Steve McNamara is in the process of selecting his squad for the Baskerville Shield, where England will take on New Zealand in a three-Test series. So who makes the cut and who misses out?

Here is my predicted 23-man squad.

1. Zak Hardaker (Leeds Rhinos, 1 Test)

Hardaker has had an outstanding season with Leeds, highlighted by his Man of Steel nomination and Challenge Cup win. The key man in the Rhinos’ second consecutive win at Wembley, Hardaker has been by far the best fullback in the 2015 Super League.

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He will be hoping to stamp his name among the best in his position by taking on the New Zealand Kiwis in their end-of-season Autumn Tour of England. Great in both attack and defence, Hardaker will be pivotal in Steve McNamara’s sides hopes of dismantling the number one ranked country.

Hardaker has been named in the 2015 Super League Dream Team, his second appearance after being included last season.

2. Josh Charnley (Wigan Warriors, 7 Tests)

Charnley is easily one of the best wingers in English rugby league. Having had yet another great season at the Warriors, he will form a lethal right edge alongside fellow Wigan player Joe Burgess to inject fear into the Kiwis.

Renowned for his speed, Charnley will use power to bustle past what is expected to be a relatively untested New Zealand flank and will prove a valuable asset on the wing for the Lions.

3. Kallum Watkins (Leeds Rhinos, 11 Tests)

What a season he has had! Kallum Watkins has been a standout for Leeds this year, earning his second Super League Dream Team appearance. The Folly Lane junior has been labelled ‘the best British centre’ by his teammate and rugby league legend Jamie Peacock.

At just 24 years of age, Peacock may be right. Watkins has already appeared in 11 Tests and has been pivotal in Leeds’ rise to league leaders this year, while winning the Challenge Cup two years straight. His Test cap tally isn’t going to stop at 11, McNamara will field him and watch him grow into one of the best English centres since Neil Fox.



4. Joe Burgess (Wigan Warriors, Uncapped)

Headed to the Sydney Roosters next season, Joe Burgess has had a great season on the wing for the Warriors that has put Wigan just 80 minutes away from a grand final berth. Being named in his first Super League Dream Team this year, Burgess is currently uncapped but should no doubt earn a Test jumper to cap off an outstanding season.

Just 20 years old, he is lethal in attack and has already played over 50 first grade games for Wigan. Burgess has been included as one of three nominees for the 2015 young player award.

5. Ryan Hall (Leeds Rhinos, 23 Tests)`

One of the most senior players in the squad, Hall recently came up with the winning play to break the deadlock in the thrilling Super Eights fixture against Huddersfield that saw Leeds secure the League Leaders Shield and end their Challenge Cup hangover.

One of the most lethal wingers both in attack and defence, Ryan ‘Thundercat’ Hall is the man McNamara will build his backline around. With Charnley and Burgess on one wing, Hall will team up with fellow Leeds star Kallum Watkins to make up yet another hard-to-stop flank to face the Kiwis.

6. Gareth Widdop (St George Illawarra Dragons, 14 Tests)

Provided he opts to play and delay post-season surgery, Gareth Widdop will provide the big-game experience to boost his country’s chances fresh off leading his St George Illawarra Dragons to an NRL finals appearance.

Widdop has been one of the most consistent halves in the NRL this season and is a proven performer on rugby league’s biggest stage. Widdop will help to guide fellow halves George Williams and to a lesser extent Matty Smith through the rigours of representing their country.

7. Matty Smith (Wigan Warriors, 3 Tests)

Smith has fast become one of the premier halves in the Super League. He is bound to make his mark on the world stage once again with a Test appearance for England. Whether he partners Gareth Widdop or George Williams, the Wigan scrum half will still provide plenty of scintillating plays and be a standout performer in the team.

McNamara is likely set to build his team around the 28-year-old St Helens junior.



8. Mike Cooper (St George Illawarra Dragons, Uncapped)

Cooper was outstanding up front for the Dragons this season enjoying a breakout year since arriving at the club from Warrington at the start of 2014.

At the age of 27, this tour appears to be his last opportunity to earn his England debut however, based on form he should earn a spot and be one of the first forwards selected. Whether he starts in the front row, at lock or comes off the bench; he will be one of the most impressive debutants on display and appears likely to secure a spot in the team that he could hold long-term.

9. Josh Hodgson (Canberra Raiders, 2 Tests)

In his first appearance for the national team during last year’s Four Nations tournament, Josh Hodgson was surrounded with intrigue as Australian rugby league fans watched the Raiders recruit in action. Now that he has become one of the National Rugby League’s best hookers, Hodgson is a definite inclusion in the England squad.

He had an outstanding debut season that saw him rated as one of the best buys of 2015. He’ll come crashing through the door and bring the spark and tenacity required to get England to their best.

10. James Graham (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, 25 Tests)

He is considered to be among the best forwards in the rugby league world and is by far the most passionate. Graham will return to England with all new assets after spending a season skippering his club, the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.

The red-head from the Merseyside will be one of the most important men in McNamara’s team and easily the opposition’s most feared. He is set to do it all again, with his nation running through his veins, Graham will provide the passion to lead his team to a series win over the world number one Kiwis.

11. Joel Tomkins (Wigan Warriors, 6 Tests)

Tomkins had a great tour during last year’s Four Nations and has warranted the form to keep him in the Test team. Set to combine with fellow Wigan backrowers Liam Farrell and Sean O’Loughlin once again, he will be one of the most senior players in the squad despite his relative inexperience at the international level.

He has been to the highest heights in both rugby codes, having also represented his nation in rugby union and knows what it takes not only to lead a team but also to win.



12. Liam Farrell (Wigan Warriors, 5 Tests)

A member of Wigan rugby league’s favourite family, Farrell has been a Test regular in recent years having also been a standout at club level.

While his cousin Owen has been putting in some solid showings for England at the Rugby World Cup, Liam will be hoping to do similar things for his country during the Baskerville Shield. He will want to show his worthiness of being chosen in the 2015 Super League Dream Team for the first time earlier this week.

Farrell will look to punch holes in the Kiwis’ defence and help to edge his halves closer to the tryline.

13. Sean O’Loughlin (Wigan Warriors, 11 Tests)

Last year, O’Loughlin skippered his country at the Four Nations and the Wigan legend is the man to do it again. It may be his last tour, no doubt he will be wanting to go out on a high and he has the group around him to do just that. England came close last year to defeating the Kiwis in Dunedin, but this year have a much better group.

O’Loughlin must lead from the front, but not exclusively. By enlisting the help of James Graham, McNamara may opt to demote O’Loughlin to co-captain as he looks to partner with the Bulldogs forward in the perfect mix of passion, smarts and patriotism.

14. Thomas Burgess (South Sydney Rabbitohs, 9 Tests)

Sam Burgess is playing rugby union, George Burgess is injured, Thomas Burgess is set to be the only Burgess brother to appear in the white jersey of England this year.

He continues to make his mark on rugby league and develop into one of the best forwards. Burgess packs plenty of punch off the bench and will offer a lot in attack to keep the Lions charging toward the tryline.

15. Adam Cuthbertson (Leeds Rhinos, Uncapped)

When Adam Cuthbertson left the Newcastle Knights at the end of last season, no one expected him to rocket himself in contention for the Man of Steel let alone feature in Leeds’ first team. Having been named in the 2015 Super League Dream Team and nominated for the prestigious Steve Prescott Medal, Cuthbertson is now expected to announce his eligibility for England and cap off a brilliant year with his first Test jumper.



16. Elliott Whitehead (Catalans Dragons, 1 Test)

Having signed with the Canberra Raiders for next season, Whitehead is one of the most promising young back rowers in rugby league at the moment and is in prime position to claim his second Test cap. The Catalan star will make a huge impact on the English team in attack with his potent ability to break the line and wreak havoc on the opposition. The Kiwis will find it a challenge defending against him.

17. Chris Heighington (Cronulla Sharks, 3 Tests)

A silent achiever, Chris Heighington has played 268 first grade games having endured thirteen seasons of playing at the top level in the NRL. Heighington is set to play for another year having resigned with the Cronulla Sharks and will be hoping to represent England once more.

The loose forward suits England’s style of play as he is a workhorse in defence and can make short, sharp impacts on the game. He will greatly complement McNamara’s forward pack.

18. Alex Walmsley (St Helens, Uncapped)

A nominee for the Man of Steel award and member of the 2015 Super League Dream Team, Alex Walmsley has had a breakout season at St Helens. The young forward has easily been the best player this at Langtree and should be granted his first Test cap.

Walmsley will prove a huge addition to McNamara’s squad as he looks to blood a new-look team to take out England’s first rugby league World Cup in 2017 and prove that England are the real sleeping giant of international rugby league.

19. John Bateman (Wigan Warriors, Uncapped)

John Bateman has had a stellar season with Wigan that has seen him gain attention not only from other Super League clubs but from NRL franchises and teams from the world’s elite rugby competitions.

The young backrower is the future of English rugby league no doubt, however it is not yet known whether he is able to step up and take on the world at this very moment. Bateman remains a big question mark and is expected to be given a spot in the squad over 2015 Young Player of the Year nominee Ben Currie.

20. Sam Tomkins (New Zealand Warriors, 28 Tests)

Since arriving at the New Zealand Warriors last year, Tomkins has found how hard it is to adjust to the style of play used by clubs in the southern hemisphere.



Despite not having the best time in Auckland, Tomkins still deserves to keep his spot in the Test team however he will be relegated to a backup player. Now that he is back in the United Kingdom, Tomkins has a huge opportunity to prove that he still is one of the best fullbacks in rugby league and will use New Zealand’s tour to prove this.

Come the time of the third Test, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will no longer be considered the best fullback as his predecessor will hope to show him up upon his return to DW Stadium.

21. Jack Reed (Brisbane Broncos, 4 Tests)

With his team through to the NRL grand final, Reed has had an outstanding season at the Broncos and is deserving of a Test jumper. He may not have represented his country since the 2011 Four Nations but Reed has managed to put himself in contention for the Test team.

The Keighley-born centre will link up with fellow NRL star Gareth Widdop in attack and help to defend an onslaught from the Kiwis’ outside backs on the wing. He just beat out Dan Sarginson and Jermaine McGillvary for the final spot in the backline.

22. George Williams (Wigan Warriors, Uncapped)

A nominee for 2015 Young Player of the Year, Williams has had a breakout season at Wigan after filling the void left by Blake Green. The best young rookie in English rugby league is yet to earn a Test jumper but will no doubt go well in replacing Gareth Widdop at stand off to complement fellow Wigan player Matty Smith in the halves.

Williams’ open running game and ball skills will be a welcome addition to Steve McNamara’s team and will be important as England step up their preparation for the 2017 rugby league World Cup.

23. Daryl Clark (Warrington Wolves, 3 Tests)

The 2014 Man of Steel made his England debut during last year’s Four Nations tournament in Australia and New Zealand, and will be hoping that his season at Warrington has merited him to hold his spot in the national team.

There really has been no English hooker that is deserving of taking his place in the team, McNamara will begin building Clark toward the 2017 World Cup.



1 Zak Hardaker, 2 Josh Charnley, 3 Jack Reed, 4 Joe Burgess, 5 Ryan Hall, 6 Gareth Widdop, 7 Matty Smith, 8 Mike Cooper, 9 Josh Hodgson, 10 James Graham, 11 Joel Tomkins, 12 Liam Farrell, 13 Sean O’Loughlin, 14 Thomas Burgess, 15 Adam Cuthbertson, 16 Elliott Whitehead, 17 Chris Heighington, 18 Alex Walmsley, 19 John Bateman, 20 Sam Tomkins, 21 Kallum Watkins, 22 George Williams, 23 Daryl Clark

So that is my squad to take on New Zealand in the Baskerville Shield. Who makes your side?

The Baskerville Shield will be played between New Zealand and England at the end of the year. Both countries will play warm-up matches against Leeds Rhinos and France respectively with the first Test to be played in Hull on November 1, followed by November 7 at Olympic Stadium, London and November 14 in Wigan.