Connor must start – but he needs to have a controlling influence next to him in team

ENGLAND head coach Wayne Bennett has named his 19-man squad for tomorrow’s clash against New Zealand at the KCOM Stadium but there are still some big questions left.

The biggest issues come from his plans in the halves. Those roles are up in the air and there has been massive turnover in the position since the World Cup final last December.

Kevin Brown started in the halves in the final defeat to Australia but has retired from international rugby league, while Luke Gale has been ruled out due to injury. Gareth Widdop, who started at full-back in the final, could have featured in the halves during the series but is also out injured.

This leaves three maverick sort of players in Bennett’s 19-man squad and one with a more calming influence.

Richie Myler may be on our books at Map Sports player agency but that doesn’t sway my opinion. In my eyes he fits the bill as the controlling half-back who should play alongside Hull FC star Jake Connor.

The likes of George Williams, Connor and Sam Tomkins are very off the cuff. There needs to be an organiser to keep things ticking over in there. I would like to see Connor given the freedom and Myler handed the strings.

Gale would have been that controlling influence if he was fit but Myler could well fall into that category without the Castleford Tigers’ star available.

Both Connor and Tomkins also have that versatility aspect to them as well so I wouldn’t be surprised to see either of them on the bench if they don’t start against the Kiwis.

I’m sure that Connor will be involved in the first Test match. He has done enough in the last two games to start. You are only as good as your recent form and he has been the standout player for England during this year’s international campaign.

Playing someone alongside Connor like Myler will fit well like it did in the first half against France last Wednesday. I know people will criticise me because of my associations with Richie but it’s still my opinion regardless.

If you play any of the other combinations between Connor, Tomkins and Williams you’d be going in without that calming influence.

There will be limited opportunities against a strong Kiwi defence so maybe playing two off-the-cuff players might work but looking at how Bennett has deployed his halves in the past, I’d expect a more controlling option to hopefully support Connor.