BACKS Sam Tomkins, Kallum Watkins, and Herbie Farnworth and forwards Michael McIlorum and Elliott Whitehead are back in England’s 19-man squad for Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final against Papua New Guinea at Wigan’s DW Stadium, kick-off 2.30pm.
They missed last Saturday’s final group fixture against Greece but, as expected, they are back in contention for this Saturday’s big one – potentially an epic encounter and the biggest and toughest examination so far of Shaun Wane’s England in this fascinating World Cup tournament, writes ROGER HALSTEAD.
The big issues for England involve the fitness of in-form centre Watkins and the impressive back-row forward Vic Radley, both of whom picked up knocks last time they played, and whether Jack Welsby or Oldhamer Marc Sneyd partner George Williams at half-back.
There is no place in the 19 for Ryan Hall, so Tommy Makinson and Dom Young look certain to be on the wings.
It will be England’s third World Cup meeting with the physically huge and exceptionally strong Kumuls following wins for the lads in red and white in a group game in Townsville (Queensland) in 2008 and in a quarter-final in Melbourne in 2017.
Saturday’s showdown at Wigan will be the second game of a double-header following England Women v Canada, which kicks off at noon. In their first outing at Headingley, England posted a big win against Brazil.
England’s 19-man squad: Tomkins, Makinson, Watkins, Farnworth, Welsby, Williams, Burgess, McIlorum, Whitehead, Bateman, Radley, Young, Knowles, Lees, Cooper, Hill, McMeeken, Sneyd, Pearce-Paul.
