Leeds Rhinos stars 'putting their hand up' for England World Cup selection says coach Brad Arthur
A host of Leeds Rhinos players are putting their hand up for England World Cup contention, coach Brad Arthur reckons.
Rhinos’ Mikolaj Oledzki, Kallum Watkins and Harry Newman represented England during last year’s Ashes series and Ash Handley, Tom Holroyd and James McDonnell were part of the train-on squad. With Leeds sitting top of Betfred Super League a third of the way into season, Arthur feels a host of his players could be involved in the upcoming tournament in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
Arthur was an unsuccessful applicant for the England coaching job which has gone to former Rhinos boss Brian McDermott, now an assistant at NRL outfit Gold Coast Titans. McDermott has already confirmed scrum-half Jake Connor, who was snubbed by then-boss Shaun Wane last year despite being named Man of Steel, is in his plans.
Asked after Friday’s 46-4 hammering of Catalans Dragons who he would recommend to McDermott, Arthur said: “Every one of our guys at the moment who are English. They are all doing a good job in their positions.
“I think all our boys have put their hand up. It is only round nine so we have got to continue to do that every week. You find with these sorts of things, team selection, they come from the teams at the top and doing well. The more they keep doing their job and the better the team keeps performing each week, they will get their opportunities at the back end of the year.”