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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
David Craven

Shaun Wane warns England stars in Rugby League World Cup year as training squad named

Strict England boss Shaun Wane has warned players he is watching them on and OFF the field in World Cup year - and they will pay for any slip-ups.

His first 30-man training squad of the season has seven uncapped players including rising Wigan Warriors star Kai Pearce-Paul, St Helens youngster Lewis Dodd and Leeds Rhinos centre Harry Newman.

Also, Hull KR winger Ryan Hall - England’s record try-scorer continually overlooked since Wane took over two years ago - is deservedly recalled aged 34.

It offers an early glimpse into the sort of side the national coach hopes will end 50 years of World Cup hurt for England.

But Wane has reminded everyone plenty can happen between now and when the delayed tournament kicks-off in October - especially if discipline drops.

Shaun Wane will lead England's Rugby League World Cup campaign and his named his first training squad of the season (GETTY)

“I speak to lots of people, always the head coach or people who know certain players,” he said.

“I’ll always ask ‘is he a good bloke, what’s he like off the field?’

“I want good people in camp. We’re spending seven weeks there so I need to know they are the right people.

“I’m different from coaches they have had in the past and the players will be a little shocked about how we’re behaving in camp.

“So they need to be really respectful, really well-behaved and I keep a check on that throughout the year.”

Ryan Hall has been handed a deserved England recall (Getty Images)

With the RFL’s much-publicised clamp-down on foul play this season, he is also telling players of how they need to stay squeaky clean on the field.

Hull FC captain Luke Gale is serving a five-game ban although Wane said the scrum-half - who played for England in the 2017 World Cup final - had not made his squad anyway.

“You look at how many players have been suspended and we need to make sure everything is good for the World Cup,” added the ex-Wigan chief.

“I’m speaking to the players regularly about discipline.

“I don’t want to get against Samoa in Newcastle and we can’t get through a set without giving away a penalty: I want our discipline absolutely spot-on.

“You can dig deeper and deeper about players’ feet position and technique. A lot of our penalties come from players chasing tackles because the detail has been lacking.

“I know the Super League clubs, head coaches and junior coaches have done a great job making sure our players have the fundamentals really good.

“But it’s about having that concentration every single week.

Harry Newman of Leeds Rhinos has been included in the 30-man training squad (PA)

“There’s certain things an England player must do in terms of efforts - and it’s probably different to many clubs.

“I want and demand our players to show that week in week out.”

Others to miss out again are Hull playmaker Jake Connor and Warrington Wolves half-back Gareth Widdop while KR’s Jordan Abdull is omitted from the side that defeated France in October.

But Wane insisted the door is not shut for anyone.

England training squad : John Bateman (Wigan Warriors), Daryl Clark, Mike Cooper, Ben Currie (all Warrington Wolves), Thomas Davies (Catalans Dragons), Lewis Dodd (St Helens), Niall Evalds (Castleford Tigers), Liam Farrell (Wigan Warriors), Ryan Hall (Hull KR), Zak Hardaker (Wigan Warriors), Morgan Knowles (St Helens), Kruise Leeming (Leeds Rhinos), Matthew Lees, Jonny Lomax (both St Helens), Reece Lyne (Wakefield Trinity), Jermaine McGillvary (Huddersfield Giants), Paul McShane (Castleford Tigers), Tommy Makinson (St Helens), Liam Marshall (Wigan Warriors), Harry Newman, Mikolaj Oledzki (both Leeds Rhinos), Kai Pearce-Paul (Wigan Warriors), Mark Percival (St Helens), Stefan Ratchford (Warrington Wolves), Dan Sarginson (Salford Red Devils), Sam Tomkins (Catalans Dragons), Alex Walmsley (St Helens), Jake Wardle (Huddersfield Giants), Jack Welsby (St Helens), George Williams (Warrington Wolves).

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