Shaun Wane snubs Billy Smith, recalls Kallum Watkins

We took a look at the rest of the England squad hoping to win the Ashes for the first time since 1970.

Super League players

Joe Burgess (Body KR): What is an England team without Burgess? Joe, who is not related to Sam, George, Tom or Luke, has scored 19 tries in 19 games this season; two of which were grand final victories against Wigan and earned him a recall after 10 years in the international wilderness. He played four games for the Roosters and nine for South Sydney in 2016, scoring seven tries. He scored a hat-trick for Wigan in the 2017 World Club Challenge (WCC) win against Cronulla.

Daryl Clark (St Helens): The 32-year-old hooker, who has played 15 Tests for England and Great Britain, is a genuine threat at fly-half, as evidenced by his 89 tries in 336 Super League matches. The 2014 Super League Man of Steel helped England to two wins over Samoa last year.

Ethan Havard (Wigan): The Bulgarian-born prop has started up front for Wigan in the last two major finals and last year’s two Test wins against Samoa.

Morgan Knowles (St Helens): At 89kg he is not the biggest centre-forward but a strong player who featured in four grand final wins and the 2023 WCC victory over Penrith. He played in eight Tests for England. An average of 32 steals were achieved for the Saints this season. He will likely fill the void created by Victor Radley’s unavailability.

Matty Lees (St Helens): The 27-year-old, who has won the Super League grand final three times, is unbeaten in nine tests, including three against Tonga and two against Samoa.

Mikey Lewis (Body KR): Despite recently signing a new five-year contract with the champions, there is no player NRL scouts will be watching more closely than the 24-year-old playmaker. The 2024 Man of Steel scored 43 tries in the last two seasons and 84 tries in his Super League career. One of those came in last week’s grand final victory over Wigan, after which he was named man of the match to underline his reputation as one of England’s top prospects. He is unbeaten in five Tests.

Jez Litten (Body KR): One of the prominent hookers of the Super League this season. He scored eight tries in 26 games, including one in the grand final victory over Wigan.

Mike McMeeken (Wakefield): The strong 31-year-old player scored nine goals in 24 matches this season. In his 10 Tests there were five wins against Samoa and three against Tonga.

Harry Newman (Leeds): He made his Super League debut at the age of 17 in Wigan’s 34-0 defeat. He has since amassed 129 Super League appearances and scored 46 tries. I haven’t lost in six Tests yet.

Mikolaj Oledzki (Leeds): Standing at 190cm and weighing 116kg, the Polish-born enforcer gives England the size to match fire with fire.

Tom Johnstone (Wakefield): The 30-year-old winger became a prolific goalscorer, scoring 128 goals in 174 games for Wakefield and the Catalans in the Super League. He also scored seven tries in five Tests.

Harry Smith (Wigan): The playmaker made 19 assists this season to help Wigan reach the grand final. He is unbeaten in seven tests and is a reliable goalkeeper with 282 two-pointers in the Super League.

Owen Trout (Leigh): The 26-year-old back-rower will be hoping to prove he is no fish out of water if he makes his Test debut against the Kangaroos.

Alex Walmsley (St Helens): Although the 196cm and 155kg footballer has not played for England since 2021, he has shown in 11 tries this season that he has never been in better form. He won three Super League grand finals, the 2023 WCC and featured in 10 Tests.

Jake Wardle (Wigan): Joe, who had a memorable season with the Knights in 2016, is getting bored as a youngster. He is arguably the best center of the Super League, scoring 67 goals in 157 matches. He hopes to contribute to his lone Test appearance.

Kallum Watkins (Leeds): He was probably chosen because of the experience he offers after 376 Super League matches and 164 tries.

Jack Welsby (St Helens): The Super League assistant full-back and multiple championship winner has played eight-eighth, centre-back, full-back and came off the bench in his 12 Tests for England.

George Williams (Warrington): Incumbent England captain Williams is best remembered for his 32 appearances with Canberra in the NRL. He is currently an experienced name who has played 256 Super League matches for England and participated in 21 Tests.

NRL PLAYERS

John Bateman (North Queensland): At the age of 32, he found a new life in Townsville. He is England’s most experienced player with 30 Tests under his belt.

AJ Brimson (Gold Coast): The Gold Coast utility and former Queensland Origin star has switched his international allegiance and has been welcomed on board by the Poms. He is expected to play at full-back or eighth against the Roos.

Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins): Dally M was on track to win the center of the year award before suffering a long-term hamstring injury. He is expected to line up opposite former Broncos teammate Kotoni Staggs.

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Kai Pearce-Paul (Newcastle): The towering backrower was arguably the Knights’ best player this season, averaging 39 tackles and 108 meters per game. The 24-year-old, who joined the Tigers, also had 29 tackles at the loss and will be a handful for the Aussies.

Morgan Smithies (Canberra): He played 49 games for the Raiders over the last two seasons. It seems certain that Wane will be somewhere in the engine room rotation.

Dominic Young (Newcastle): A season that was interrupted after he left the Roosters and rejoined the wooden spooners. Nine tries in six Tests suggest he will be one of England’s main attacking weapons.