No surprises when it comes to McNamara’s squad for Exiles

If the national side only has one mid-season fixture ahead of the unforgiving Four Nations, he can ill-afford to fill it with bolters, rookies and hopefuls rather than the experienced campaigners likely to form the core of his group for that tournament.

However, has McNamara erred too far towards the side of conservatism?

Should there have been at least a couple of surprise packages in there?

Danny Brough is a debutant but the Huddersfield player is the only new cap in a 22-man squad and his inclusion was obvious.

It is imperative he is given the chance to finally cure England’s often embarrassing excuse of a kicking game when they face the Exiles at Headingley next Friday.

That way, at least, Australia and New Zealand may have to work a little harder for any victories this autumn. They may even have to try getting out of their own in-goal area for once.

Him aside, though, there is a very familiar look to McNamara’s ensemble when there was genuine scope to have a look at some less obvious options.

It is fair to say Sam Burgess and Gareth Ellis, England’s own exiles in Australia due to injury and NRL commitments respectively, are likely to be his first-choice second-rows for some while.

With the grizzled Ben Westwood having proved his worth as one of the few successes Down Under last year, McNamara knows he has strength in this department.

Recalled Jamie Jones-Buchanan has been as committed as ever for Leeds, likewise Jon Wilkin at Saints, but surely he knows what they offer. On that basis, instead, it would have been great to see some tyros like Dale Ferguson against Messrs Fitzgibbon, Menzies and Co.

All the talk had been of Joe Westerman possibly fulfilling his potential in 2011 following his move to Hull but, while he has stalled, it is the less publicised back-row who has impressed.

Big, powerful and aggressive, 23-year-old Ferguson has proved commanding in Huddersfield’s pack, both with his thoughtful lines of running and appetite for industry while he possesses deceptive footwork.

Maybe he might even have the answer all Super League has been chasing, the know-how to stop club colleague, and Exiles pick, David Faiumu’s wicked side-step.

At prop, Garreth Carvell is a workhorse but Adrian Morley, Jamie Peacock and James Graham all amply fulfil that role, and he does not have the fizz for an impact player off the bench.

Someone who does is Huddersfield’s Larne Patrick, a curious story given he started out as a centre. The pace which was needed in his erstwhile position is obvious when he enters the fray as a replacement prop, a surging front-row both rapid and strong, as many busted foes will testify.

Can Ryan Atkins really develop into an international centre? He has assets but was found out in the Four Nations and maybe it is time to look elsewhere.

Hull’s Kirk Yeaman has pressed his claims for a recall this year as Super League’s joint-top tryscorer but it is in the east of the city where England’s best long-term answer resides. Hull KR’s Kris Welham, 23, has shone for a struggling side this term.

It would be interesting to see how the sprightly centre, who, like Yeaman, has scored 15 tries, would fare outside the attacking calibre of Sam Tomkins and Brough while Huddersfield’s muscular winger Jermaine McGillvary, with his forceful kick returns and potent finishing, is reminiscent of Wendall Sailor.

McNamara knows he has excellent wingers in Ryan Hall and Tom Briscoe so he could have taken this opportunity to blood an alternative.

The emphasis has rightly been on how exciting the Exiles side is, with its rich mix of quality Australians and Kiwis, but the hosts could easily have added a little lustre themselves.