The Independent

Australian-born McQueen included in England squad

- BEN BURROWS

Australian-born forward Chris McQueen is the surprise name in England's 20-man squad for the midseason internatio­nal against Samoa.

Coach Wayne Bennett has handed the 29-year-old Wests Tigers back-rower his first call-up ahead of the one-off Test in Sydney on Saturday May 6.

Former South Sydney and Gold Coast Titans star McQueen's selection is something of a controvers­ial choice having represente­d Queensland six times in State of Origin but qualifies for England through his father.

The move has echoes of Ben Te'o's call-up to this summer's British and Irish Lions' tour of his native New Zealand.

McQueen was approached to play for England in the 2013 World Cup but rejected it in the hope of winning Origin honours and he went on to play in six consecutiv­e matches for the Maroons from 2013-14 and make a second appearance for an Australian Prime Minister's XIII against Papua New Guinea.

There is also a recall for another Australia-born forward, Chris Heighingto­n, who was last selected under Steve McNamara in 2011, while Wigan loose forward Sean O'Loughlin returns to the squad as captain after missing the 2016 Four Nations tournament through injury.

Full squad:

S Burgess (South Sydney), T Burgess (South Sydney), L Gale (Castleford), J Graham (Canterbury Bulldogs), R Hall (Leeds), Z Hardaker (Castleford), C Heighingto­n (Cronulla), C Hill (Warrington), J Hodgson (Canberra), J McGillvary (Huddersfie­ld), M McMeeken (Castleford), C McQueen (Gold Coast), S O'Loughlin (Wigan, capt), M Percival (St Helens), S Taylor (Hull), A Walmsley (St Helens), K Watkins (Leeds), E Whitehead (Canberra), G Widdop (St George Illawarra), G Williams (Wigan).

 ?? (Getty) ?? Chris McQueen is the headline inclusion in Wayne Bennett’s squad to face Samoa next month
(Getty) Chris McQueen is the headline inclusion in Wayne Bennett’s squad to face Samoa next month
 ?? (Getty) ?? McQueen was the surprise name in Wayne Bennett's 20-man squad
(Getty) McQueen was the surprise name in Wayne Bennett's 20-man squad

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