SHANE Toal is one the players named in Scotland's squad for the upcoming Rugby League World Cup, but there is no place for fellow Barrow Raiders player Brett Carter.
Winger Toal enjoyed an impressive season for Barrow Raiders, finishing as their top try-scorer which included going over twice as they beat Whitehaven 10-6 in the Kingstone Press League One play-off final.
The Ulverstonian has represented Scotland at under-19 level previously and was named as the Bravehearts' young player of the year in 2014.
But this is his first World Cup call-up and he joins another former fellow under-19s player, Brandan Wilkinson of Bradford Bulls, in Steve McCormack's squad for the tournament.
“It’s just reward for those players,” said former Barrow head coach McCormack. “Brandan has played nearly every week in the Championship for Bradford in difficult circumstances this year and has developed massively.
“And Shane has been a stand-out in League One, and topped it all by scoring the try that got Barrow promoted. They are proof that there is talent coming through our pathway.
“It is a young squad, but that’s exciting too. When we took our youngest-ever team to play in France two years ago, I said some of them would be on the plane to Australia and a lot of them will be on Sunday.”
Former Raiders loan player Ben Hellewell, who now plays for London Broncos, is included in the 24-man squad too, but Toal's team-mate Carter was one of those who missed out.
Winger Carter, who represented Scotland at the 2013 World Cup, had been named in the provisional squad for the tournament, but has been overlooked by McCormack for the trip Down Under.
Scotland are in Group B along with co-hosts New Zealand, Samoa and Tonga, with three of the four teams qualifying for the quarter-finals.
They kick off the tournament against Tonga in Cairns on October 29, followed by facing the Kiwis – who they drew 18-18 with in last year's Four Nations – in Christchurch on November 4 and Samoa in Cairns again on November 11.
Scotland squad: Ben Kavanagh, Kieran Moran, Danny Addy (all Hull KR), Alex Walker, Ben Hellewell (both London Broncos), Andrew Bentley, Kane Bentley (both Toulouse Olympique), Brandan Wilkinson, Oscar Thomas (both Bradford Bulls), Dale Ferguson, Danny Brough (both Huddersfield Giants), Frankie Mariano, Sam Brooks (both Featherstone Rovers), David Scott (Batley Bulldogs), Callum Phillips (Workington Town),James Bell (New Zealand Warriors), Jarred Anderson (Sydney Roosters), Johnny Walker (Darlington Point Roosters), Lachlan Stein (Penrith Panthers), Lewis Tierney (Wigan Warriors), Luke Douglas (St Helens), Matthew Russell (Warrington Wolves), Ryan Brierley (Toronto Wolfpack), Shane Toal (Barrow Raiders).
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