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Tomorrow’s opening test match with New Zealand will signal the arrival of a new breed of exciting young English talent onto the international stage.

The likes of Zak Hardaker, John Bateman, George Williams and Elliott Whitehead have the chance to become stars of our sport when they face the number one ranked team in the world.

Super League clubs haven’t been able to sign the quality of overseas players they have in the past in recent years, and that has seen a focus on developing young British talent.

We’ve seen quite a few of them make the step up at club level - now it’s their chance in the international game.

Losing Sam Tomkins through injury is a blow for England - it always is when you lose world class players, and it was the same with Sam Burgess .

But the form that Zak Hardaker has been in for Leeds this year will hep to nullify that.

(Image: Chris Brunskill / Getty)

Zak has progressed from being Young Player of the Year, to being Leeds’ Player of the Year and then Man of the Steel.

Now is his time to lay down a marker on the international stage.

I thought John Bateman finished the season playing as well as anyone in the competition, and George Williams is an exciting player - I hope they pick him again because I think will relish the step up to test match level.

If Elliott Whitehead gets the opportunity he’s another one who could have a big impact - he’s been Catalans’ best player for a number of years and I’m excited to see him run out for England with the full backing of his coach.

These guys will get to play live on the BBC on a Sunday evening - and that’s important for our internationals.

Sky Sports have been great for rugby league, there’s no doubt about that.

(Image: Daniel Smith)

But if we want players to become household names and to develop strong commercial partners, then we need to play our international games on free-to-air terrerstial TV.

New Zealand are missing quite a few star players, but they still have three men who would walk into any World XIII.

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is as good as any full-back in the world and can change a game in a split second.

Up front they have Jesse Bromwich at prop and Issac Luke at hooker, both who are world class.

(Image: Jamie McDonald)

I played against Bromwich when Leeds faced Melbourne in the World Club Challenge, and he was the one player we found too difficult to handle.

He’s a big man that has outstanding footwork, and that makes him difficult to stop.

But that kind of defence will be the key to England winning the game.

Most of the Kiwi forwards are big with good footwork, and how to deal with that will be something that England have looked at all week.

Those kind of players bend your defensive line and get quick play-the-balls, which allows Isaac Luke to cause damage.

He’s as good as anybody in the game at running from dummy half in those situations.

If England can control that, then they can win the game.