SalfordOnline

"John's been talking about the World Cup all year," said Robbie Paul, Wilshere's Salford team-mate. "It means so much to everyone in that PNG squad because they know how much it means to the people back home."

England, who set off from Manchester last night, have been preparing in acclimatisation chambers in Liverpool and Leeds, described by their veteran prop Adrian Morley as "like training in a sauna". They will be based in the more moderate climate of the Gold Coast before flying north to Townsville three days before the game.

John Wilshere is one of 11 overseas-based players named in coach Adrian Lam's final 24-man squad, which also includes Super League Hull KR pair Stanley Gene and Makali Aizue.

Gene and Keith Peters are named as vice-captains of a squad that will run out against England on 25th October at the Dairy Farmers Stadium in Townsville.