FOLLOWING a number of player withdrawals, Exiles coach Daniel Anderson has today named a revised 17-man squad, including new addition Epalahame Lauaki of Wigan Warriors, for the match against England at Langtree Park on Saturday June 16 (6.45pm).
Brett Finch and George Carmont of Wigan Warriors, Lopini Paea and Louis Anderson of Catalan Dragons plus Warrington Wolves’ Michael Monaghan and Luke O’Donnell of Huddersfield Giants have been withdrawn from the squad due to injury.
Commenting on the revised squad, Exiles assistant coach Mike Rush said: “You’re always going to get this, I’m sure England are in the same predicament.
“Players are always going to get bumps and bruises on the weekend leading up to a training camp. We haven’t got time to see how all those bumps and bruises will settle down, we need to get straight into it now.
“The 17 players we’ve got in camp now are really looking forward to it and are really up for it. This will hopefully give Steve Mac’s lads the run-out that they need and it’ll be a fantastic fixture for all the players preparing for the World Cup next year”.
Rush added that the Exiles have no intention of making it easy for England: “That’s not our job, our job is to make it as hard as possible and get a win,” he said.
“Both teams of course want to win this series but only one of them can. The size of the pack that we’ve got here and the athleticism of these players makes it an exciting prospect.”
He also agreed that the addition of Epalahame Lauaki from Wigan is a bonus in terms of power: “Lauaki is another big man. We’re blessed with big men in the middle of the field but we have to use them in the right way.”
Tickets for the opening fixture at Langtree Park, St Helens, on Saturday June 16 (6.45pm) cost from £18 (£9 concessions) for standing and £21 (£10 concessions) seating. They can be bought from the ticket office at Langtree Park or by logging on here.
Exiles Squad:
Anthony Laffranchi, Antonio Kaufusi, Brett Hodgson, Daryl Millard, David Faiumu, Epalahame Lauaki, Francis Meli, Jeff Lima, Joel Monaghan, Lance Hohaia, Scott Dureau, Setaimata Sa, Sia Soliola, Thomas Leuluai, Tony Puletua, Trent Waterhouse, Willie Manu.
