Hanley hails non-playing Parcell: I would’ve given him man of match

Combined Nations All Stars coach Ellery Hanley paid tribute to Matt Parcell after he missed out on selection due to the inclusions of Daryl Clark and Kruise Leeming.

Hull KR hooker Parcell was named in Hanley’s wider squad at the start of the week but then lost out on selection in the matchday squad due to the inclusions of Daryl Clark and Kruise Leeming, who were omitted from Wane’s squad.

Clark and Leeming were given an opportunity to stake their claims for spots in Wane’s England squad for the World Cup. The All Stars fell short to an 18-4 defeat to Wane’s England side in Warrington.

Speaking to Love Rugby League after the game, Hanley said: “First of all, can I just mention Matt Parcell? I had a conversation with him during the week to tell him he was going to be left out.

“He’s been so professional around the camp and deserves a huge mention. I’ve got enormous respect for him as a player, he has been playing brilliantly well at Hull KR.

“When I gave him the news that he wasn’t playing he didn’t go to his room and sulk. To me, that’s important because it shows his character and what kind of grown up person he is.

“He took it with humanity. He was brilliant in terms of speaking to the other number nines and about doing things we wanted to do on the footy paddock. His attitude was fantastic.”

Hanley: I would have given Parcell man of the match

Hanley continued: “The understanding from him was magnificent. I would give him man of the match, although he didn’t play but because of how he carried himself.

“It was an unfortunate situation in the sense that you had Daryl Clark and Kruise Leeming. I felt I had to give the opportunity to play in a World Cup. It is a four-way race with Michael McIlorum and Paul McShane there as well.

“Matt understand that and that made the job a lot of easier for me that he was able to accept it that them two players had a chance of lining up in the World Cup and Matt didn’t and he understood that.”

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