McNamara starts squad building

England coach Steve McNamara has called up 10 Engage Super League players to the fall-out squad that will train ahead of the Four Nations tournament in Australia and New Zealand this autumn.

The 10 players will also prepare for the charity match against Cumbria in aid of the family of Garry Purdham which will be played at Whitehaven on Sunday October 3.

The 10 players are: Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Tony Clubb, Ben Jones Bishop (all Harlequins); Joe Westerman, Michael Shenton (both Castleford Tigers); Jodie Broughton (Salford City Reds); Jamie Langley, Andy Lynch, Nick Scruton and Paul Sykes (all Bradford Bulls).

In addition, McNamara has named Sam Burgess in the squad after his Australian club South Sydney failed to make the NRL play-offs. Burgess will remain in Australia and, if selected, will join the rest of the Four Nations squad en route to New Zealand on Saturday October 9.

Further players will be added to England’s fall-out squad as teams are eliminated from the Engage Super League play-offs.

Steve McNamara will announce his 24-man squad for the Four Nations at a media conference on Monday October 4.