No shortage of team leaders to pick from for McNamara

McNamara will announce his new captain during the squad’s high-altitude training camp in South Africa, but has been forced to rule front rowers Sam Burgess and James Graham out of contention because of injury and suspension.

Burgess, who is to undergo knee surgery, is a co-captain of South Sydney, while Graham, who is serving a 12-match ban for biting, led England in the 2010 Four Nations Series in Australia and New Zealand in the absence through injury of Peacock and Adrian Morley.

“They are both strong leaders and very influential members of our squad,” McNamara said at a media day at the South Leeds Stadium. “But we’ve still got plenty of strong candidates.

“We’ll get together when we hit South Africa and when we address the group we’ll announce it at that stage.”

St Helens forward Jon Wilkin stood in as captain for England’s second game against the Exiles in the summer following Peacock’s sudden resignation, but he is among a number of high-profile absentees which include his team-mate and Saints vice-captain James Roby.

However, McNamara has a trio of club captains in Kevin Sinfield (Leeds), Morley (Warrington) and Sean O’Loughlin (Wigan) from which to select his new man, while Gareth Ellis, who is now back in Super League with Hull, and Wigan’s Sam Tomkins will also come into consideration.

Tomkins, who yesterday had a soup named after him to raise money for Joining Jack, the charity which raises money for research into finding a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, will link up with the squad ahead of their departure for South Africa tomorrow but remains doubtful for England’s opening game against Wales on October 27.

The newly-crowned Man of Steel missed Wigan’s last match of the season with a knee injury but was adamant about making the England training camp.

“If we were playing this weekend, he wouldn’t be fit to play, but we’ve got 10 days out there and a little more time when we come back,” said McNamara. “He’s a vital member of our group and I’m impressed by his attitude and his desire to be a part of this group.”