First posted on PATREON and SUBSTACK
By STEVE MASCORD
JAMIE Humphreys has been cleared by International Rugby League to play for England, according to coach Brian McDermott who left little doubt the South Sydney utility is in his secret preliminary squad.
Humphreys, who played his junior rugby league in England’s south after his family emigrated, asked to be considered by McDermott on residency grounds for the World Cup next month.
But there was doubt over whether he qualified under IRL rules and he was not included in England’s previously-announced performance squad.
“Yeah he qualifies – International Rugby League has qualified him,” McDermott said during a virtual media call on Tuesday morning.
The new national coach – who did stress the value of versality in general and Humphreys can play several positions – was initially reluctant to discuss the 24-year-old’s selection claims in any detail.
“There’s a 40 man squad that I’ve had to name to the International Rugby League which is not to be made public,” he said. “I don’t want that making public.
“And if we incur any injuries I can only choose from that 40-man squad.”
But McDermott later opened up on the Rabbitohs’ prospects when asked about Wigan’s Jai Field and Bevan French, who also qualify under residency rules.
“Jamie Humphreys rang me up, who qualifies through a version of residency,’“ the former London, Leeds and Toronto coach said.
“He does qualify and I was listening to him speak and I was blown away by his passion about representing the nation that nurtured his junior rugby league.
“And he feels a really strong affiliation with the country.
“And I don’t know if Jai Field and Bevan French have a desire to play for England – they haven’t reached out and there’s no reason for me to go towards them either.”
McDermott, as he did during a previous media call, spoke passionately in terms of his use of players not born in England.
“The heritage players, there was a vetting process although they don’t know it was a vetting process,” he said.
“I’m not trying to catch them out, I’ve just got to determine ‘is this something you want to do? Are you willing to get off the deck when you’re buggered when you’re fatigue? Are you willing to go through the pain barrier?’
“Because you do find out whether it truly means something to somebody. I’ve just got to make sure that I don’t find out for the wrong reasons during the game.
“I’ve got to vet the people.
“Whatever heritage players I pick, I want to put people’s minds at rest: they want to do it’. They’ll have a huge desire to do it.”
