Wakefield Trinity's Johnstone heads exciting raft of talent called into England squads

By The Newsroom
Published 7th Mar 2018, 15:55 BST
Updated 7th Mar 2018, 16:55 BST
Tom JohnstoneTom Johnstone
Tom Johnstone
UNCAPPED Wakefield Trinity winger Tom Johnstone is the only new name in Wayne Bennett's England elite performance squad - but there is a raft of exciting fresh talent included in Paul Anderson's England Knights group.

Ahead of this year’s mid-season Test and Autumn International Test Series against New Zealand, Bennett has selected a 21-man EPS that will regularly meet throughout the season.

As well as prolific winger Johnstone – the 2016 Super League Young Player of the Year – there is a return to the squad for Leeds Rhinos second-row Stevie Ward, Warrington Wolves hooker Daryl Clark and St Helens winger Tommy Makinson.

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Johnstone’s team-mate Reece Lyne, the ex-Hull centre, is included in Anderson’s 25-man Knights Performance Squad (KPS) – the England Knights have been revived for the first time since 2013 – along with plenty more of Super League’s emerging talent.

Reece Lyne. PIC: Simon HulmeReece Lyne. PIC: Simon Hulme
Reece Lyne. PIC: Simon Hulme

Leeds Rhinos’ teenage full-back Jack Walker and centre Liam Sutcliffe along with Castleford Tigers duo Greg Minikin and Jake Trueman get call-ups as do five Hull players – Jake Connor, Jamie Shaul, Josh Bowden, Dean Hadley and Masi Matongo.

Furthermore, Hull KR half-back Chris Atkin, who last season was playing for Swinton Lions, is included and Huddersfield Giants’ exciting hooker Kruise Leeming earns a nod, too.

Indeed, all 11 English-based Super League clubs are represented in the Knights squad as well as London Broncos whose ex-Hull hooker James Cunningham is given a shot.

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