Knights call
SALFORD full-back Niall Evalds has retained his place in the England Knights team for the international clash with Jamaica this weekend.
The 26-year-old has been one of the Red Devils’ star performers during their drive to the Grand Final at Old Trafford, starring in both defence and attack, most notably when producing the remarkable last-ditch try-saving tackle on Jordan Rankin in the Elimination Final against Castleford.
Evalds was part of the Knights touring party that played three matches in Papua New Guinea at the end of last season and has retained his spot in the side despite suggestions he may have done enough over the course of the year to earn a call-up to the Great Britain Lions or England World Cup Nines sides.
Salford will also be represented in the opposition, with winger Greg Johnson set to feature for Jamaica, while ex-Red Devils Mason Caton-Brown and Ben Jones-Bishop have also been called up by the Reggae Warriors.
Joining Evalds in the Knights squad are a quintet from Wigan, with Joe Greenwood, Oliver Partington and Sam Powell joined by teenage duo Harry Smith and Morgan Smithies.
Warrington’s Toby King and Tom Lineham are included in the 19-man group, which will be coached by former Huddersfield Giants boss Paul Anderson.
“I think this squad shows why it was so important for the Knights to play this autumn,” said Anderson. “You can see from the Great Britain squad selected yesterday how much guys like Jack Hughes and Joe Philbin benefited from going to Papua New Guinea with the Knights last year.
“The other part of the pathway is young players such as Harry Newman, Harry Smith and Morgan Smithies coming up from the academy after outstanding performances against the Australian Schoolboys last autumn, and then building on that with their club performances this season. “The average age of the squad is only 22, and 12 of the 19 will be hoping to win their first Knights cap. That makes it an exciting squad to be around, and with attractive opposition in Jamaica, we hope rugby league supporters will be keen to watch our next generation in international action next weekend.” Ahead of the Sunday afternoon fixture, the England team over in Australia will compete in the inaugural World Cup Nines on Friday and Saturday and former Wigan Warriors forward Ryan Sutton is expecting it to be a popular event.
“It’s something new and exciting,” said the Canberra Raiders prop. “It’s a lot quicker of a game, with less players and free interchanges.
“It’s good to get a different concept. You play 13-a-side all year and just to have something a bit different, it’ll be something a lot of the lads here are looking forward to, especially on an international level where you’re playing against the best players in the world.” Paul Anderson