IN-FORM DUO EARN CALL-UP

England head coach Wayne Bennett proves he has his eye on the ball

IT cannot be argued that England coach Wayne Bennett does not pick on form.

Uncapped Castleford Tigers duo Greg Eden and Paul McShane – undoubtedly two of Super League’s leading players this term – are the headline names in his revised 27-man elite performance squad.

Prolific winger Eden has scored 28 tries in just 17 games since joining from Brisbane Broncos, is the competition’s leading scorer and has currently amassed four hat-tricks in as many matches.

Ex-Leeds Rhinos and Wakefield Trinity hooker McShane, meanwhile, has clearly been Super League’s finest rake with the 27-year-old’s performances central to guiding Castleford to the top of the table.

Tigers have six players in Bennett’s squad which is matched only by Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves.

St Helens’ Alex Walmsley – named in the 19-man squad for the mid-season Test versus Samoa in Sydney but not the original 31-man EPS squad named in January – is another addition along with club-mate Tommy Makinson.

Leeds Rhinos’ Brett Ferres has been omitted along with Hull FC duo Jamie Shaul and Danny Houghton, Huddersfield Giants’ Leroy Cudjoe and Saints pair Matty Smith and Kyle Amor.

A recent inclusion in England’s preparation plans is a warmup game on October 20 at nib Stadium in Perth – where the squad will be based pre-World Cup – against an Affiliated States side made up of players from Western Australia, Victoria, South Australia and the Northern Territory.

Bennett said: “The total number of the squad has been reduced but that’s not to say that the door isn’t open. The 13 Super League players that travelled over for the Samoa Test have been included again; I want them to share their experiences.”