England 19-Man Squad for the Quarter Final Against PNG England Head Coach Shaun Wane has named the 19-man squad for Saturday’s RLWC2021 Quarter Final against Papua New Guinea at Wigan’s DW Stadium (230pm kick-off). Captain Sam Tomkins, centres Kallum Watkins and Herbie Farnworth, and forwards Michael McIlorum and Elliott Whitehead return to the squad after missing last Saturday’s final group fixture against Greece. It will be England’s third World Cup match against the Kumuls, following victories in a group match in Townsville in 2008, and at the same Quarter Final stage in Melbourne in 2017. READ MORE ON THIS STORY...

England 19-Man Squad for the Quarter Final Against PNG England Head Coach Shaun Wane has named the 19-man squad for Saturday’s RLWC2021 Quarter Final against Papua New Guinea at Wigan’s DW Stadium (230pm kick-off). Captain Sam Tomkins, centres Kallum Watkins and Herbie Farnworth, and forwards Michael McIlorum and Elliott Whitehead return to the squad after missing last Saturday’s final group fixture against Greece. It will be England’s third World Cup match against the Kumuls, following victories in a group match in Townsville in 2008, and at the same Quarter Final stage in Melbourne in 2017. READ MORE ON THIS STORY...

More Wane weirdness. Still picking McIllorum simply because he's his mate. No Luke Thompson but wasters like Hill and Cooper in there? Got to presume he's injured. Good to see Dom Young has been preferred to Ryan Hall. Bateman another who continues to ride the Wigan train into unwarranted international selection, but he's not a glaring weakness like Mickey Mac...

I would have Oledski in before Thompson to be honest, Saints fans overhype Thompson for me, but no doubt he will bang average when he is announced by Wigan for next year.

He was the best prop in Super League before he left and he's done well enough in the NRL. What have Hill and Cooper done other than pretend to be prop forwards for about four years now?

Thompson bit of a shadow of his earlier self since he has those concussion problems. Oledski or Lees would do a good job, Hill and Cooper doing Ok and have stepped up from their superleague form, with Burgess still our world class prop.

Try actually watching the games, Hill has been immense this year, and prior to him getting injured in the CC final was dominating there too. Hill will be a starting prop as Wane has far more RL knowledge than you , as per usual doesn't play for a top side and therefore must be useless. You might also read what the players are saying, in his column Williams singled out Hill as being in top form.



"We've been brilliant as a group so it's unfair to pick out individuals but I have give a shout to Hilly. He's in form big time, he's been massive around the group and he's a leader who speaks."

Can't say I'd argue with that squad, only question for me would be McIlorum, thought his distribution was poor in the Samoa game. Obviously Wane thinks his toughness will see him through. For me KKP and McMeekin to miss out.

Well that isn't much of a surprise. My 5-year-old has more RL knowledge than Saddo.

Chris Hill has not been 'immense', not even close. Maybe slightly less useless than he was at Warrington, but he's not a top level forward. Burgess and Lees should start and Thompson and Oledzski from the bench. Far more dynamic, far more impact.

Wane and the halfback who plays behind him disagree, but i'm sure you know best mate

Lees is not good enough,certainly not as good as Hill,Burgess,Thompson,Oledzski.

Agree on Cooper and too an extent Bateman.



However I thought McIlorum justified his selection in the opening game. He was dominate and ferocious against the likes of Paulo etc.



I don’t think he can do 80 at that intensity though, maybe Knowles will jump in a 9 for a bit

Please explain what Lees has done that Hill hasn't done better...apart from wear a Saints shirt of course!

Lots of pressure and energy can play for long minutes, terrific line speed around the ruck. In otherwards a fast mobile prop who gets into your face consistently.



The only stand out selection questionable is Pearce-Paul, sooner have Farnworth starting.

Radley played 9 for a spell and Knowles came on at 13 in the first group game. That was pretty effective so I think Wane will go with that option if needed.

Can't see selections making a big difference to the result today, but I'd be concerned seeing this 17 playing in a semi final.

England scoring at will, Game Over in the first quarter

England looked good for half an hour, and PNG collapsed. Last 10 minutes were a bit of a muddle.



Hoping England can put in that second half performance now, play smart, don't force the attack, and keep it tight in defence, PNG nil should be the target.

He's better than Hill. His line speed and relentlessness in defense is outstanding. He's been brilliant for Saints for two years now. We've been told we're only winning the title every year because Walmsley is so good. But we've had two long injuries to Walmsley now and we don't drop at all. Lees has been incredible. Hill is putting a lot of effort in, he's doing okay, but there's no power in his carries or his tackles, he's just working hard.

Maybe I've been spoiled with the hookers I've been watching for the last 20 years, but he's useless. He's slow to the ptb, his distribution is slow and laboured and whilst he's agressive in defense, he's gassed after about half an hour. If he wasn't a former Wigan player, he wouldn't have been considered.

Did you watch the game today mate, or make your mind up before it started based on what you thought you knew? Again Hill had a massive game, consistently got his head through in attack, made yards and got quick play the ball as commented on by all including his coach, whereas Lees put in some flashy hits in defence and got driven back consistently because he;s lightweight for a prop at this level. We visibly lowered our performance when Burgess and Hill went off and the only real worry against the Aussies and Tongans will be when they come off and lesser forwards such as Cooper and Lees come on, who are not performing at the same level (cooper particularly). I'm guessing you saw it differently eh?

I would ignore Jason65 he doesn't know what he's talking about most of the time its obvious Lees is not in the same class as heavyweights Burgess and Hill but he is better than Thompson and Oledzski and offers a more mobile form of attack and defence.



We had Jason65 trying to convince himself that Smithies was better than Knowles and we saw how that went. Lees and Knowles had terrific line speed today but it was the platform of Burgess and Hill that laid the platform for the first quarter. Burgess is just world class and must be in the top 3 for world class props at the moment. I like the way Wane is using his props its giving so much pressure at early doors and then the intensity ramps up against tired defences.



I think we need to value Hill a bit more though, his carries after impact is pretty good and at the moment is playing better at international level compared to his superleague version.

I saw a lot of effort from Hill, but he did nothing special. Burgess was sensational and England were walking forward in that stage of the game. There's more to the game than trundling the ball in a few times. The drop off came through England starting to overplay and dropping the ball three or four times. He's doing okay, but I don't rate Hill at all.



McIllorum was terrible again.

ignore me you arrogant tw*t,I have forgot more than you know. Lees is lightweight for a prop not as good as the others that Wane has picked,he got mullered a couple of times today,did you go I did and shouted and was very happy for Tommy maybe you should show some courtesy to the Wigan players.Thought Batty had his best game so far.

Yet we keep winning