No place in GB Lions squad for Leeds Rhinos' Ash Handley - after 10,000-mile trek

Great Britain coach Wayne Bennett has left Leeds Rhinos winger Ash Handley out of his 21-man squad for Saturday's Test in Papua New Guinea, despite the player travelling from the UK specifically for the game.
Ash Handley. Picture by Bruce Rollinson.Ash Handley. Picture by Bruce Rollinson.
Ash Handley. Picture by Bruce Rollinson.

Handley, Rhinos’ player of the year and joint-second top try scorer in Betfred Super League during 2019, flew out to join the Lions’ camp last Friday, following a series of injuries in the backs.

He arrived in Brisbane at the weekend and travelled to Papua New Guinea with the squad yesterday, but Bennett has opted to stick with stand-off Blake Austin on the left-wing and Jack Hughes - a second-row - at centre for the final game of the Lions’ four-match tour, in Port Moresby.

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Castleford Tigers’ half-back Jake Trueman, having sat out the first three tour games, has been drafted into the initial 21 to join last week’s unused reserves Joe Philbin and George Williams.

Jake Trueman.Jake Trueman.
Jake Trueman.

Zak Hardaker, who missed the loss to New Zealand due to a shoulder injury, is back in contention.

The first 17 names on the squad list for Saturday are the side on duty in Christchurch.

The squad will be trimmed to 19 following Friday’s captain’s run.

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Papua New Guinea’s squad includes Rhinos prop Wellington Albert and second-row Rhyse Martin.

Wayne Bennett and his Lions squad arrived in Papua New Guinea today.Wayne Bennett and his Lions squad arrived in Papua New Guinea today.
Wayne Bennett and his Lions squad arrived in Papua New Guinea today.

GB squad: 1 Jonny Lomax, 2 Jermaine McGillvary, 3 Jack Hughes, 4 Jake Connor, 5 Blake Austin, 6 Gareth Widdop, 7 Jackson Hastings, 8 Chris Hill, 9 Josh Hodgson, 10 Tom Burgess, 11 John Bateman, 12 Elliott Whitehead, 13 James Graham, 14 Josh Jones, 15 Luke Thompson, 16 Daryl Clark, 17 Alex Walmsley, 18 Joe Philbin, 19 George Williams, 20 Jake Trueman, 21 Zak Hardaker.