England name squad for Cumbria game
England coach Steve McNamara has named a 19-man squad for Sunday’s Garry Purdham Memorial Game at the Recreation Ground in Whitehaven. All 19 players will play against Cumbria on Sunday when McNamara is expecting a strong performance.
“We’re looking forward to Sunday, it’s an important game for lots of reasons and all the players are very keen to play,” said McNamara.
“A lot of these players haven’t played for a while and the game time will be invaluable.
“The stakes are very high for everone: we leave for the Four Nations next Friday and all the players know that places on the trip are still open.
“That’s a big incentive for everyone involved. There is also the fact that we are representing England, which means everything to the players, and the desire to do what we can for Garry’s family.”
McNamara has not drafted into his squad any of the Huddersfield Giants and Leeds Rhinos who were eliminated from the Engage Super League play-offs.
“We feel it’s important that we go to Cumbria and put in a performance to be proud of and to do that you need quality preparation,” explained McNamara.
“It wouldn’t be fair to the Leeds and Huddersfield players to select them for a game they haven’t had time to prepare for and it wouldn’t be fair on the Cumbrians to host an England team that didn’t do itself justice.
“I also have the players’ welfare to consider and from a mental and physical perspective it would be extremely tough for those guys to lift themselves.
“I have no doubts that this group of players is ready to go.”
England will be without Adrian Morley this weekend as the Warrington prop continues his rehabilitation from a minor back injury.
England squad to face Cumbria
Ryan Atkins (Warrington Wolves, Stanningley)
Tom Briscoe (Hull FC, Featherstone Lions)
Jodie Broughton (Salford City Reds, Milford)
Garreth Carvell (Warrington Wolves, Stanningley)
Tony Clubb (Harlequins RL, Greenwich Admirals)
Peter Fox (Hull KR, York Acorn)
Ben Harrison (Warrington Wolves, Barrow Island)
Mick Higham (Warrington Wolves, Leigh Miners)
Jamie Langley (Bradford Bulls, Normanton Knights)
Andy Lynch (Bradford Bulls, Kippax Welfare)
Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook (Harlequins RL, Greenwich Admirals)
Scott Murrell (Hull KR, Drighlington)
Richie Myler (Warrington Wolves, Halton West Bank)
Chris Riley (Warrington Wolves, Woolston)
Nick Scruton (Bradford Bulls, Churwell)
Michael Shenton (Castleford Tigers, Upton)
Paul Sykes (Bradford Bulls, Thornhill Trojans)
Joe Westerman (Castleford Tigers, Featherstone Lions)
Ben Westwood (Warrington Wolves, Normanton Knights)
Admission to the Garry Purdham memorial match will be by means of a special commemorative programme. The programme will be priced at £15 for adults and £5 for children. For more information or to order your programme please visit www.garrypurdham.co.uk.
