ENGLISH International Gareth Widdop has backed a left-field bid from Wayne Bennett to try and poach Brett and Josh Morris and former NSW halfback Trent Hodkinson for the end of season Four Nations.
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Brett and Josh boast 24 caps for Australia and 26 Origins for NSW between them but would qualify for England through their English-born grandparents should they choose to switch allegiances though Bennett rubbished the claims on Thursday.
Hodkinson is uncapped for Australia but was part of the the Blues drought-breaking series victory in 2014. He would qualify for England through his father and could potentially partner Widdop in the halves under Bennett.
Hodkinson would only confirm he’s spoken to Bennett about a possible switch this week while Brett Morris said this week that he and Josh were yet to seriously consider the move.
Widdop said he’d texted his former Dragons teammate about the switch but the conversation is yet to go beyond a laugh.
“I spoke to [Morris] about it yesterday [Tuesday], I just texted him and and said ‘you’re not a pom’, just having a bit of laugh” Widdop said.
“I think he’s got grandparents who are English. I’m sure they’ve got there reasons and Wayne and the heirarchy will make decisions on that.
“Obviously the more people you have in those positions it’s going to put a lot more pressure on the guys back in England and even over here. Everyone’s going to have to be performing well at the back end of the year to be selected which is what you want.
“You want to have people to pick from rather than not so it’s healthy for England rugby league.”
Widdop praised the work of Bennett’s predecessor Steve McNamara, who coached the Lions to a 2-1 series win over world number one New Zealand last year, but said attracting the mastercoach was a huge boost for the game in England.
“To attract someone like Wayne Bennett is obviously massive for England rugby league,” Widdop said.
“Steve McNamara did a great job over a number of years and I think what he’s done in terms of the set up down to the juniors which we’ve never had was really good for us.
“But attracting Wayne Bennett...those opportunities don’t come around that often. Everyone knows how much success he’s had and when Wayne speaks you definitely listen. He’s got that aura about him.
“We had a bit of a general catch up a few weeks back now with all the England boys which was great because not everyone had met before. It was pretty low key but it was quite exciting to be honest.”
