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Sam Tomkins recalled for England alongside John Bateman, Sean O’Loughlin and George Williams

Knights include Joe Greenwood, Tom Davies, Oliver Gildart, Sam Powell and Ryan Sutton

Wigan Warriors full-back Sam Tomkins has earned a recall to Wayne Bennett’s England Performance Squad joining fellow Warriors John Bateman, Sean O’Loughlin and George Williams.

Tomkins, who crossed for his 200th career try in Wigan’s defeat to St Helens last week, has not featured for England since the 2014 Four Nations and makes a welcome return to the 25-man squad.

Following a review of the Denver Test and the first phase of the 2018 England Performance Squad (EPS) sessions, England Head Coach Wayne Bennett and his coaching staff have selected a 25-man squad for the second phase of the season.

In June, England defeated New Zealand 36-18 at Mile High Stadium, Denver in the first international game to be played in the USA for 18 years as part of their preparations for this Autumn’s three-match Test Series against the Kiwis.

England Elite Men’s Squad will also play France in a warm-up game on Wednesday, October 17 (KO 7.45pm) at Leigh Sports Village.

On the Elite Performance Squad, Bennett said, “Myself and staff have been monitoring players every week throughout the season so far.

“The 14 Super League players that travelled over for the Denver Test have been selected including Jake Connor and Luke Thompson who were promoted from the England Knights Performance Squad and proved their commitment and value to the squad.

“It was a very positive and productive camp which resulted in a great performance against the Kiwis and I’m pleased with the progress we’ve made so far this year.

“We’re welcoming two recalls to the squad and one new addition and the door will remain open for the remainder of the season as we head towards the International Test Series against New Zealand later this year.”

Elsewhere, England Knights have included five Wigan Warriors players, with Head Coach Paul Anderson announcing his 31-man Knights Performance Squad (KPS) for the second phase of the season, as they prepare to take on Papua New Guinea in two test matches later this year.

Wigan Warriors’ mid-season recruit Joe Greenwood is one of many new inclusions to the side that also features wing Tom Davies, centre Oliver Gildart, half-back Sam Powell and prop forward Ryan Sutton.

England Knights Head Coach, Paul Anderson said, “The return of England Knights has been welcomed this year and the KPS sessions have been hugely positive and valuable for the players involved.

“It’s great to be able to include new faces to the squad as we head towards the end of the season and build towards the two matches against Papua New Guinea on tour.”

England Rugby League Elite Performance Squad

Luke Gale (Castleford Tigers)

Mike McMeeken (Castleford Tigers)

Adam Milner (Castleford Tigers)

Jermaine McGillvary (Huddersfield Giants)

Jake Connor (Hull FC)

Scott Taylor (Hull FC)

Ryan Hall (Leeds Rhinos)

Stevie Ward (Leeds Rhinos)

Kallum Watkins (Leeds Rhinos)

Jonny Lomax (St Helens)

Tommy Makinson (St Helens)

Mark Percival (St Helens)

James Roby (St Helens)

Luke Thompson (St Helens)

Alex Walmsley (St Helens)

Tom Johnstone (Wakefield Trinity)

Daryl Clark (Warrington Wolves)

Mike Cooper (Warrington Wolves)

Ben Currie (Warrington Wolves)

Chris Hill (Warrington Wolves)

Stefan Ratchford (Warrington Wolves)

John Bateman (Wigan Warriors)

Sean O’Loughlin (Wigan Warriors)

Sam Tomkins (Wigan Warriors)

George Williams (Wigan Warriors)


England Rugby League Knights Performance Squad

Greg Minikin (Castleford Tigers)

Jake Trueman (Castleford Tigers)

Oliver Holmes (Castleford Tigers)

Kruise Leeming (Huddersfield Giants)

Brad Fash (Hull FC)

Dean Hadley (Hull FC)

Masimbaashe Matongo (Hull FC)

Jamie Shaul (Hull FC)

Chris Atkin (Hull KR)

Robbie Mulhern (Hull KR)

Ash Handley (Leeds Rhinos)

Mikolaj Oledzski (Leeds Rhinos)

Liam Sutcliffe (Leeds Rhinos)

Jack Walker (Leeds Rhinos)

James Cunningham (London Broncos)

Niall Evalds (Salford Red Devils)

Tom Davies (Wigan Warriors)

Oliver Gildart (Wigan Warriors)

Joe Greenwood (Wigan Warriors)

Sam Powell (Wigan Warriors)

Ryan Sutton (Wigan Warriors)

Matt Lees (St Helens)

Danny Richardson (St Helens)

James Batchelor (Wakefield Trinity)

Max Jowitt (Wakefield Trinity)

Reece Lyne (Wakefield Trinity)

Jack Hughes (Warrington Wolves)

Harvey Livett (Warrington Wolves)

Tom Gilmore (Widnes Vikings)

Danny Walker (Widnes Vikings)

Matt Whitley (Widnes Vikings)


http://www.wiganwarriors.com/news/2018- ... ELuEmlq.99

It say an awful lot about the state of our game when Williams & Powell are called up for international duties

Davues but not Marshall?

medlocke wrote:It say an awful lot about the state of our game when Williams & Powell are called up for international duties

My seniments exactly.

Mike wrote:Davies but not Marshall?

Who are the other wingers in the squad? Minikin? Anyone else?

Really can't see the sense of SOL being in the England squad . He is not going to make the next World Cup for England and has had a very limited rest period in the last off season . Four extra games at the end of this season where he has had a few injuries is the last thing he needs i would have thought.

Possibly looking to bow out on a high with the Lions at the end of next season and keeping his name in the frame is all i can think of.

Regards EW

medlocke wrote:It say an awful lot about the state of our game when Williams & Powell are called up for international duties

Williams will no doubt have been picked on past (as in 2016) form. WTF has Powell been picked based on? Confusing the opposition by being so slow?

There must be a dozen half backs or hookers better than Powell in Super league. I was at last nights game against the Dragons. When playing hooker all he does is pick the ball up and pass it, never makes a break because of lack of speed. When playing half back he mostly drifts across and normally passes inside to Bateman. Dragons were well aware of this and were ready. I was never a great fan of Matty Smith's, at least he had a rugby brain and he could kick.


As other people have commented, its a sad statement on the state of super league when a donkey like Powell gets picked for England.


last nights game just showed up what Wigan Lack . No quality hooker with pace to trouble teams from the ruck. No good half back who can organise the backs. with Lockers out no quality loose forward . Where is the spine of the team? This is the main reason why Wigan either make individual forward runs or pass the ball across the line until they run out of room. For large parts of the 2nd half Dragons with 12 men were the better team.


I have great regards for lockers, but he must be taking up a good part of the salary cap and I wonder how many games he will play in 2019. Maybe its time to move him upstairs and then be able to bring in 1 or 2 quality players. Just a thought????