Leeds Rhinos' Mikolaj Oledzki sits out England World Cup warm-up as new captain is named
Leeds Rhinos prop Mikolaj Oledzki will sit out England’s World Cup warm-up game against Fiji at Salford on Friday.
The Polish-born forward, Leeds’ only representative in England’s 24-man World Cup squad, will be rested along with fellow Betfred Super League Grand Finalists Morgan Knowles, Matty Lees and Tommy Makinson, all of St Helens.
Former Rhinos winger Ryan Hall, now at Hull KR and centre/second-row Kallum Watkins, of Salford Red Devils, are included in coach Shaun Wane’s 22-man squad.
Castleford and Wakefield Trinity also have no involvement, though ex-Tigers duo Mike McMeeken, now at Catalans Dragons and Salford’s Marc Sneyd will feature.
The game at AJ Bell Stadium comes eight days before England begin their World Cup campaign against Samoa at Newcastle’s St James’s Park.
Wigan’s Liam Marshall, Sam Powell and Harry Smith, who are not in the World Cup squad, could all feature against Fiji, along with Jake Wardle, the Huddersfield Giants centre who ended the 2022 season on loan at Warrington Wolves.
Captain Sam Tomkins, of Catalans, is not selected and England will also be without forward John Bateman.
He is serving the second of a three-game ban imposed after being sent-off in Wigan’s Super League semi-final defeat by Rhinos.
All six of England’s NRL-based players, including new faces Dom Young, Victor Radley and Herbie Farnworth, will play in the warm-up game.
With Tomkins not included, Warrington Wolves half-back George Williams will lead England out against Fiji.
Williams admitted the captaincy was “a surprise”, but insisted: “It will be an unreal feeling, it will be the pinnacle of my career to captain my country. It’s something I will cherish and I’m really looking forward to.”
Samoa suffered a blow ahead of their World Cup opener against England when North Queensland Cowboys forward Luciano Leilua was stood down under the NRL’s no-fault policy after being charged over alleged domestic violence offences.
The 26-year-old second rower was named in Matt Parish’s 24-man squad and the coach has until Sunday to name a replacement.
England (v Fiji): from Ackers, Batchelor, Burgess, Cooper, Farnworth, Hall, Hill, Marshall, McIlorum, McMeeken, Pearce-Paul, Powell, Radley, Smith, Sneyd, Thompson, Wardle, Watkins, Welsby, Whitehead, Williams, Young.
Kick-off: Friday, 7.30pm, at Salford.