Shaun Wane’s 24-man roster for the forthcoming two-game ABK Beer Test Series against Samoa includes FOUR Saints players.
whole back Included is Jack Welsby, who captained the team during two tests against Tonga in the autumn of last year.
Daryl Clark, a seasoned hooker, forward Morgan Knowles, and Saints player of the year Matty Lees accompany Welsby.
The team consists of two uncapped players, Junior Nsemba (20 years old), who was named Betfred Super League Young Player of the Year last week, and Liam Marshall (2024), who led the competition in try-scoring. Both players won the Grand Final with Wigan on Saturday.
Ethan Havard, a young player from Wigan who made his debut for his country in the 2023 midseason victory over France, is also included.
The other two quadruple winners in Wane’s squad are Luke Thompson and Harry Smith; however, Thompson will be suspended for the opening Test Match.
The six Australian-based players in Wane’s roster are the Sydney Roosters’ Dom Young and Victor Radley, the Canberra Raiders’ Morgan Smithies, the Newcastle Knights’ Kai-Pearce Paul, the Dolphins’ Herbie Farnworth, the South Sydney Rabbitohs’ veteran Tom Burgess, and England’s Tom Burgess, who will join the Huddersfield Giants in 2025.
MBE Steve Prescott Steel Man After making his Test Series debut against Tonga the previous year, Mikey Lewis is back for the second straight year, representing Betfred Super League Grand Finalists Hull KR.
Together with England captain George Williams, the team also features five Warrington Wolves players: Matty Ashton, John Bateman, Ben Currie, and Danny Walker.
Three teams from the Betfred Super League are also represented by a single representative: Mike McMeeken, an experienced prop who played for the Catalans Dragons this season, and Chris Hill, an experienced prop who played for the Huddersfield Giants. Both players are set to move in 2025, with McMeeken having already signed a contract to play for Wakefield Trinity.
“I’m really excited by the squad I’ve been able to pick ahead of our two-game Test Series against Samoa,” stated head coach Shaun Wane.
“We are aware that the Samoans will be a formidable opponent, and we have a great deal of history dating back to the Rugby League World Cup two years ago.
“Every player selected their team based on their performance over the previous 12 months, whether that be
“I hope the rugby league fans show up in large numbers at both Wigan and Leeds and support England, building on the fantastic turnout at Old Trafford this past weekend.”
Rugby-league.com/tickets has tickets for the ABK Beer Internationals available right now.
England Men Squad v Samoa (players listed with 2024 clubs).
Matty Ashton (Warrington Wolves).
John Bateman (Warrington Wolves).
Tom Burgess (South Sydney Rabbitohs).
Daryl Clark (St Helens).
Ben Currie (Warrington Wolves).
Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins).
Ethan Havard (Wigan Warriors).
Chris Hill (Huddersfield Giants).
Morgan Knowles (St Helens).
Matty Lees (St Helens).
Mikey Lewis (Hull KR).
Liam Marshall (Wigan Warriors).
Mike McMeeken (Catalans Dragons).
Harry Newman (Leeds Rhinos).
Junior Nsemba (Wigan Warriors).
Kai Pearce-Paul (Newcastle Knights).
Victor Radley (Sydney Roosters).
Harry Smith (Wigan Warriors).
Morgan Smithies (Canberra Raiders).
Luke Thompson (Wigan Warriors).
Danny Walker (Warrington Wolves).
Jack Welsby (St Helens).
George Williams (Warrington Wolves).
Dom Young (Sydney Rabbitohs).