Brad O'Neill and Jez Litten have been relishing their time together in the England camp.

Brad O’Neill has fired a classy message to England team-mate Jez Litten, backing their battle for the No.9 shirt to bring the best out of both hookers.

The Wigan star, who claimed the 2026 Super League Man of Steel award, has been selected to start at hooker again for England’s must-win World Cup clash against France after their disappointing 30-12 opening defeat to Tonga left their semi-final hopes hanging by a thread.

O’Neill has been handed a fresh opportunity under new head coach Brian McDermott, having been recalled to the England side for the first time since 2024 after missing out on Shaun Wane’s squad for last year’s Ashes series.

Litten, meanwhile, emerged as one of England’s standout performers during an otherwise miserable Ashes campaign on home soil - the first series in 22 years.

But the Hull KR hooker has been forced to settle for a place on the bench against Tonga and will again start among the interchanges for Saturday’s showdown in Perth.

Despite the competition for the starting role, O’Neill has nothing but admiration for his fellow hooker and believes their rivalry can only strengthen England in the long run.

With their semi-final hopes hanging in the balance, the pair will be desperate to help England respond against France in emphatic fashion and keep their tournament alive.

“Jez is a really good player. He probably shows different sides, his rugby knowledge and his smarts and just as a person as well - he's a really good bloke off the field and we're getting on pretty well,” said O’Neill.

“I think he's a very skilful - running, attacking threat of a nine, and he's really tough in defence as well.

“His whole game's pretty good and he can do both sides of the game pretty well. The way you push each other in training and on the field creates the competition.

“I feel like we've got strength in depth in the 23-man squad. There's players challenging for spots all the way through the team. It's only good for us and will benefit us in the long run.”

As well as aiming for big scores against France and Papua New Guinea in the group stages, England will be relying on other results going their way in order to advance to the semi-finals of the 10-team tournament.

England were stunned by Pacific heavyweights Tonga in their opening fixture, four years after being knocked out of the World Cup on home soil by Samoa in the semi-finals.

"As you'd expect it was very disappointing," added O'Neill.

"When you play for your regular club it is tough, so the mood after losing a game of such magnitude... but we know what we need to do to continue in this tournament and we're going to put our best foot forward."