HULL KR’S Jez Litten has been handed his first start of the World Cup as one of two changes made to England's team to face Papua New Guinea in Wollongong on Friday.

The Robins’ hooker has impressed with his performances from the bench in the opening defeat to Tonga and in the 82-0 rout of France on Saturday.

But now he has been handed a chance to showcase his talent from the start, replacing Wigan Warriors’ Man of Steel Brad O’Neill, who drops out of the matchday 19 altogether. Litten’s Rovers team-mate Mikey Lewis scored two tries off the bench against France but it was not enough to earn him a starting berth for this week’s clash.

Leeds Rhinos’ Kallum Watkins is on stand-by as a reserve in the wider 22-man squad. Under World Cup rules, teams name 19 players with four being used from a six-man bench.

STARTING POINT: Hull KR's Jez Litten, in action for England during Saturday's rout of France. Picture by Peter Keleman/SWpix.com

placeholder image — STARTING POINT: Hull KR's Jez Litten, in action for England during Saturday's rout of France. Picture by Peter Keleman/SWpix.com

The other change made by coach Brian McDermott sees Dolphins forward Morgan Knowles make his first appearance of the tournament, coming in at loose-forward in place of Victor Radley who drops to the bench.

The former St Helens star was named at prop for the opener against Tonga, but missed out due to injury.

To qualify for the semi-finals, England need to beat PNG by a huge score and hope Samoa slip up against Tonga two days later.

England women, however, have suffered an injury blow ahead of their showdown with Samoa.

They need to beat Samoa to reach the knockout stage. Rhinos’ Keara Bennett, Connie Boyd and Lucy Murray all retain their place in the side and clubmates Ruby Bruce and Evie Cousins are among the reserves.

Coach Stuart Barrow has recalled former Castleford Tigers and Leeds stand-off Georgia Roche to the starting lineup after she was a substitute for last Saturday’s 78-0 loss to Australia. It will be the Newcastle Knights star’s 14th England cap.

Wigan’s Georgia Wilson and Mary Coleman have also been added to the starting line-up.

Captain Jodie Cunningham, of St Helens, has been declared fit to play after undergoing minor surgery on an ear injury, but Wigan’s 2025 Woman of Steel Eva Hunter has been ruled out with ankle damage sustained against the Jillaroos.

England men’s squad: AJ Brimson (Gold Coast), Dom Young (Newcastle), Hugo Savala (Sydney), Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins), Matty Ashton, George Williams (both Warrington), Harry Smith (Wigan), Max King (Canterbury), Jez Litten (Hull KR), Luke Thompson, Junior Nsemba (both Wigan), Kai Pearce-Paul (Wests Tigers), Morgan Knowles (Dolphins). Subs: Mikey Lewis (Hull KR), Sam Walters, Ethan Havard (both Wigan), Victor Radley (Roosters), Ben Currie (Warrington), Jack Welsby (St Helens). Reserves: Brad O’Neill, Zach Eckersley (both Wigan), Kallum Watkins (Leeds).

England Women squad: Keara Bennett, Connie Boyd (both Leeds Rhinos), Amelia Brown (Huddersfield), Mary Coleman (Wigan Warriors), Jodie Cunningham (St Helens), Anna Davies (Wigan), Hollie-Mae Dodd (Canberra Raiders), Fran Goldthorp (North Queensland), Hope Millard (Canterbury), Lucy Murray (Leeds), Georgia Roche (Newcastle Knights), Isabel Rowe, Lucie Sams, Georgia Wilson (all Wigan), Liv Wood (York), Vicky Whitfield (St Helens), Megan Williams (Wigan). Reserves: Jenna Foubister (Wigan), Ruby Bruce, Evie Cousins (both Leeds), Molly Jones (Wigan).