Wigan and Huddersfield have three newcomers in England Knights Performance Squad

Wigan and Huddersfield have three newcomers in the England Knights Performance Squad.

Dom Manfredi, Liam Marshall and Joe Bullock join Wigan team-mates Tom Davies and Sam Powell in the Knights’ squad.

Matty English, Adam O’Brien and Darnell McIntosh have been called up to the squad, along with Oliver Roberts and Kruise Leeming, who retain their places in the Knights’ squad.

Salford back-rower Josh Jones, St Helens front-rower Jack Ashworth, Castleford utility Alex Foster and Leeds forward Cameron Smith are the other four newcomers.

The KPS will join the 30-man England Performance Squad at their first get together of the season next month, and will hold a number of other sessions this year.

The Knights will play at least one home fixture this autumn, when the senior Great Britain squad are on tour in the Southern Hemisphere.

England Knights coach Paul Anderson commented: “We think this is an exciting group of players, all of whom know from their selection that they are very much in the thoughts of the England coaches.

“Involvement in the Knights set-up gives them the chance to impress, as has been shown by the England debuts made by so many players from the KPS last year, and the inclusion in this year’s England Performance Squad of Robbie Mulheron and our 2018 captain Jack Hughes.

“The trip to Papua New Guinea last year was such a memorable trip for all of us but also a massive benefit both physically and mentally as we develop elite level players for future tournaments, building towards the 2021 and 2025 World Cups.”

England Knights Performance Squad in full:

Alex Foster (Castleford Tigers, Wetherby Bulldogs)

Oliver Holmes (Castleford Tigers, Normanton Knights)

Greg Minikin (Castleford Tigers, Wetherby Bulldogs)

Matt Whitley (Catalans Dragons, Bold Miners)

Matt English (Huddersfield Giants, Stanley Rangers)

Kruise Leeming (Huddersfield Giants, Siddal)

Darnell McIntosh (Huddersfield Giants, Dewsbury Celtic)

Adam O’Brien (Huddersfield Giants, Siddal)

Oliver Roberts (Huddersfield Giants, Siddal)

Chris Atkin (Hull KR, Liverpool John Moores University)

Dean Hadley (Hull FC, Skirlaugh)

Masimbaashe Matongo (Hull FC, West Hull)

Ash Handley (Leeds Rhinos, Oulton Raiders)

Mikolaj Oledzki (Leeds Rhinos, Hunslet Warriors)

Cameron Smith (Leeds Rhinos, Lock Lane)

Liam Sutcliffe (Leeds Rhinos, Hunslet Warriors)

Jack Walker (Leeds Rhinos, Oulton Raiders)

Niall Evalds (Salford Red Devils, Siddal)

Josh Jones (Salford Red Devils, Blackbrook Royals)

Jack Ashworth (St Helens, Rochdale Mayfield)

Matt Lees (St Helens, Rochdale Mayfield)

Danny Richardson (St Helens, Halton Farnworth Hornets)

James Batchelor (Wakefield Trinity, Crigglestone All Blacks)

Toby King (Warrington Wolves, Meltham All Blacks)

Tom Lineham (Warrington Wolves, York RUFC)

Harvey Livett (Warrington Wolves, Rylands Sharks)

Dec Patton (Warrington Wolves, Latchford Giants)

Joe Philbin (Warrington Wolves, Culcheth Eagles)

Danny Walker (Warrington Wolves, Rylands Sharks)

Joe Bullock (Wigan Warriors, Blackpool Scorpions)

Tom Davies (Wigan Warriors, Wigan St Patricks)

Liam Marshall (Wigan Warriors, Wigan St Patricks)

Dom Manfredi (Wigan Warriors, Leigh Miners)

Sam Powell (Wigan Warriors, Wigan St Patricks)