Jake Connor and Tommy Makinson to make England debuts in Denver
Wayne Bennett will hand England debuts to Jake Connor and Tommy Makinson when they face New Zealand in Denver on Saturday.
Hull FC utility-man Connor and St Helens winger Makinson have been named in the team for the mid-season Test in Denver, Colorado.
The squad includes 12 players who lost out to Australia in the 2017 Rugby League World Cup final, while captain Sean O’Loughlin, Mark Percival and Stefan Ratchford were also part of the squad.
St Helens front-rower Luke Thompson is the unfortunate player to miss out on selection, while Wigan Warriors half-back George Williams has been ruled out due to a knee injury.
England take on New Zealand at the Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver on Saturday, June 23. Fans in the UK can watch it live from 9pm (BST) on BBC Two.
England 17-man squad to face New Zealand (expected line-up):
Stefan Ratchford (Warrington Wolves)
Jermaine McGillvary (Huddersfield Giants)
Tommy Makinson (St Helens)
Mark Percival (St Helens)
Ryan Hall (Leeds Rhinos)
Gareth Widdop (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Jonny Lomax (St Helens)
Chris Hill (Warrington Wolves)
James Roby (St Helens)
Sam Burgess (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
John Bateman (Wigan Warriors)
Elliott Whitehead (Canberra Raiders)
Sean O’Loughlin (Wigan Warriors)
Jake Connor (Hull FC)
James Graham (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Tom Burgess (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Scott Taylor (Hull FC)
Luke Thompson (18th man, St Helens)
George Williams (injured, Wigan Warriors)