Hull KR pair Jez Litten and Mikey Lewis stand alone as the only Yorkshire-based players in England's World Cup squad.

Newly crowned Super League champions Wakefield Trinity are not represented despite having Mike McMeeken, Caleb Hamlin-Uele, Jake Trueman and Tom Johnstone in the extended preliminary squad.

The Yorkshire Post understands that all four players withdrew from contention.

Lewis makes the plane after an eventful season that included some difficult spells and disciplinary setbacks in the closing months. His selection comes at the expense of fellow former Man of Steel Jake Connor.

Litten, who featured in all three Tests against Australia last year, has been rewarded for another strong campaign with the Robins.

In a repeat of the Ashes, Connor is the headline omission after Brian McDermott named his 23-man squad for the tournament Down Under.

The new England boss had offered hope to the Leeds Rhinos half-back upon taking over in April, rejecting the "tremendously unfair" rhetoric surrounding Connor under predecessor Shaun Wane and describing him as a "game-breaker".

Yet despite the 31-year-old providing a competition-high 43 assists to guide the Rhinos to their highest finish since 2017, McDermott has left him out of his travelling party.

Mikey Lewis, left, and Jez Litten, right, are the only representatives from Yorkshire's eight Super League clubs. (Photo: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com)

placeholder image — Mikey Lewis, left, and Jez Litten, right, are the only representatives from Yorkshire's eight Super League clubs. (Photo: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com)

McDermott’s former club are not represented, with Kallum Watkins, Mikolaj Oledzki and Ash Handley also absent.

Wigan Warriors have seven representatives, including 2026 Man of Steel Brad O’Neill and Dream Team winger Zach Eckersley.

Versatile back Hugo Savala, Huddersfield-born prop Max King and Brisbane Broncos front-rower Ben Talty are among 10 NRL-based players picked by McDermott.

"We have selected the squad after a thorough and deliberate process, underpinned by a unique decentralised preparation model that has allowed us to work closely with the players well before they come together in camp," said the England boss.

Jake Connor has missed out on the World Cup squad. (Photo: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com)

"Throughout that process, we have challenged players to develop a deeper understanding of themselves – their strengths, their point of difference, the areas they need to improve and the standards required to perform at international level.

"Importantly, we have also developed a much deeper understanding of the expectations around each player’s specific role within the England Game Model. The aim has been that when the players arrive in camp, they are not starting from day one trying to understand what is expected of them. They already understand their role, the standards attached to it and how their individual strengths can contribute to the way England wants to play.

"We have been tremendously impressed by the sacrifices made by the wider squad, their willingness to be open-minded about a new way of preparing for international rugby league and the level of alignment they have shown towards our collective vision.

"The commitment of the wider squad to this process has given us the opportunity to understand not only who the player is, but who the person is."

England kick off their World Cup campaign against Tonga on October 17.

England World Cup squad: Ashton (Warrington Wolves), Brimson (Gold Coast Titans), Currie (Warrington Wolves), Eckersley (Wigan Warriors), Farnworth (Dolphins), Havard (Wigan Warriors), King (Canterbury Bulldogs), Knowles (Dolphins), Lewis, Litten (both Hull KR), Nsemba, O’Neill (both Wigan Warriors), Pearce-Paul (Wests Tigers), Radley, Savala (both Sydney Roosters), Smith (Wigan Warriors), Smithies (Canberra Raiders), Thompson, Walters (both Wigan Warriors), Talty (Brisbane Broncos), Welsby (St Helens), Williams (Warrington Wolves), Young (Newcastle Knights).