Connor snubbed as England unveil Rugby League World Cup squad
England head coach Brian McDermott has named his Rugby League World Cup squad, leaving out Jake Connor while handing a half-back spot to Mikey Lewis.
England head coach Brian McDermott has confirmed the squad for the upcoming Rugby League World Cup, and the headline news is the absence of Leeds Rhinos half-back Jake Connor from the final selection.
Connor, 31, was named Super League's Man of Steel for 2025 and topped the competition's assist charts with 43 during the season just finished — more than any other player. He had widely been tipped to make the squad after McDermott spoke positively about him and following a strong club campaign.
Lewis gets the nod
Instead, Hull KR's Mikey Lewis has taken the half-back berth, despite a season at club level that was described as inconsistent. McDermott said Lewis had done enough to earn his place alongside captain George Williams of Warrington and Wigan's Harry Smith as the squad's half-back options.
It marks a second successive England setback for Connor, who was also controversially left out of the squad for last autumn's home series against Australia.
The full England squad named for the World Cup includes Matty Ashton, AJ Brimson, Ben Currie, Zach Eckersley, Herbie Farnworth, Ethan Havard, Max King, Morgan Knowles, Lewis, Jez Litten, Junior Nsemba, Brad O'Neill, Kai Pearce-Paul, Victor Radley, Hugo Savala, Harry Smith, Morgan Smithies, Luke Thompson, Sam Walters, Ben Talty, Jack Welsby, Williams and Dom Young.
