Jake Connor's international exile has deepened after the Leeds Rhinos playmaker was omitted from Brian McDermott's 23-player England squad for the Rugby League World Cup, continuing a selection puzzle that has frustrated supporters and analysts alike.
The decision represents a second consecutive snub for the 31-year-old, who was controversially left out of Shaun Wane's squad for last autumn's Ashes series on home soil, a campaign that ended in a 3-0 defeat to Australia. Connor's omission comes despite an outstanding Super League season in which he topped the assist charts with 43 contributions, and despite winning the Man of Steel award the previous year.
McDermott, who took over the England role following Wane's departure earlier this year, had previously offered a robust defence of Connor's character and ability.
I think the rhetoric and the narrative around Jake was tremendously unfair. I understand where Jake Connor comes from in that he's liked by some and disliked by others. OK, that comes in the nature of the game. We could sit around a table and debate whether he's a nice person or not. I just don't think that's a fair narrative to be made public and that was the rhetoric around him. What nobody can argue is that he's a tremendous player. He's a fantastic player. He's a game-breaker.
However, McDermott's final selection has moved in a different direction. According to BBC Sport, the coach said Connor missed out "by a small margin" because he judged other players better suited to the game plan. Hull KR fullback Mikey Lewis has been selected ahead of him.
The squad includes four World Cup debutants making their first appearance in the tournament: Zach Eckersley, Sam Walters, Hugo Savala and Max King. According to NRL.com, England's named team for the World Cup opener features AJ Brimson at fullback, with Hugo Savala and Victor Radley also included in the side.
England's campaign begins in earnest as part of a 10-team tournament that features the eight quarter-finalists from 2021, plus France and Cook Islands, who qualified through global tournaments. The squad will be tested immediately in a challenging group-stage schedule.
Group stage fixtures and opening challenge
England's path through the tournament is set, with group-stage fixtures against Tonga on 17 October, France on 24 October and Papua New Guinea on 30 October. The opening match against Tonga carries particular significance as McDermott's men look to establish momentum early.
The tournament itself will be staged across Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea during October and November, with England seeking to improve on their recent record. The nation finished as runners-up in 1975, 1995 and 2017, and reached the semi-finals on home soil in 2021 before suffering a defeat by Samoa.
What lies ahead
England will open their campaign against Tonga on Saturday 17 October at HBF Park in Perth, with kick-off scheduled for 10:05am UK time. McDermott's tactical approach has already drawn backing from within the squad, with halfback Harry Smith insisting England possess the winning mentality needed to claim the World Cup despite being underdogs.
