Memorial encounter gives England hopefuls chance to stake their claim

England will be without prop Adrian Morley because of injury but coach Steve McNamara has included seven of his Warrington team-mates in a 19-man squad for Sunday's Garry Purdham Memorial Game at Whitehaven.
By The Newsroom
Published 30th Sep 2010, 11:47 BST
Updated 30th Sep 2010, 11:47 BST

Morley, who would have been a strong candidate to lead the side in the absence of Jamie Peacock, is continuing his rehabilitation from a minor back injury sustained in the closing stages of the domestic season.

As well as Saturday's Grand Finalists, McNamara has not included any of the Huddersfield and Leeds players whose clubs were eliminated from the play-offs last weekend.

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"We feel it's important that we go to Cumbria and put in a performance to be proud of and to do that you need quality preparation," said McNamara.

"It wouldn't be fair to the Leeds and Huddersfield players to select them for a game they haven't had time to prepare for and it wouldn't be fair on the Cumbrians to host an England team that didn't do itself justice.

"I also have the players' welfare to consider and from a mental and physical perspective it would be extremely tough for those guys to lift themselves."

The match will act as a warm-up for next month's Four Nations Series in Australia and New Zealand.

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"It's an important game for lots of reasons and all the players are very keen to play," said McNamara. "The stakes are very high for everyone; we leave for the Four Nations next Friday and all the players know that places on the trip are still open. That's a big incentive for everyone involved. There is also the fact that we are representing England, which means everything to the players, and the desire to do what we can for Garry's family."

England squad: R Atkins (Warrington), T Briscoe (Hull), J Broughton (Salford), G Carvell (Warrington), T Clubb (Harlequins), P Fox (Hull KR), B Harrison (Warrington), M Higham (Warrington), J Langley (Bradford), A Lynch (Bradford), L McCarthy-Scarsbrook (Harlequins), S Murrell (Hull KR), R Myler (Warrington), C Riley (Warrington), N Scruton (Bradford), M Shenton (Castleford), P Sykes (Bradford), J Westerman (Castleford), B Westwood (Warrington).

Huddersfield have signed Bradford's up-and-coming centre or back-row forward Joe Wardle, 19, on a three-year

deal.

Related topics:Adrian MorleyEnglandWarringtonHuddersfieldLeedsBradford