Rookie Graham to lead England
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Your support makes all the difference.England are to go into the Four Nations under the leadership of a rookie captain, James Graham. The 25-year-old St Helens prop has not captained a side since the Great Britain Academy team that beat the Australian Schoolboys in 2004. He replaces Adrian Morley, who is to fly home for surgery on his ruptured right biceps. Morley himself was a stand-in for Jamie Peacock, who was ruled out by a knee injury.
"In a perfect world, I'd like to be out there on Saturday playing alongside JP and Moz, but I can't do anything about that," Graham said. "When [manager] Steve McNamara offered me the chance, I had no hesitation in saying yes. It came as a surprise, but hopefully I can reward his judgement with some good performances on the field."
McNamara will have looked at the credentials of Sean O'Loughlin, who has plenty of experience of captaining Wigan, senior forward Gareth Ellis and Sam Burgess, who is widely regarded as a future England captain. One thing that might have swung the decision is that Graham is, by some distance, the most vocal of the quartet. "James was one of a number of outstanding candidates for the post," McNamara said.
Garreth Carvell is due to arrive in New Zealand today. The 30-year-old prop is a direct replacement for Morley. Carvell is not untested at this level, having played three times for Wales and twice for Great Britain.
McNamara will not be tempted to draft him in for the opening game, against New Zealand in Wellington on Saturday. Morley's place in the starting front row is more likely to go to Wigan's Stuart Fielden, who joined the squad four days late last week after the birth of his baby son.
Jarryd Hayne, one of Australia's potential match-winners, has been ruled out of the whole tournament with a torn hamstring.
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