News emerged this week that Wigan and England captain Sean O’Loughlin is likely to miss the rest of the season – including the Four Nations.
Warriors coach Shaun Wane told TotalRL he was “99 per cent” sure the Wigan skipper’s season is now over – which begs the question: who will Wayne Bennett’s new captain be?
Thankfully, England are not short on leaders. Here are four realistic contenders – including one from slightly left-field.
Chris Hill
Already a Super League captain with Warrington Wolves, Hill has been outstanding for Warrington this year and will surely be in Wayne Bennett’s squad when it is named shortly after the Grand Final. A real leader on and off the field, Hill will undoubtedly be near the top of any list Bennett draws up for his new captain.
Sam Burgess
Not a captain at club level, but a man who possesses a wealth of experience – and not just in rugby league. From a PR perspective, the profile Burgess has following his spell in rugby union makes him a great candidate – and his on-field playing credentials aren’t too bad either, are they?
James Graham
Another who is a captain at club level, holding the armband at NRL side Canterbury. His experience and captaincy credentials make him a fine fit for the role with England – not to mention the fact he’s the country’s most capped player. Will the fact he has taken the NRL by storm as a captain also stand him in good stead?
Gareth Ellis
An outside bet of course, but given Ellis’ comments earlier this week about considering an international return if asked, any such u-turn on his retirement would make him an instant candidate for the armband. Experienced in both Super League and the NRL, Ellis would be a great replacement for O’Loughlin in terms of the number 13 shirt and the captain’s armband.
Who would your captain be?
