Graham to captain England league side

Bulldogs enforcer James Graham will captain England for the first time since 2010 after skipper Sean O’Loughlin succumbed to injury ahead of Saturday’s Four Nations opener against Samoa in Brisbane.

And Canberra-bound Josh Hodgson has surprisingly relegated reigning English Super League’s Man of Steel Daryl Clark to the bench after being named as starting hooker by coach Steve McNamara.

Hull FC’s Joe Westerman will make his debut when he slots into lock for O’Loughlin who succumbed to a quad strain suffered in Wigan’s recent Super League grand final loss to St Helens.

O’Loughlin is expected to run out in England’s second match against Australia in Melbourne on November 2.

“It is a shame that Sean misses the match with a problem with his quad,” said McNamara.

“The Samoa match has come too soon, but we remain confident he’ll be ready for Australia the week after.”

In all, McNamara named four rookies in his team – Hodgson, Westerman, Castleford’s Clark and Wigan’s 27-year-old halfback Matty Smith.

Canterbury prop Graham takes over the reins for the first time since he replaced an injured Adrian Morley at the 2010 Four Nations tournament.

South Sydney’s George Burgess will partner Graham in the front row while his brother Tom has been named on the bench.

Dragons playmaker Gareth Widdop will chime into the halves with Smith.

England team: Sam Tomkins, Josh Charnley, Kallum Watkins, Michael Shenton, Ryan Hall, Gareth Widdop, Matty Smith, George Burgess, Josh Hodgson, James Graham (capt), Liam Farrell, Joel Tomkins, Joe Westerman. Interchange: Daryl Clark, Brett Ferres, Tom Burgess, Chris Hill.

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