All is forgiven for England rugby league's bad boy Gareth Hock.

Considered the English Super League's answer to Willie Mason - both on and off the field - Hock was named in the starting line-up for their World Cup opener against PNG at Townsville on Saturday night.

It caps a remarkable turnaround for the fiery Wigan second rower.

He missed Smith's squad for the three-Test series against New Zealand last season due to ill-discipline.

And the 25-year-old appeared to be next to no chance of winning over Smith before the World Cup after copping a lenient five-match ban and STG500 ($A1,200) fine for manhandling a referee during a Wigan defeat in July.

No one had ever doubted Hock's ability - he was one of Great Britain's best players in the 2006 Tri Nations.

But his temperament appeared to have cost him a World Cup nod.

However, Hock knuckled down on his return from suspension to help Wigan move deep into the Super League finals and received the reward he had all but written off just months before - World Cup squad selection.

Hock's comeback was complete when he was named as second row partner of Gareth Ellis against PNG.

Smith said Hock was a changed man and "wouldn't let himself or his country down" at the Cup.

"I admire the way Gareth has been prepared to make some sacrifices and adjustments to the way he's acted in the past," he told reporters.

"I have been so impressed with him since he came back that I have a lot of faith in him now.

"He's learnt a hard lesson.

"We spoke about the things in his past and he shares my view that they are in his past. "He's shown a lot of maturity and I'd like to reward him with a start."

Another reformed firebrand - former Sydney Roosters enforcer Adrian Morley - has been nudged to the bench by recently crowned Super League player of the year, St Helens prop James Graham.

But Smith has left the door open for Morley to start.

"Mozza (Morley) hasn't played for a while so we'll introduce him a bit later in the game if that's how we finally go," Smith said of Morley.

"But, if we feel Mozza should start, we may change." Smith also named Lee Smith - the Super League final man of the match as a last minute replacement at fullback - on the wing against PNG, pipping Mark Calderwood.

Meanwhile, Smith is seeking permission to meet referee Shayne Hayne before the game to discuss rule interpretations, particularly around the ruck.

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