Four Nations: England have the players to win title - Sam Tomkins

England full-back Sam Tomkins believes the team have "everything we need" to win the Four Nations despite only being third favourites for the competition.

Reigning world champions Australia are the favourites, followed by New Zealand and then England, who face Samoa in their opening match on Saturday.

"We've got everything we need to go there and win, it's down to the players to perform," said 25-year-old Tomkins.

"A win in this Four Nations would give English rugby league a boost it needs."

Saturday's match is England's first since last year's dramatic World Cup semi-final exit against the Kiwis at Wembley.

Steve McNamara's men had high hopes of ending 38 years of southern hemisphere dominance by Australia and New Zealand in the tournament, but were denied a place in the final when Shaun Johnson's last-minute try clinched a thrilling 20-18 win for the Kiwis.

Since that defeat, England skipper Kevin Sinfield has retired from the international game and coach McNamara has introduced several new faces into his squad.

Four debutants - Matty Smith, Josh Hodgson, Joe Westerman and Daryl Clark - have been named in his 17-man selection to face the Samoans.

But McNamara is without Wigan loose forward Sean O'Loughlin, who replaced Leeds Rhinos counterpart Sinfield as England captain, through injury.

Former St Helens forward James Graham will instead lead England out.

"There is a slight evolution to the squad this year with some new faces on show," said McNamara. "The debutants are exciting and they can prove themselves on the international stage."

England have not taken part in any warm-up matches before the tournament and McNamara described getting players, who arrived in Australia last week, to gel as "a challenge".

"We have only had nine days in Australia to get ready and overcome a long flight, but we've known that from the outset," he said.

"But players at this level are very intelligent, you only have to tell them once or twice and they pick things up.

"Ideally we would have liked to test ourselves in a game situation before going into the tournament and that's not been the case. But we're confident."