Clive Sullivan. Billy Boston. Gus Risman. Dave Watkin. Kel Coslett. Mike Nicholas. Jim Sullivan. If you don’t know who these blokes are, then congratulations, you’ve just earned yourself a solid evening on the internet of enjoyment as you look them up.
Welsh rugby league was once right up there. When Great Britain last won the World Cup, in 1972, it was a Welshman – the aforementioned Clive Sullivan – who scored a wonderful try in the final.
Even as recently as 2000, they gave the Australians a real shake in the semi-final, with scheming modern greats Iestyn Harris, Kieron Cunningham and Lee Briers to the fore.
That talent, unfortunately, is not quite what it was. Their midseason defeat to France saw just one Super League player take part, and while that will increase come the World Cup, this is still a team based on lower league talent plus a few others. Bradman Best and Tyson Frizell would be the big ins from the NRL, but neither is a certainty.
They do have John Kear, as wily an old fox of a coach as they get, but also have a group with Tonga and PNG, who will surely be too strong, and the Cook Islands. Kear has targetted their meeting in Leigh as a chance for Wales’ first World Cup win since that fairytale run in 2000.
Certainties
Let’s get to the Super League talent first. Rhys Williams is the captain and will start on a wing, Gil Dudson has been around for a million years and will be a leader on the park and off it.
Aussie fans will be familiar with Caleb Aekins, once of the Panthers and now of Leigh, who still start at fullback and Bailey Antrobus, once of the Dragons. Josh Ralph, playing NSW Cup with Mounties, is also in.
The list of English lower league talent is extensive. Kear was coach at Bradford and signed a lot of Welsh talent, so they will provide Chester Butler, Elliot Kear, Ant Walker and the Evans brothers, Rhys and Ben.
Luis Roberts, a massive winger/centre at Widnes, will be in, as will teammates Matty Fozard who will wear the 14 and Lewis Hulme, who is hooker depth.
Mike Butt from Swinton will be a backline option while Gavin Bennion of Rochdale Hornets adds bulk to the pack.
The Cumbrian contingent will include Will Evans and Curtis Davies of Whitehaven, Connor Davies of Workington and Tom Hopkins of Barrow.
Probables
Harry Smith has been a standout for Wigan and, barring the unlikely event he gets picked for England, should put his hand up for Wales.
Also dual eligible is Dalton Grant, who might opt for Jamaica but will probably go for Wales given the Jamaicans’ strength in wingers.
Luke Thomas played midseason and has made matchday squads for Warrington, so should make the squad. Jacob Lee is in a similar situation at Salford.
Lachlan Hughes has turned out in the NSW Cup for the Bulldogs and will likely get picked. It’s him or Jude Ferreira for one of the squad outside back spots.
Possibles
If they were to get their Newcastle Knights duo, it would be huge for Wales.
Frizell turned out all the way back in 2011 but subsequently played for Australia and might well go for Tonga this time around, should they pick him.
If he did, it would make him the first player to represent three nations in rugby league, and all the more amazing as his brother plays for the All Blacks, a fourth nation.
Best has been contacted but is very much in the maybe pile after another injury-hit season in the Hunter Valley. Again, he would be a massive in should he choose to play.
Regan Grace would have been their undoubted star, but the Welsh winger has a knee injury and is very unlikely to turn out at this stage, though officials say the door is not closed.
Morgan Knowles is one of the best forwards in Super League and has represented Wales previously, but it’s hard not to see him getting picked for England.
Predicted Wales Squad
1 Caleb Aekins
2 Elliot Kear
3 Bradman Best
4 Rhys Evans
5 Rhys Williams
6 Harry Smith
7 Josh Ralph
8 Gil Dudson
9 Curtis Davies
10 Gavin Bennion
11 Chester Butler
12 Bailey Antrobus
13 Ben Evans
14 Matty Fozard
15 Tom Hopkins
16 Rhodri Lloyd
17 Ant Walker
18 Luke Thomas
19 Lewis Hulme
20 Lachlan Hughes
21 Luis Roberts
22 Dalton Grant
23 Will Evans
24 Mike Butt
