekend of England’s meeting with Combine Nations, including a home match for Hull against Huddersfield Giants.

Speaking to the Hull Daily Mail last week, Pearson dismissed the mid-season Test as a “total waste of time”, if NRL players are not included in the England squad and said he would not commit to releasing his club’s imports to play for the overseas side.

That provoked a bemused response from Wane, who is anxious to see England face the strongest-possible opposition.

“I am hoping the clubs will understand the big picture,” stressed the coach.

“The majority of people I speak to dead-set understand what a successful World Cup campaign will do for Super League and the game in general.

“I don’t understand Adam because he has known about this for 12 months; this has been in, he has agreed it, then all of a sudden to come out and say what he said, I don’t understand it.

“I’ve spoken to him and spoken to Brett [Hodgson, Hull’s coach] numerous times and asked if anyone has a problem or question and nobody said a word.”

Wane also admitted to being “disappointed” club fixtures have been arranged for a weekend when it was known the national side would be in action.

He said: “It is international weekend and I wanted a stand-alone fixture so it didn’t put pressure on any Super League teams, but we didn’t get that.

“That’s disappointing, but the clubs – as a whole – have been really behind us and helping me in any way they can.”

Wane insisted he will strike a balance with his selection to ensure no one team is severely weakened by England call-ups.

“I will do anything I can to not put teams under pressure,” he added.