England Rugby League

Agar backs Manu's England bid

Thursday 22nd July 10

Hull FC coach Richard Agar has backed the decision of his club’s Tongan second rower Willie Manu to make himself available for England.

The 30-year-old Manu was born and raised in western Sydney and represented the Junior Kiwis before going on to play for Tonga in the 2008 World Cup.

He now qualifies for England on residency grounds, having moved to the United Kingdom in 2006 - initially to play for Castleford Tigers - and he was brought into England coach Steve McNamara’s squad for a get-together in Liverpool this week.

Former national coach Tony Smith stirred controversy with his selection of Samoa-born prop Maurie Fa’asavalu for Great Britain and Agar admits McNamara could face similar criticism.

“It’s a hot potato,” said Agar, who has spoken to Manu about his potential switch of allegiance.

“If Steve picks him, he’ll open himself up for some criticism, but if he picks him and England win the Four Nations, he’ll be judged as a hero.

“Most other sports do it - a lot of players Australia pick have been born and bred in New Zealand - and Willie by rights qualifies for England on residency grounds, as he would in cricket or rugby union.

“What I do know is that he’s a player that can win you a game so, from an ability and form perspective, I don’t think there’s any argument.

“He’s a long way off selection but, if he wants to represent England and Steve is prepared to pick him, I think we should support him.

“We make a lot of it but I think we need to get out the best available team for England.”

Manu is now in his fourth season with Hull and recently signed a new two-year deal after producing the best form of his career.

Full-back Ben Jones-Bishop (Harlequins RL) and wingers Leroy Cudjoe (Huddersfield Giants) and Jodie Broughton (Hull) were the other new faces in McNamara’s enlarged squad of 37 which got together for a team bonding session with Royal Marine commandos at Altcar Rifle Range to undertake a series of motivational and fitness tasks.

The only notable absentees were Sam Burgess, Gareth Ellis and Gareth Widdop, who all play their club rugby in Australia.

“It was a very positive experience for everyone involved,” said McNamara. “I learned a few things about the players and they in turn will have taken a lot from it.

“We don’t get many opportunities to get the country’s elite players together so the chance to work alongside the Royal Marines was really useful.

“All the players involved are potential candidates for selection for this year’s Four Nations but that’s not to say the final squad will come from this group. It’s certainly not a definitive list.

“As well as the boys who are playing in Australia, there are many other players to consider. The door remains wide open for anyone to play themselves into contention for selection over the next couple of months.

“There are a lot of factors to be taken into consideration when selecting a squad.

“It’s not just about ability – Tuesday was all about making sure we continue to develop the right culture for England to achieve international success that we began in last year’s Four Nations and continued in the mid-season international.”

England players will next come together at the end of the regular Engage Super League season when players not involved in the play-offs will join a train-on squad.

Further players will then join the squad as their clubs are eliminated from the play-offs.

England squad: Chris Bridge (Warrington), Tom Briscoe (Hull), Kyle Eastmond (St Helens), James Graham (St Helens), Ryan Hall (Leeds), Sean O’Loughlin (Wigan), Danny McGuire (Leeds), Adrian Morley (Warrington), Jamie Peacock (Leeds), James Roby (St Helens), Nick Scruton (Bradford), Michael Shenton (Castleford), Kevin Sinfield (Leeds), Sam Tomkins (Wigan), Ben Westwood (Warrington), Shaun Lunt (Huddersfield), Kevin Brown (Huddersfield), Richie Myler (Warrington), Ryan Atkins (Warrington), Jodie Broughton (Salford), Leroy Cudjoe (Huddersfield), Peter Fox (Hull KR), Lee Smith (Leeds), Gareth Carvell (Warrington), Ben Harrison (Warrington), Jamie Langley (Bradford), Tony Clubb (Harlequins), Ben Jones-Bishop (Harlequins), Andy Lynch (Bradford), Joe Westerman (Castleford), Kirk Yeaman (Hull), Louie McCarthy Scarsbrook (Harlequins), Eorl Crabtree (Huddersfield), Scott Moore (St Helens), Paul Sykes (Bradford), Jon Wilkin (St Helens), Willie Manu (Hull).