Shaun Wane has named his 24-man England squad to face Australia
Hull KR will have three players represented in England’s Ashes squad to face the Australians thanks to call-ups for Mikey Lewis, Jez Litten and Joe Burgess. As expected, Dean Hadley has not been picked despite his impressive appearances all season long for the treble winners and his Dream Team selection, but Lewis and Litten ensure two Hull-born players are in the squad.
Man of the match in the Grand Final and last season’s Man of Steel, Lewis was expected to be in Shaun Wane’s squad and has taken his place as one of three recognised halves alongside Wigan Warriors’ Harry Smith and Warrington Wolves star and captain George Williams. The form player of the three, all eyes will be on whether Lewis gets handed selection for the first Test at Wembley Stadium, or whether Wane sticks with his tried and tested pairing of Smith and Williams.
The selection of the half-back trio means there is no space for this season’s Man of Steel Jake Connor, who is left out of the 24-man party and can’t even get in as a utility man capable of playing several positions if needed. Other notable absentees are Wigan trio Junior Nsemba, Brad O’Neill and Luke Thompson, while NRL players John Bateman, AJ Brimson, Herbie Farnwoth, Kai Pearce-Paul and Dom Young are the five representatives from the Aussie competition.
Connor and Hadley are not the only Dream Team members not selected, with wingers Lewis Martin (Hull FC) and Liam Marshall (Wigan), and second row James McDonnell (Leeds) also missing out.
In total there are five players from St Helens, three players from Rovers, Wigan and Leeds Rhinos, two players representing Wakefield Trinity and Newcastle Knights, and one each from Warrington Wolves, Leigh Leopards, Canberra Raiders, Gold Coast Titans, North Queensland Cowboys and the Dolphins.
The first Test match takes place at Wembley on Saturday, October 25, followed by games on consecutive Saturdays at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium and Leeds Rhinos’ Headingley Stadium. It is the first time the two countries have met since the 2017 World Cup final.
England 24-man squad
John Bateman (North Queensland Cowboys), AJ Brimson (Gold Coast Titans), Joe Burgess ( Hull KR ), Daryl Clark (St Helens), Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins), Ethan Havard (Wigan Warriors), Morgan Knowles (St Helens), Matty Lees (St Helens), Mikey Lewis (Hull KR), Jez Litten (Hull KR), Mike McMeeken (Wakefield Trinity), Harry Newman (Leeds Rhinos), Mikolaj Oledzki (Leeds Rhinos), Tom Johnstone (Wakefield Trinity), Kai Pearce-Paul (Newcastle Knights), Harry Smith (Wigan Warriors), Morgan Smithies (Canberra Raiders), Owen Trout (Leigh Leopards), Alex Walmsley (St Helens), Jake Wardle (Wigan Warriors), Kallum Watkins (Leeds Rhinos), Jack Welsby (St Helens), George Williams (Warrington Wolves), Dom Young (Newcastle Knights).