Reformed Hardaker handed a shock call by Bennett
ZAK HARDAKER is a shock inclusion in Wayne Bennett’s Great Britain squad – just two years after missing England’s World Cup Down Under due to a drugs ban.
The Wigan Warriors full-back is a surprise selection in the 24man squad to tour New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
Bennett has picked Australianborn half-backs – newly-crowned Man of Steel Jackson Hastings and Warrington Wolves’ Blake Austin – as well as Scotland fullback Lachlan Coote and Ireland back-row Joe Philbin.
However, they were all mooted beforehand whereas ex-Leeds Rhinos star Hardaker has not been involved in any of Bennett’s England or Great Britain squads since being tested positive for cocaine while at Castleford Tigers in September 2017.
The England star was sacked and eventually handed a 14-month ban, only making his comeback for Wigan this season.
Pontefract-born Hardaker, 27, has impressed for the Warriors without quite reaching the heights of his Man of Steel form with Leeds in 2015 or Castleford two years ago.
However, he has come in from nowhere to claim a seat on the plane to fly out to Sydney tomorrow perhaps with his ability to play centre influencing Bennett’s call.
The coach has only selected two natural centres – Hull FC’s Jake Connor and Wigan’s Oliver Gildart – after St Helens’ Mark Percival was injured in Saturday’s Grand Final win.
Saints team-mates James Roby, Tommy Makinson and Morgan Knowles are all not selected due to injuries.
Bennett has picked SIX halfbacks while prop James Graham – the only surviour from the last Great Britain team that played in 2007 – will captain the Lions.
He said: “It was pretty tough (selection) actually, with a lot of players in contention.
“A couple of guys got injured and that’s taken a bit of the pressure off, and given a couple of other guys opportunities.”
Elsewhere, Hull KR have signed forward Kyle Trout on a 12-month deal.
GREAT BRITAIN 24-man squad: Graham (c), Widdop, Austin, Clark, Hill, Hughes, Philbin, Bateman, Hodgson, Whitehead, T Burgess, Connor, Coote, Lomax, Thompson, Walmsley, Gildart, Hardaker, Williams, Hastings, Jones, Hall, McGillvary, Trueman.