England name squad for World Cup opener against Tonga with Mikey Lewis out

Head coach Brian McDermott has named his squad for England's Rugby League World Cup opener with Tonga.

Played on Friday night in Australia, viewers in the UK will be able to catch the action live on Saturday morning.

There was controversy surrounding Mikey Lewis's inclusion in the squad over Jake Connor, and the Hull Kingston Rovers man has been left out, with Ben Currie, Ben Talty and Morgan Smithies the other absentees.

Lewis was never expected to be a starting half, but his versatility suggested he would at least be named on the bench. Harry Smith and George Williams get the nod in the halves.

There had been calls in some quarters to give star man Herbie Farnworth a run-out at full-back, though McDermott resisted such calls in the build-up to the tournament, and has started the centre in his more natural role alongside NRL colleague Hugo Savala with AJ Brimson getting the nod at full-back over Jack Welsby.

Dom Young and Zach Eckersley start on the wings with Matty Ashton on the bench.

There are no surprises in the front row with Max King and Morgan Knowles leading the pack alongside Super League Man of Steel Brad O'Neil, with Junior Nsemba and Kai Pearce-Paul in the back row with born-and-raised Australian Victor Radley at loose forward.

England squad to face Tonga

1. AJ Brimson
2. Dom Young
3. Hugo Savala
4. Herbie Farnworth
5. Zach Eckersley
6. George Williams
7. Harry Smith
8. Max King
9. Brad O'Neill
10. Morgan Knowles
11. Junior Nsemba
12. Kai Pearce-Paul
13. Victor RadleyInterchanges
14. Jez Litten
15. Luke Thompson
16. Ethan Havard
17. Sam Walters
18. Jack Welsby
19. Matty AshtonUnused
20. Ben Currie
21. Mikey Lewis
22. Ben Talty