Blake Austin receives call-up to England Elite Performance Squad

Drew Darbyshire 15 Jul 2019 2:05 PM

Warrington star Blake Austin has been included in a revised England Elite Performance Squad for the rest of 2019.

Austin, a 28-year-old who was born in Sydney, qualifies for England through his maternal grandmother, and is leading the voting for the Steve Prescott Man of Steel Award in his first season in Super League after joining the Wolves from Canberra Raiders.

The EPS will meet for the third time this year in early August, maintaining the focus on the 2021 Rugby League World Cup with a shorter-term goal of England’s participation in the World Cup Nines in Sydney in October, before a Great Britain Performance Squad is selected in September.

Four players have dropped out from the first EPS of 2019 that was announced in March: Kallum Watkins, as a result of his move from Leeds to the Gold Coast, because the EPS does not include players from the NRL; Joe Greenwood and Robbie Mulhern, who have dropped down to the Knights Performance Squad that was announced earlier today; and Castleford’s Adam Milner.

England Elite Performance Squad (all players listed with professional and community club):

Luke Gale (Castleford Tigers, Middleton Marauders)

Jake Trueman (Castleford Tigers, West Bowling)

Liam Watts (Castleford Tigers, Featherstone Lions)

Sam Tomkins (Catalans Dragons, Wigan St Patricks)

Jermaine McGillvary (Huddersfield Giants, Deighton Juniors)

Jake Connor (Hull FC, Siddal)

Jamie Shaul (Hull FC, Skirlaugh)

Scott Taylor (Hull FC, Skirlaugh)

Stevie Ward (Leeds Rhinos, Hunslet Warriors)

Jonny Lomax (St Helens, Orrell St James)

Tommy Makinson (St Helens, Wigan St Judes)