The England men’s and women’s squads have been named for their final World Cup group games in Wollongong on Friday.

Men’s coach Brian McDermott has announced two changes to his side to face Papua New Guinea, while the women have suffered an injury blow ahead of their showdown with Samoa. To qualify for the semi-finals England’s men need to beat PNG by a huge score and home Samoa slip up against Tonga two days later.

Dolphins forward Morgan Knowles will make his first appearance of the tournament, coming in at loose-forward in place of Victor Radley who drops to the bench. The former St Helens star was named at prop for the opener against Tonga, but missed out due to injury.

The other change sees Hull KR hooker Jez Litten move into the starting lineup after impressing as a substitute in the 82-0 win against France last Saturday. Wigan Warriors’ Man of Steel Brad O’Neill drops out of the matchday 19.

Hull KR's Jez Litten will start for England against Papua New Guinea on Friday. Picture by Peter Keleman/SWpix.com.

placeholder image — Hull KR's Jez Litten will start for England against Papua New Guinea on Friday. Picture by Peter Keleman/SWpix.com.

Leeds Rhinos’ Kallum Watkins is on stand-by as a reserve in the wider 22-man squad. Under World Cup rules, teams name 19 players with four being used from a six-man bench.

England’s women need to beat Samoa in Friday’s curtain-raiser to reach the knockout stage. Rhinos’ Keara Bennett, Connie Boyd and Lucy Murray all retain their place in the side and clubmates Ruby Bruce and Evie Cousins are among the reserves.

Coach Stuart Barrow has recalled former Castleford Tigers and Leeds stand-off Georgia Roche to the starting lineup after she was a substitute for last Saturday’s 78-0 loss to Australia. It will be the Newcastle Knights star’s 14th England cap.

Leeds Rhinos' Kallum Watkins is a reserve for England's final World Cup group game, against Papua New Guinea, having not played in the first two. Picture by Peter Keleman/SWpix.com.

Wigan Warriors’ Georgia Wilson and Mary Coleman have also been added to Friday’s starting line-up. Captain Jodie Cunningham, of St Helens, has been declared fit to play after undergoing minor surgery on an ear injury on Saturday night, but Wigan’s 2025 Woman of Steel Eva Hunter has been ruled out with ankle damage sustained against the Jillaroos.

The England men’s squad to face Papua New Guinea is: AJ Brimson (Gold Coast Titans), Dom Young (Newcastle Knights), Hugo Savala (Sydney Roosters), Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins), Matty Ashton, George Williams (both Warrington Wolves), Harry Smith (Wigan Warriors), Max King (Canterbury Bulldogs), Jez Litten (Hull KR), Luke Thompson, Junior Nsemba (both Wigan), Kai Pearce-Paul (Wests Tigers), Morgan Knowles (Dolphins). Subs Mikey Lewis (Hull KR), Sam Walters, Ethan Havard (both Wigan), Victor Radley (Roosters), Ben Currie (Warrington), Jack Welsby (St Helens). Reserves Brad O’Neill, Zach Eckersley (both Wigan), Kallum Watkins (Leeds Rhinos).

England Women squad to face Samoa (alphabetical order): Keara Bennett, Connie Boyd (both Leeds Rhinos), Amelia Brown (Huddersfield Giants), Mary Coleman (Wigan Warriors), Jodie Cunningham (St Helens), Anna Davies (Wigan), Hollie-Mae Dodd (Canberra Raiders), Fran Goldthorp (North Queensland Cowboys), Hope Millard (Canterbury Bulldogs), Lucy Murray (Leeds), Georgia Roche (Newcastle Knights), Isabel Rowe, Lucie Sams, Georgia Wilson (all Wigan), Liv Wood (York Valkyrie), Vicky Whitfield (St Helens), Megan Williams (Wigan). Reserves Jenna Foubister (Wigan), Ruby Bruce, Evie Cousins (both Leeds), Molly Jones (Wigan).