Twitter Talk: Fans react to England squad being announced
England head coach Wayne Bennett named his 24-man squad that he will take to the 2017 Rugby League World Cup and fans have mixed views on the selection.
Sean O’Loughlin will captain the side while Steve Prescott Man of Steel winner Luke Gale and Dally M Half-Back of the Year, Gareth Widdop, have also been named in the squad.
Only two wingers have been picked in Jermaine McGillvary and Ryan Hall while only two out and out centres have been picked as well in Kallum Watkins and Mark Percival.
James Roby has been put back in the squad, with St Helens teammate Alex Walmsley also set to make his first international appearance this autumn.
Bennett has named NRL stars Sam Burgess, Tom Burgess, James Graham, Chris Heighington, Josh Hodgson and Elliott Whitehead in his squad as well.
A reminder of the 24-man England squad: John Bateman (Wigan Warriors), Kevin Brown (Warrington Wolves), Sam Burgess (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Tom Burgess (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Ben Currie (Warrington Wolves), Luke Gale (Castleford Tigers), James Graham (St George Illawarra Dragons), Ryan Hall (Leeds Rhinos), Chris Heighington (Cronulla Sharks), Chris Hill (Warrington Wolves), Josh Hodgson (Canberra Raiders), Jonny Lomax (St Helens), Jermaine McGillvary (Huddersfield Giants), Mike McMeeken (Castleford Tigers), Sean O’Loughlin (Wigan Warriors), Mark Percival (St Helens), Stefan Ratchford (Warrington Wolves), James Roby (St Helens), Scott Taylor (Hull FC), Alex Walmsley (St Helens), Kallum Watkins (Leeds Rhinos), Elliott Whitehead (Canberra Raiders), Gareth Widdop (St George Illawarra Dragons), George Williams (Wigan Warriors).
Here’s how you reacted to the selected squad being announced:
Kevin Brown is a joke! Eden very unlucky
— jon finney (@jonfin1) October 9, 2017
Why no @TommyMak21 the lad is class! Very strange squad selection.
— Karl Fishwick (@KarlTheJarl1) October 9, 2017
Looks like Wayne Bennett has watched all of about 5 minutes of Super League rugby this year then…
— Oliver Annis (@OllyAnnis) October 9, 2017
How is @GregEden1 not in this team ??
— Joe Harrison (@JoeHarrison91) October 9, 2017
Congratulations to all the players who’ve been selected.
I have to ask what more Jamie Shaul & Liam Watts have to do to be selected
— Richard Kelly (@RKelly6of6) October 9, 2017
No idea why Heighington is in any #England squad. Brown 'fortunate'. Pleased to see Currie. Disappointed for Shenton & Shaul #rugbyleague
— Andrew Donnelly (@the__don_) October 9, 2017
I wuda took Tomkins infront ov lomax n ratchford at fb and thers only 2 centres n 2 wingers there
— benny horan (@benhoran88) October 9, 2017
Got to be the worst English squad to go to a world cup for a while. Picked on name rather than form.
— Mike (@mjw241989) October 9, 2017
Only 2 specialist centres? Think Shenton is unlucky not to be in there.
— Paul Marshall (@pdmarshall) October 9, 2017
Not sure how with a 24-man squad, but I'd have found room for Tomkins, Gildart and Shenton if I was picking that England squad.
— Tom Bramwell (@tmbrmwll) October 9, 2017
What do you think of the squad selection? Let us know in the comments below.
