Shaun Wane has announced his 31-man England performance squad ahead of this autumn’s double header with Samoa.
The squad will meet up on Monday, September 16, for an off-field session before reconvening once the Super League season has come to an end to prepare with the first Test rapidly approaching on the horizon.
England will take on Samoa on Sunday, October 27, and the Brick Community Stadium before hosting a a second Test a week later on November 2, at Headingley Stadium. Having fallen short in agonising circumstances against the Samoans in the semi-final of the Rugby League World Cup in 2022, England will be keen to execute revenge and get one back.
It’s a game that follows on from the mid-season clash with France, which England won convincingly in Toulouse and last year’s three-game Test series against Tonga. It also serves as something of a prelude to England’s scheduled tour of Australia in 2025.
Looking down his squad list, Wane will be feeling confident about the squad he has selected with most of them starring on a weekly basis in the Super League, while six Australian based players have also got the nod. Among the players travelling over from the NRL will be Canberra Raiders’ Morgan Smithies, Kai Pearce-Paul of Newcastle Knights, Sydney Rosters duo Victor Radley and Dom Young, Huddersfield Giants bound Tom Burgess and Herbie Farnworth, who has played a key role for the Dolphins this season.
Most of the above names can expect to be involved under Wane this autumn, but how will England line up against Samoa?
Well, it’s fair to say that Jack Welsby will get the nod at full-back, while it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Wigan Warriors duo Liam Marshall and Jake Wardle feature in the outside backs alongside Young and Farnworth.
There’s a decision to make in the halves, but Mikey Lewis is the talk of Super League right now and deserves selection for his remarkable showings in the red and white of Hull KR. George Williams’ experience means he could prove to be the perfect half-back partner for Lewis, with Harry Smith unfortunately left out.
Burgess, Daryl Clark and Luke Thompson make up an experienced front row, but it’s fair to say the back-row we’ve selected is a lot younger. Pearce-Paul has done well with the Knights, while Junior Nsemba’s performances have arguably seen him become the best and most talked about second-rower in the country this season.
Radley gets the nod over Morgan Knowles at loose-forward, with the Saints man having to make do with a bench spot, such is the level of pack talent at Wane’s disposal.
SARL’s predicted England line-up to face Samoa: Jack Welsby; Dom Young, Herbie Farnworth, Jake Wardle, Liam Marshall; George Williams, Mikey Lewis; Tom Burgess, Daryl Clark, Luke Thompson; Kai Pearce-Paul, Junior Nsemba; Victor Radley
Bench: Matty Lees, Mike McMeeken, Danny Walker, Morgan Knowles.
