England leave Man of Steel Jake Connor out of World Cup squad
Jake Connor will miss England's Rugby League World Cup campaign after head coach Brian McDermott left him out of the 23-player squad. McDermott picked Hull KR's Mikey Lewis ahead of the Leeds Rhinos half-back, BBC reported.
It is a bold call. Connor is the 2025 Super League Man of Steel, the league's annual award for its best player. He ended the just-completed Super League season with 43 assists, the final passes that set up tries, more than any other player in the competition.
In league, half-backs are the playmakers who steer the attack with short passes and kicks. McDermott has gone with three of them. Captain George Williams, who plays stand-off, one of the two half-back roles, for Warrington, leads that group alongside Lewis and Wigan's Harry Smith.
Connor knows this feeling. He was also omitted from England's home series against Australia last autumn. His World Cup omission follows a recall in June after a seven-year absence from international rugby, when he was named in McDermott's initial 38-man performance pool, Rugby League reported.
Both Connor and Lewis spent the summer in that wider performance group. Hugo Savala, who was added to the group in August, has forced his way into the final 23. Wigan pair Sam Walters and Zach Eckersley were new faces in McDermott's first England selection in June and have kept their places for the World Cup.
The squad blends Super League regulars with overseas-based stars. Alongside Williams, Lewis and Smith are Matty Ashton, AJ Brimson, Ben Currie, Eckersley, Herbie Farnworth, Ethan Havard, Max King, Morgan Knowles, Jez Litten, Junior Nsemba, Brad O'Neill, Kai Pearce-Paul, Victor Radley, Savala, Morgan Smithies, Luke Thompson, Walters, Ben Talty, Jack Welsby and Dom Young.
What makes this stand out is the contrast between club production and international choice. Connor created more tries than anyone else in Super League this year. McDermott has backed Lewis to provide that spark in an England shirt instead.
For fans new to league, this is a classic selection argument. Do you pick the game's most creative passer, or the half-backs the coach trusts to manage field position and complete sets cleanly? England's answer is Lewis, Williams and Smith. The World Cup will test that judgment.
