Arabic version: استبعاد كونور من تشكيلة إنجلترا لكأس العالم واختيار لويس

According to BBC News, Jake Connor has been left out of England’s Rugby League World Cup squad, while Hull KR half-back Mikey Lewis has been selected. Lewis joins England captain George Williams and Wigan’s Harry Smith among the half-back options chosen by head coach Brian McDermott.

Leeds Rhinos half-back Connor, 31, was the 2025 Super League Man of Steel and had been expected to make the final squad after a strong domestic season. He provided 43 assists during the completed Super League campaign, more than any other player. His omission follows his controversial absence from the England squad for last autumn’s home series against Australia.

McDermott had said last month that he would probably take three half-backs to the World Cup, with Warrington stand-off Williams one of them. In April, after taking the England job, McDermott said Connor was part of his World Cup plans. He described Connor as a “game-breaker” and said the narrative around the Leeds player had been “tremendously unfair”.

The squad includes first call-ups for Sydney Roosters versatile back Hugo Savala, Brisbane Broncos front-rower Ben Talty and Bulldogs prop Max King. Savala and Talty are Australia-born, while King was born in Huddersfield when his father David was playing there. Wigan supply seven players, including Man of Steel winner Brad O’Neill and uncapped centre Zach Eckersley, while Warrington have Matty Ashton, Ben Currie and Williams selected. Wakefield have no representatives, with Tom Johnstone needing time to recover from injury problems and Caleb Hamlin-Uele also omitted through injury.