England squad to face Australia: Hull KR trio named in Ashes party as Jake Connor misses out
Hull KR’s Grand Final winning trio Mikey Lewis, Jez Litten and Joe Burgess have been named in England’s final 24-man squad for the autumn Ashes Test series against Australia but there is no place for Super League’s Man of Steel winner Jake Connor.
Litten’s only previous appearance was against France in 2023, while Burgess, who scored two tries in Hull KR’s victory over Wigan on Saturday, returned to the England squad after a 10-year absence.
But Connor, who was omitted from the squad meeting in June, failed to convince head coach Shaun Wane that he deserved a place amid fierce competition in the halves.
Wane’s excellent options in these positions include captain George Williams, Wigan’s Harry Smith and Lewis, who won the Rob Burrow Award for man of the match for his superb performance at Old Trafford.
“I am really excited about the 24 players we have selected ahead of the upcoming Ashes Series,” Wane said.
“There were some tough decisions to make and that is never easy given the quality we have in both Super League and NRL, but I am confident the 24 selected will give us the best chance of winning this series.”
Full-back AJ Brimson, who switched his international allegiance from Australia to England in May, is one of six players selected to ply their trade in the NRL.
Newcastle Knights duo Dom Young and Kai Pearce-Paul feature alongside Dolphins center Herbie Farnworth, North Queensland’s John Bateman and former Wigan lock Morgan Smithies, now with the Canberra Raiders.
Jack Welsby, Morgan Knowles and Alex Walmsley are among St Helens’ starting five, while Wigan and Leeds Rhinos have three representatives each in the party.
England 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)
