Brian McDermott’s England side for the Rugby League World Cup will no doubt have plenty of NRL stars in and amongst it, but two in-form half-backs have both made a decision on their allegiance – and it’s not to England.
Canberra Raiders playmaker, Ethan Strange, is set to make his State of Origin debut this week, filling in for the injured Mitchell Moses.
New NRL rules state that, now, any player playing in State of Origin can represent any nation they wish, as opposed to the previous rule where if you played in Origin you had to represent Australia.
Strange qualifies for England through his mother, and ahead of last year’s Ashes series was one player linked to potentially joining Shaun Wane’s squad for the autumn series.
He was named in the Australia squad instead, but did not play a game for the nation during their three-game tour. That left the door open for him to still join England, however he has now made it clear that the Kangaroos are the only national side he will represent.
“I’ve grown up in Australia. My mum is from England, and my grandma is from New Zealand, but I’ve grown up in Australia. So yeah, I am an Aussie,” he told Australian media outlet Zero Tackle.
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NRL stars reject England ahead of Rugby League World Cup
Strange isn’t the only player to blow off England this week, with Sydney Roosters half-back Sam Walker, who has been heavily reported with an England switch in the past, set to commit to Australia.
Walker is the son of ex-player-turned-coach Ben Walker, who had Ben when he was playing for Leeds in 2002 – hence why he qualifies.
However, Walker Snr has spoke to the media recently to say that his father [Sam’s grandfather] would “disown him” if he chose to play for England.
“My father (Garry) would disown him. He’s the proudest Aussie you’ve ever come across,” Ben said to the Canberra Times.
“He couldn’t do it because of ‘Gaz’, and Sam’s allegiance is to Australia. He’d love to play for Australia. He won’t play for anyone else.”
Walker is another player making his Origin debut this week, with him and Strange lining up on opposite sides this week in Game I of the series.
