Tuesday 21 October 2014 18:27, UK
England head coach Steve McNamara is confident captain Sean O'Loughlin will be ready to face Australia next week, despite being ruled out of their opening Four Nations clash with Samoa.
The influential Wigan loose forward, who was viewed by many as the obvious successor to Kevin Sinfield as captain, failed to recover from a quad injury sustained in the Warriors' Grand-Final defeat to St Helens 10 days ago.
Former Saints skipper James Graham will now lead the side out at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium for the first part of Saturday's double-header, while Hull loose forward Joe Westerman will earn his first cap as he takes over the No 13 jersey.
We've got some great combinations going. Ideally you would like to test them out in a game situation before the tournament but I'm really confident.
"Sean tried his best and our medical staff tried their best, but the Samoa match has come too soon," McNamara said. "We thought it was right that we made an early decision but we remain confident he'll be ready for Australia the week after.
"It's a blow because he's our leader and obviously he's a really, really good player. But I'm really happy with his replacement. Joe had a great season for Hull FC, a team that didn't make the top eight, and to be a real stand-out for them shows what a quality player he is.
"James is a tremendous leader. We saw that with the [Canterbury] Bulldogs towards the back end of the season when he single-handedly more or less led them to the Grand Final. He leads by example and inspires everyone around him to follow his lead."
Graham, who is set to skipper his club in 2015, took the captaincy for England's 2010 Four Nations campaign in the southern hemisphere when Adrian Morley was forced to return home due to injury.
While NRL star Graham’s selection was never in question the inclusion of Joel Tomkins, who has made just seven Super League appearances since returning from a three-year spell in the XV-man code, has raised eyebrows with Super League Dream Team player Elliott Whitehead omitted.
"Joel is very experienced and a very good player," added McNamara. "He fought his way back into the Wigan team, played in a Grand Final and has been in this group before. He brings a whole lot of leadership and energy into the group. He's a tremendous player to have back with us."
It will be Tomkins' first appearance for three years alongside younger brother Sam, who is one of nine survivors from the team that lost 20-18 to New Zealand in their last match in the World Cup semi-final at Wembley.
The Super League-based players have been in Australia for less than a week but McNamara is confident that by Saturday his side will be ready for what could be a tricky opening test.
"We've only had nine days to get ready but we knew that from the outset," he said. "The thing with this group is that they are very intelligent players and you generally only have to tell them once or twice and they pick it up.
"We've got some great combinations going. Ideally you would like to test them out in a game situation before the tournament, but I'm really confident."
