Brian McDermott has repeatedly insisted England have a point of difference in the Rugby League World Cup, but eyebrows were raised when he left Jake Connor out of the squad again.
Connor is one of the sport’s most explosive attacking talents, and his absence has been the subject of sustained speculation about his relationship with the England set-up.
McDermott’s selection appears to favour structure over individual brilliance: a spine organised to control tempo, with kicking and forward power carrying more weight than raw creativity.
It is a coherent theory for a knockout tournament, and one that demands England defend without the ball for long stretches. Whether it holds against the hosts remains the open question.