Page 1 of 2

Warriors in GB squad

Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2019 2:43 pm
by josie andrews
Zak Hardaker and Oliver Gildart look set to start for Great Britain this Saturday

Wigan 2020 recruit Jackson Hastings also included at seven in the Lions squad

George Williams named in the 21-man squad, outside of the 17
Wigan’s Zak Hardaker and Oliver Gildart look set to start for Great Britain this Saturday as the Lions face a Tongan Invitational XIII in Hamilton.


Hardaker and Gildart, who have been named in the centres, will lineup alongside Wigan’s incoming recruit for 2020 and 2019 Man of Steel winner Jackson Hastings, who has been named at seven for the Lions.

Half-back George Williams has been named in the 21-man squad, but looks set to miss out on the 17-man matchday squad.

Ex-Wiganer John Bateman is also named in the 17, set to lineup alongside current Canberra Raiders teammate Elliot Whitehead at second-row.

James Graham is set to join one of Rugby League’s most exclusive clubs when he leads out Great Britain against the Tonga Invitational XIII in Hamilton on Saturday. The 34-year-old Liverpudlian prop is the only member of the 2019 Rugby League Lions to have played previously for Great Britain, having won his first five international caps wearing the blue and red V in 2006-7. Since then, he has earned a further 44 caps for England – meaning he will win his 50th Test cap this weekend.

The game against the Tonga Invitational XIII - Great Britain’s first appearance on the international Rugby League stage since 2007, and the start of a four-match tour which continues with two Tests against New Zealand and one against Papua New Guinea - was confirmed as having full international status at last week’s meeting of International Rugby League in Sydney.

Fans can catch coverage of the first tour fixture on BBC Two from 7:30am-10:30am and highlights on BBC One from 1:15pm (repeated on BBC Red Button from 5:30pm).

Great Britain 21-man squad:
Lachlan Coote (Windsor Wolves, St Helens)
Jermaine McGillvary (Deighton Juniors, Huddersfield Giants)
Zak Hardaker (Featherstone Lions, Wigan Warriors)
Oliver Gildart (Wigan St Patricks, Wigan Warriors)

Ryan Hall (Oulton Raiders, Sydney Roosters)
Gareth Widdop (Kings Cross, St George Illawarra Dragons)
Jackson Hastings (Western Suburbs Red Devils, Salford Red Devils)
Chris Hill (New Springs Lions, Warrington Wolves)
Josh Hodgson (East Hull, Canberra Raiders)
Luke Thompson (Bold Miners, St Helens)
John Bateman (Bradford Dudley Hill, Canberra Raiders)
Elliott Whitehead (West Bowling, Canberra Raiders)
James Graham (c) (Thatto Heath, St George Illawarra Dragons)
Josh Jones (Blackbrook, Salford Red Devils)
Tom Burgess (Dewsbury Moor, South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Jonny Lomax (Orrell St James, St Helens)
Alex Walmsley (Dewsbury Celtic, St Helens)
Jake Connor (Siddal, Hull FC)
Jack Hughes (Golborne Parkside, Warrington Wolves)
George Williams (Wigan St Patricks, Wigan Warriors)
Daryl Clark (Fryston Warriors, Warrington Wolves)



https://www.wiganwarriors.com/news/2019 ... WlFzOrC.99

Re: Warriors in GB squad

Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2019 5:57 pm
by pearsy
Looks like Hardaker will be playing at centre like a lot of the posters on here have been asking for seems Bennet knows more than Lam

Re: Warriors in GB squad

Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2019 8:30 pm
by moto748
pearsy wrote: Tue Oct 22, 2019 5:57 pm seems Bennet knows more than Lam
You wouldn't have thought so watching the Nines! :evil:

Re: Warriors in GB squad

Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2019 2:15 am
by josie andrews
Great Britain Rugby League Lions 2019: Zak Hardaker ready to make most of 'surprise' selection


Zak Hardaker will do whatever job is asked of him to fulfil the honour of playing for Great Britain after his "surprise" tour selection.

The 28-year-old had been expecting to watch the forthcoming Test series in New Zealand from a family holiday as he thought his chance of making the trip had gone.

Wigan full-back Hardaker has been on the road to redemption in the past season, not only with his performances in a Warriors shirt, but in rebuilding his life off the pitch.

The 2015 Man of Steel served a 14-month ban in 2017-18 after testing positive for cocaine while playing for Castleford Tigers before receiving a drink-driving conviction just over a year ago.

"I've just really enjoyed this year and been really fixated on me, my family and Wigan," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"The trust that's been given in both directions has been huge and the performances on the pitch have led to that."

Despite not being able to guide Wigan to a Super League Grand Final, Hardaker's 11 tries in 27 appearances kept him firmly on the Lions selectors radar, even though he only rated his performances as "an eight out of 10".

Now he finds himself potentially in line for a Great Britain debut in their tour opener against Tonga in Waikato on Saturday.

"It (selection) did come as a surprise as I'd not been involved in the set up all year," Hardaker said. "I wanted to put in 10 out of 10 performances from the get-go, but it didn't work out that way.

"I think it took me a bit longer to get into the rhythm than I would've liked. I'd come to terms that I wasn't in the squad and I was happy with my performances for Wigan.

"I was looking forward to a tough pre-season and the next year ahead, so to get the call to come here is a massive added bonus and I'm just really looking forward to grabbing it with both hands.

The five-times capped England international added: "I'd be happy to play any position really. To just represent Great Britain is a massive achievement.

"Where that will be - I'm not bothered to be fair. I've played centre under Wayne Bennett before and everyone knows I can play centre, wing or full-back."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/50136598

Re: Warriors in GB squad

Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2019 11:33 am
by ddtftf
see George missed out on the 1st test , not surprised as he was absent in the last match of 9s so could be back next year

Re: Warriors in GB squad

Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2019 1:47 pm
by nathan_rugby
pearsy wrote: Tue Oct 22, 2019 5:57 pm Looks like Hardaker will be playing at centre like a lot of the posters on here have been asking for seems Bennet knows more than Lam
1 - who would play FB at Wigan instead of Zak? Please don’t say Escare as he hasn’t been deemed good enough by two coaches now.

2 - Or maybe it’s to do with us not having a plethora of options at Centre due to the Squad Bennett has picked and the overall options available.

Re: Warriors in GB squad

Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2019 5:33 pm
by The booze hound
nathan_rugby wrote: Wed Oct 23, 2019 1:47 pm
pearsy wrote: Tue Oct 22, 2019 5:57 pm Looks like Hardaker will be playing at centre like a lot of the posters on here have been asking for seems Bennet knows more than Lam
1 - who would play FB at Wigan instead of Zak? Please don’t say Escare as he hasn’t been deemed good enough by two coaches now.

2 - Or maybe it’s to do with us not having a plethora of options at Centre due to the Squad Bennett has picked and the overall options available.
1 - B.French, possibly.

Re: Warriors in GB squad

Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2019 6:17 pm
by pearsy
Wigan haven't had a pethora of centres either on that side

Re: Warriors in GB squad

Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2019 7:16 pm
by pedro
nathan_rugby wrote: Wed Oct 23, 2019 1:47 pm
pearsy wrote: Tue Oct 22, 2019 5:57 pm Looks like Hardaker will be playing at centre like a lot of the posters on here have been asking for seems Bennet knows more than Lam
1 - who would play FB at Wigan instead of Zak? Please don’t say Escare as he hasn’t been deemed good enough by two coaches now.

2 - Or maybe it’s to do with us not having a plethora of options at Centre due to the Squad Bennett has picked and the overall options available.
French

Re: Warriors in GB squad

Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2019 6:46 am
by Firestarter
I honestly think we would be a better team with french at fullback and zak at centre...... hopefully we get another half with a good all round game....... maybe smith is the answer, who knows