A good set of six, Austin powers and the right wing?

The week leading up to another tricky away fixture at Hull FC has begun with attention moving temporarily away from the clash in East Yorkshire, and instead onto news snippets which have broken today. Here are my thoughts on the stories...

A good set of six

The biggest news of the day is that six Warrington players have been called up to the latest England squad. The most eye-catching of these inclusions is Josh Charnley, who is named in his country's squad for the first time since he returned to rugby league from rugby union last year. With seven tries in seven games and being the league's joint-top scorer, his inclusion was a formality. Wire captain Chris Hill keeps his place in the national set-up, while there is also unsurprisingly a place for hooker Daryl Clark, who has been one of the best players in Super League this season. Warrington number one Stefan Ratchford makes the squad too, as does co-captain Jack Hughes, who is promoted to the full squad for the first time. The final Wire squad member is Ben Currie, which is great to see after so long out with injury. The fact that 20% of the England squad is made up of Warrington players demonstrates the quality in our squad right now, though I am stunned and shocked that Mike Cooper hasn't made it - one of the best props in the competition in 2019 and has arguably outperformed Hill.

The rest of the squad is fairly exciting, it is good to see Jake Trueman of Castleford be named - a wonderful young talent. It seems bizarre that Luke Gale and Tom Johnstone have been selected despite being unavailable for the foreseeable because of injury. Other players that could feel aggrieved not to be involved include London full back Kieran Dixon, who has been brilliant for the Broncos this season, while Salford's Jackson Hastings would qualify for the squad because of his English grandparent. Castleford's Paul McShane has been very good this season, but with James Roby and Daryl Clark ahead of him in his position, he was always unlikely to make the squad. It also has to be noted that this squad is entirely England-based, which means that some of today's choices wouldn't have made the cut if this particular selection had been open to the NRL too - the likes of future Wire Gareth Widdop would've been picked, as would John Bateman and possibly Elliot Whitehead.

Squad breakdown in full:

St Helens 6, Warrington Wolves 6, Castleford Tigers 4, Wigan Warriors 4, Hull FC 3, Wakefield Trinity 2, Leeds Rhinos 2, Catalans Dragons 1, Huddersfield Giants 1, Hull KR 1. 

Josh Charnley (Warrington) Daryl Clark (Warrington) Jake Connor (Hull FC) Ben Currie (Warrington) Luke Gale (Castleford) Oliver Gildart (Wigan) Joe Greenwood (Wigan) Chris Hill (Warrington) Jack Hughes (Warrington) Tom Johnstone (Wakefield) Jonny Lomax (St Helens) Reece Lyne (Wakefield) Tommy Makinson (St Helens) Jermaine McGilvary (Huddersfield) Adam Milner (Castleford) Robbie Mulhern (Hull KR) Sean O'Loughlin (Wigan) Mark Percival (St Helens) Stefan Ratchford (Warrington) James Roby (St Helens) Jamie Shaul (Hull FC) Scott Taylor (Hull FC) Luke Thompson (St Helens) Sam Tomkins (Catalans) Jake Trueman (Castleford) Alex Walmsley (St Helens) Stevie Ward (Leeds) Kallum Watkins (Leeds) Liam Watts (Castleford) George Williams (Wigan)

Austin Powers

Blake Austin's sensational performance away at Wakefield last week has seen him be rewarded with three points in the Man of Steel race. The Man of Steel is the prestigious award given to the best player of the season, with the three best-performing players in every game in Super League awarded points. Austin was adjudged to have been the star performer at the Mobile Rocket Stadium on Thursday and has duly been given a trio of points to add to his tally, which takes him to six. Mike Cooper was rated as the third best player in the game and was awarded a single point, while Wakefield's Kyle Wood scored two tries and has been given two points. I thoroughly agree with Austin and Cooper getting points, though David Fifita was Wakefield's best player and should've been given 2nd place and two points. 

St Helens hooker James Roby leads the way with 12 points after seven rounds, with Castleford's Paul McShane on nine. Stefan Ratchford is one point behind on eight, in third position and is the highest-ranking Wire so far. Daryl Clark has scored seven points and is level with Hull FC's Jamie Shaul and Wakefield kicker Danny Brough. Austin's three points from this week leave him seventh in the standings, level on points with Wigan's hat-trick hero from the weekend George Williams, Castleford's Liam Watts and Salford man Niall Evalds.

Other Wire players on the list include Cooper, who is now on four, Josh Charnley, who has three points to his name, while Ben Currie, Harvey Livett and Ryan Atkins all have two. 

The right wing?

News broke today in League Weekly that Warrington are close to securing the signatures of wingers Jake Mamo and Tom Lineham, both of whom are out of contract at the end of the season. With these two about to be signed up for the foreseeable and Charnley in fine form, it seems Wire really do have the right wing at the minute.

Mamo was signed on a one-year-deal at the start of the year, but has impressed in his time at the Halliwell Jones so far since joining from Huddersfield and is in line for a new deal which would see him contracted to the Wire until the end of 2021. The newspaper are reporting that a deal could be reached with the utility back as soon as this week. Lineham, meanwhile, had been linked with a return to former club Hull FC after losing his place in the side to Mamo. The winger was a tryscorer in the play-off semi final victory last season but hasn't made a matchday squad in the last three games, leading to speculation about his future - with Castleford and Wakefield also rumoured to be interested. However, Wire CEO Karl Fitzpatrick appears to have quashed these rumours, telling League Weekly that the number two is in discussions, with positive news expected "shortly".

I can only see this news in a very positive way. Mamo has been excellent since coming into the side, with three tries in three starts (a stat which would've been inflated but for two poor video ref decisions at Wakefield, which I may have mentioned), as well as a try assist against Castleford. Mamo is also our only cover for Ratchford at full back and can probably do a shift at centre too. I am also pleased that it looks like Lineham is staying, he has been a good player for us since joining in 2016 and gave us that great night away at St Helens last year. With these two likely to be re-signed for 2020, plans for next year (our title defence?) are well underway.

On a point about 2020, we might not have to wait until the New Year to see Gareth Widdop play in a Wire shirt. The marquee signing for next year has endured a difficult start to the NRL season down under with St George Illawara Dragons, being utilised at full back, a bizarre position for a player of his creative ability to be deployed. With his team starting poorly, there are whispers that Widdop could be free to join the Wire at the back end of 2019, much earlier than planned, if St George's season continues as it has started. This would be an ENORMOUS boost for the run-in at the end of the season. Is anyone else already salivating at the thought of Austin and Widdop's partnership in the halves together?

Let me know your thoughts on any of the news discussed here, and make sure to check the blog in the coming days for the pre-Hull FC content. While you're waiting, have a look at my Wakefield report and rankings if you haven't already.

It's always our year.

Daniel (@aloosewire)