Brothers-in-arms lead Scotland bid
SCOTLAND have named seven uncapped players in their World Cup squad, including brothers Kane and Andrew Bentley of Toulouse Olympique.
They will be joined in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea by a clutch of Super League stars including Warrington full-back Matthew Russell, Wigan winger Lewis Tierney, St Helens prop Luke Douglas and Scotland’s most-capped player, Huddersfield playmaker Danny Brough.
They are among 14 players who retain their places from last year’s Four Nations squad but NRL Grand Finalists Lachlan Coote and Kane Linnett miss out through injury along with Leigh hooker Liam Hood and Penrith Panthers pivot Peter Wallace.
The Bravehearts are also without centre Joe Wardle, who is remaining in the UK for family reasons having joined Castleford from Newcastle Knights, while MISSION: McCormack has a young and exciting squad prop Adam Walker drugs ban.
It is the youngest Scotland squad to head to a World Cup but the core of the side who reached the 2013 quarter-finals and held New Zealand to a draw in the Four Nations last autumn has been included.
Head coach Steve McCormack said: “It is a young squad but that’s exciting. We’re under no illusions how tough it’s going to be, but I also know it’s going to be fantastic.”
WIGAN have signed highlyrated forward Gabriel Hamlin from South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Hamlin, 20, was is serving a recommended by contacts in Australia, and Warriors head coach Shaun Wane said: “We are always on the lookout for talented players with a real determination to improve. We all believe Gabriel is a talented forward who can fulfil his potential here.” Leigh have signed Samoa centre Peter Mata’utia on a three-year contract from Newcastle Knights despite their relegation to the Championship. The 26-year-old was everpresent for the Knights in 2017, scoring seven tries in 24 appearances. Mata’utia, the eldest of four brothers to play for Newcastle, has had two spells with the club either side of two years with St George Illawarra Dragons. “This is a significant signing for the club,” said Leigh owner Derek Beaumont as the Centurions pursue an immediate return to Super League next year.