BRIAN MCDERMOTT has defended his decision to include heritage players in his 40-man England Performance Squad ahead of the World Cup at the end of the year.
Wakefield Trinity’s New Zealand-born prop Caleb Hamlin-Uele was selected alongside Canberra Raiders hooker Jayden Brailey, Sydney Roosters centre Billy Smith, Brisbane Broncos prop Ben Talty and Melbourne Storm enforcer Max King.
Roosters forward Victor Radley and Gold Coast Titans playmaker AJ Brimson are also still included, meaning McDermott now has six players in his 40-man squad that were born in Australia or New Zealand.
But, he stressed all six have a ‘real passion’ to represent their heritage, dismissing claims that they could be on a ‘false jolly’.
“If you talk to all of them, everyone has a massive passion to represent England,” McDermott explained.
“It’s not a false passion, they don’t want to just go on a false jolly, it’s a real passion to represent their families and heritage.
“If the international rules suggest that they are allowed to play for England then they are allowed to play.
“I know some people would say they would rather have English players represent England but they are as English as they need to be to represent their country.
“I’ve put heritage players through a vetting process. I’m not trying to catch them out, I was trying to find out if it was something they were willing to do.”