Rugby League World Cup: Leeds Rhinos' star man Jake Connor left out of England 23-player squad

Leeds Rhinos' star man Jake Connor has been left out of England's 23-player squad for the upcoming Rugby League World Cup.

Connor is a surprise omission from Brian McDermott's squad for the tournament, which will be held across Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea this October and November.

Last year's Man of Steel won't be making the cut once again after his Ashes snub last year, despite finishing top of Super League's assist charts with 43.

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The 31-year-old was controversially omitted from Shaun Wane's squad for last autumn's home Ashes series against Australia, which England lost 3-0.

Wane stepped down earlier this year, with former Leeds head coach Brian McDermott appointed to lead England through to the end of the World Cup.

McDermott had previously defended Connor, saying in April: "I think the rhetoric and the narrative around Jake was tremendously unfair. I understand where Jake Connor comes from in that he's liked by some and disliked by others. OK, that comes in the nature of the game.

"We could sit around a table and debate whether he's a nice person or not. I just don't think that's a fair narrative to be made public and that was the rhetoric around him.

"What nobody can argue is that he's a tremendous player. He's a fantastic player. He's a game-breaker."

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McDermott's full squad will be announced on Monday with Hull KR fullback Mikey Lewis expected to be be selected ahead of Connor.

England get their World Cup under way on October 17 against Tonga in Perth, with games against France and Papua New Guinea to follow.

England, runners-up in 1975, 1995 and 2017, reached the semi-finals on home soil in 2021, only to suffer a defeat by Samoa.