Hull KR trio Joe Burgess, Tom Davies, and Dean Hadley will be feeling “a little bit disgruntled” after being left out of Shaun Wane’s 32-player train-on squad ahead of the 2025 Ashes Series.
That’s according to leading Sky Sports rugby league pundit Jon Wilkin, who expressed surprise at the limited representation from the Super League leaders. Only four Hull KR players – Mikey Lewis, Jez Litten, James Batchelor, and Elliot Minchella – were included in Wane’s extended squad named this week.
In contrast, Wigan Warriors lead all clubs with seven players selected. St Helens and Leeds Rhinos each have six, Warrington Wolves have five, while Leigh Leopards and Wakefield Trinity both have two.
All 32 players from the Betfred Super League joined Wane and his England coaching staff on Tuesday for an off-feet squad session, in preparations for this autumn’s mouth-watering Ashes series at Wembley, Everton and Leeds.
“I think if you look at Hull KR, they’ve been so dominant this year, to have such limited representation in the squad I think is unfortunate,” Wilkin said on Sky Sports’ The Verdict.
“I think, if you look at Dean Hadley, Joe Burgess, Tom Davies, to not even get a look in, I think they’d feel a little bit disgruntled.”
Leading Man of Steel contender Jake Connor was among the biggest omissions from Wane’s squad, although the national coach hasn’t ruled out further call-ups. Wilkin also named veteran Kallum Watkins as another surprising absentee.
“If we look over at Leeds, maybe the biggest story is the omissions from Leeds Rhinos. They’re already well represented in the squad, but it’s Jake Connor who’s leading the Man of Steel leaderboard with some of his performances at half-back for Leeds.
“Then I suppose Kallum Watkins really for me, the standout mid-season buys in recent years, has come from a troubled Salford team to add all of his experience, attitude and effort into a Leeds team and it really works.
“I think the Leeds guys might feel unlucky, but Hull KR probably harshly dealt with.”
Ex-St Helens back-rower Wilkin did, however, hail the inclusion of rising star Harry Robertson, one of six in the extended squad who have yet to play for England alongside Hull KR’s Batchelor, Leeds duo Morgan Gannon and James McDonnell, Leigh’s Owen Trout, and Saints’ George Delaney.
Wilkin added: “I think young Harry Robertson, for me, his inclusion is the biggest bolter out of the squad. A young guy, incredibly talented, super confident and good at rugby. He’s a marketer’s dream.
“So, I’m glad to see him there. It’s probably a bit early for him. It’s a training squad, but exceptional nonetheless.”