As the Ashes edge ever closer, Shaun Wane will be beginning to pencil names into his England squad based off what he has seen so far this season. The first Ashes Test with Australia is four months away and some names are already assured of their spot.
George Williams will captain the side, for example, while the likes of Junior Nsemba, Herbie Farnworth and Jake Wardle are guaranteed to be included should they remain fit. There’s still so many spots up for grabs, though, and loose-forward is one of those positions yet to be fully decided, you would think.
There’s a raft of options at Wane’s disposal, with Victor Radley and Morgan Knowles arguably the frontrunners, while Morgan Smithies and Ben Currie are no strangers to Wane’s international environment either. But what about Elliot Minchella?
Minchella made his England debut last year against France but never made the cut for the autumn series against Samoa, which will have come as a huge disappointment for the 29-year-old. Wane will have been watching him closely this season though and in truth, the Hull KR skipper could not have done any more to impress the England coach this season.
The Yorkshireman became the first KR player to lift the Challenge Cup trophy in 45 years and he has played a huge part in helping Rovers to move four points clear at the top of the table. While he might not grab the headlines for his tryscoring antics or flashy ability with the ball in hand, like others do in Willie Peters’ outfit, Minchella is consistently reliable, he runs himself into the ground defensively and he takes charge of distributing the ball so often.
He offers leadership, guidance and nous and that can only be an asset on the international stage and for many, he should be the man wearing the number 13 when England walk out at to face the Kangaroos later this year.
Jon Wilkin made the case for Minchella to be included in the squad when speaking after KR’s demolition of Castleford Tigers last week, but he also spoke about his competition, with Wilkin seeing Radley and Knowles as Minchella’s main competitors.
“Maybe he has the most difficult task,” Wilkin said of Minchella. “He’s in a position where we’ve got Radley and Knowles, it’s heavily packed and stacked full of talent, but those three have got to be in the squad.”
So let’s take a deeper look at Minchella’s chances and the other loose-forward options Wane will be considering
Elliot Minchella
Being cut from the squad last autumn will have left a bitter taste in the mouth of Minchella and that must have provided some motivation for the KR captain coming into this year. He offers so much to the Robins and right now it wouldn’t be a surprise if he were to lift all three trophies this year.
The Challenge Cup is already in the bag, but they’re four points clear in the race for the League Leaders’ Shield and that could give them enough of an edge to kick on and win the Grand Final. He’ll make himself hard to ignore should he manage to win just one more of those trophies this year and the same can be said for the likes of Tom Davies, Joe Burgess and Jez Litten.
Wane makes regular contact with the players he considers to be in his wider squad and Minchella will have an idea of where he stands, but all he can do is keep doing what he’s doing.
Victor Radley
If he’s fully fit Radley can expect to be the starting 13 this autumn against the country he calls home. But, the Sydney Roosters man has struggled with head injuries this year and after undergoing his fifth HIA, he looks set to miss at least a month of action and he has even been told to consider retirement by a leading concussion expert.
As such, there has to be doubts about whether he will be involved for England after a difficult campaign and if he opts not play in the series, that might just open the door for Minchella to claim a starting spot. Given the energy he brings through the middle, though, losing Radley would be a blow for Wane. He has nine caps for England now and he’ll know more than most about the individuals in the Australia side.
Morgan Smithies
Smithies is playing a leading role in what has been one of the NRL’s standout sides this season. The Canberra Raiders man has made 15 appearances and he’s tasted defeat on just two occasions, with the club now second in the league ladder.
His teammate Matty Nicholson looks to have a good chance of claiming a spot should he recover from injury in time following the way he has performed down under and Smithies will certainly be in the reckoning too. The 24-year-old does have one England appearance to his name and like Minchella, he probably couldn’t be expected to do more in terms of catching Wane’s eye.
Morgan Knowles
Wane knows more about Knowles than any other player on this list and he knows what he can offer his team in the play-offs this year. That’s a man who will run his blood to water, make tackle after tackle after tackle and make the hard yards with the ball in hand.
He’s dependable and with a move to Dolphins lined up, he might well see this autumn as the perfect opportunity to introduce himself to an Australian audience. St Helens have had an up and down year so far, but Knowles has been so consistent yet again and the fact that he’s only missed one game so far will be a big boost.
Ben Currie
Like with Knowles, Wane is more than aware of what Currie can offer a side and with his 31st birthday just around the corner, he’s the most experienced player on this list. He has 10 caps for England and what plays into Wane’s hands is that he’s versatile.
The Warrington Wolves man has spent the last season and a half at loose-forward but he can play second-row too or potentially even centre. As such, while he may not pick up the plaudits others do on this list, he gives Wane options and when you’re deep in the battle of a Test match, that’s always beneficial.
😤 Rivalry Reignited
🏴 #EnglandRL will face @Kangaroos in the @ABKBeer Rugby League Ashes for the first time since 2003!
👇 Pre-register your interest in tickets now… pic.twitter.com/GwS3ghd7Z5
— England Rugby League (@England_RL) March 26, 2025
Super League Disciplinary News
Every Super League player’s disciplinary record after latest charges
