Lyon wins Test place
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Your support makes all the difference.The 19-year-old centre, Jamie Lyon, will fly to Heathrow on Monday knowing he is in the Australian side to face Great Britain in the first Test six days later.
The Australian coach, Chris Anderson, has taken the unique step of naming his team before leaving the country and has preferred Lyon to another youngster, Mark Gasnier, after both made an impressive Test debut in Papua New Guinea last month. Lyon was the only ever-present in the Parramatta team which reached the Australian Grand Final and has been handed the job of taking over from Ryan Girdler, surprisingly omitted from the squad.
Anderson has further underlined his commitment to youth by including two more of his raw recruits – Canterbury's Braith Anasta and St George-Illawarra's Jason Ryles – on the bench. Anasta, like Lyon and Gasnier a graduate of the Australian Schoolboys' tour just two years ago, was the most exciting newcomer of last season.
Ryles is one of three props on the bench and the biggest surprise in the 17. "I'm probably fortunate that Shane Webcke decided not to come, but whatever happens now is up to me," he said. "My destiny is in my own hands."
The Featherstone coach, Peter Roe, has confirmed that he is to take over at Wakefield. Roe will succeed John Harbin, who stood down after steering Trinity away from relegation.
The Hull chief executive, Shane Richardson, will decide within the week whether to return to Australia after being offered a similar post at Penrith. He said: "It's a matter of whether my family want to go home."
Leon Felton, the utility back who played briefly for St Helens last season, has joined Warrington on a one-year contract.
The Huddersfield assistant coach, Jon Sharp, is moving to St Helens, taking over from Harry Bryant, who is returning to Australia.
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