Minichiello to captain Italy

Hull forward Mark Minichiello will captain an Italy squad at the World Cup which will contain Wigan centre Oliver Gildart.

Gildart, 21, was recently crowned Super League Young Player of the Year at the Man of Steel awards, and qualifies through heritage on his mother’s side.

Coach Cameron Ciraldo has named 33 players, which will be cut to 24 “following assembly and medical of all players.”

The squad will be captained by Minichiello, while NRL stand-out James Tedesco will be vice captain having missed out on selection by the Kangaroos and opting to represent the country of his heritage, for whom he played in the 2013 World Cup.

Former Hull KR pair Terry Campese and Josh Mantellato are included, as is Huddersfield forward Shannon Wakeman and Oldham full-back Richard Lepori.

Italy squad: Daniel Alvaro (Parramatta Eels), Mirco Bergamasco (Leoni Veneti), Nathan Brown (Parramatta Eels), Christopher Calegari (Palau XIII), Jake Campagnolo (Northern Pride), Terry Campese (Queanbeyan Blues), Justin Castellaro (Northern Pride), Geole Cellurino (Saluzzo NWR), Chris Centrone (Wyong Roos), Mason Cerruto (Penrith Panthers), Ryan Ghietti (Northern Pride), Oliver Gildart (Wigan Warriors), Jaume Giorgis (Saluzzo NWR), Gavin Hiscox (Central Queensland Capras), Jack Johns (Newcastle Knights), Richard Lepori (Oldham), Josh Mantellato (Wyong Roos), Mark Minichiello (Hull FC), Nathan Milone (Wests Tigers), Giuseppe Pagani (Lions Brescia), Ricardo Parata  (Burleigh Bears), Dean Parata (Blacktown Workers), Emanuelle Passera (XIII of the Ducato), Eduardo Pezzano (Spartans Catania), Keiran Quabba  (Townsville Districts), Joel Riethmuller (Northern Pride), Brendan Santi (Sydney Roosters), James Tedesco (Wests Tigers), Joel Tramontana (Canterbury Bulldogs), Paul Vaughan (St George Illawarra Dragons), Jayden Walker  (Cronulla Sharks), Colin Wilkie (Northern Pride), Shannon Wakeman (Huddersfield Giants)