McNamara tailors his line-up to share out game time

Although the game at Salford is their only warm-up fixture ahead of tomorrow week’s much-anticipated duel with the Kangaroos, the national chief has managed not to give too much away with his picks.

McNamara has certainly made a few surprise calls by starting with Leeds Rhinos’ Carl Ablett, a specialist second-row, at centre and including Wigan Warriors hooker Michael McIlorum and new Leeds signing Tom Briscoe in his initial XIII.

However, though they all have their merits, it seems unlikely that trio will actually start versus Australia.

Ablett’s Headingley colleague Kallum Watkins is rated the most naturally gifted centre in Super League and, while he missed much of the campaign through injury and struggled to recapture his Man of Steel prowess, St Helens’ James Roby remains one of the world’s greatest hookers.

Similarly, after becoming the first Super League player in the summer era to plunder 40 tries in a season, it is hard to imagine McNamara ignoring Wigan winger Josh Charnley when it comes to the crucial tournament opener in Cardiff.

During the last 18 months he has clearly overtaken Briscoe, the powerful wideman who recently departed Hull FC for Leeds, as the man to join the peerless Ryan Hall on England’s flanks.

As expected, Kevin Sinfield and Rangi Chase continue their half-back combination, but there is plenty of scope to tinker in this historic first meeting with Italy; it is not classed as a full international so both coaches can use unlimited interchanges.

Watkins, Roby and Charnley are all on that bench of seven replacements along with someone who is expected to command plenty of attention – Dewsbury-born tyro prop George Burgess.

The 21-year-old was recently named NRL Rookie of the Year after a devastating season for South Sydney, the Australian club he joined from Bradford Bulls before even making a Super League appearance.

The more recognisable Sam Burgess starts at loose forward – Wigan’s Sean O’Loughlin continues his rehabilitation after an injury-plagued end to the domestic season – but there is no place for the third sibling, George’s twin Tom who instead plays for the England Knights against Samoa.

Leeds full-back Zak Hardaker is the other player in the 24-man World Cup squad to drop into the Knights’ side for that game which is a curtain-raiser at Salford.

It seems unlikely, then, that pair will figure at the Millennium Stadium, but McNamara insists his mind is far from made up.

“The reality is we want to get as many players as much game time as we can and if we stockpile all the players at the Italy game, we’re not going to do that,” he said. “There’s players who need more time than others. There’s some just off Grand Final and those who didn’t make the play-off series. The idea is to put everybody in the best position they can be to be available for selection next week.”

The experienced O’Loughlin is expected to be fit to take his place in the side then while Warrington Wolves second-row Ben Westwood should also return.

He serves a one-match ban tomorrow for the needless punch he threw at Wigan’s Blake Green in the Grand Final – Gareth Hock and Liam Farrell get first shot at the second-row spots – but McNamara maintains the 32-year-old has not blotted his copybook.

“Ben’s an outstanding player and well liked by everybody in the camp,” he said. “He’s a great asset to us. He’s paid the price for an indiscretion but it’s not a major concern for me.

“He played every game to the Grand Final and got a lot of game time. Maybe a week off won’t do him any harm on this occasion. The make-up of the side looks very exciting, with the right blend of youth and experience.

“There is a great opportunity for the players to really push on and stake a claim for a start against Australia the following week.

“Our preparation has been first-class. We have trained exceptionally well at our camp in Potchefstroom, South Africa and this is the best prepared side to come from England.

“We are ready for what promises to be the most competitive World Cup in history.”

England Knights, meanwhile, have brought in prop Josh Bowden for his Hull FC colleague Liam Watts, who has pulled out with a shoulder injury.

Huddersfield Giants second-row Brett Ferres, who trained in South Africa as a travelling reserve, is also included in that squad which has been preparing at Loughborough University.

Knights coach Kieron Purtill, the Huddersfield assistant, has told them all they could yet feature in the main event.

“Rugby league is a tough game and injuries are a fact of life,” he said. “The Knights players are the back-up for England’s World Cup squad and the game is a chance for them to show they are ready to step in should they be needed.”

Teams

England: Tomkins (Wigan); Hall (Leeds), Ablett (Leeds), Cudjoe (Huddersfield), Briscoe (Leeds); Chase (Salford), Sinfield (Leeds, capt); Graham (Canterbury Bulldogs), McIlorum (Wigan), Mossop (Paramatta), Farrell (Wigan), Hock (Salford), S Burgess (South Sydney).Replacements: Burrow (Leeds), Roby (St Helens), Charnley (Wigan), Watkins (Leeds), G Burgess (South Sydney), Hill (Warrington), Widdop (St George’s).

England Knights: Makinson (St Helens); Thornley (Wigan), Jones (St Helens), Hardaker (Leeds), Cockayne (Wakefield); Sarginson (London Broncos), Powell (Wigan); T Burgess (South Sydney), J Hodgson (Hull KR), Taylor (Wigan), Ferres (Huddersfield), Whitehead (Catalan Dragons), Crosby (Wigan). Replacements: Green (Hull), Hughes (Wigan), Lawrence (Huddersfield), Dixon (London Broncos), Singleton (Leeds), Bowden (Hull), L Tomkins (Wigan).