Australian icons call for NRL man to make England debut following Ashes defeat

Members of the Australia media were left questioning a key selection decision by England head coach Shaun Wane, following their 26-6 loss to the Kangaroos in the first Test of the Ashes series.

Reece Walsh was the star of the show at Wembley, as he scored twice to help his side to a Test win on debut. Back-rower Angus Crichton also crossed for a double, with England’s defensive effort for his first try being heavily criticised by the media Down Under.

The Sydney Roosters man received the ball 30 metres out, but not one England player managed to bring him down, with full-back Jack Welsby’s misreading of the play allowing him for an easy score.

The Saints star got his positioning all wrong, and allowed him acres of space to crash over, and it is his performance in both defence and attack that has left a number of NRL legends wondering if he deserves a place in the squad next week.

NRL man AJ Brimson is being tipped as the one to take his spot, after the Gold Coast Titans man switched allegiances from Australia to England ahead of this series.

He is yet to make an appearance for England, but his versatility and form in the NRL make Australian legends Cameron Smith, Laurie Daley and Michael Ennis all think he is worthy of a maiden Test appearance.

Should NRL star AJ Brimson play for England in the second Ashes Test?

Where he plays is a different question, but former hooker Smith has debated his omission from the Wembley squad, and insists he should play next week if England are to get anything from the second Test.

Speaking to Nine’s Wide World of Sports, he said: “I don’t know what their coach is thinking, but he [Brimson] either needs to go into full-back or go into the halves, because their halves weren’t much better either.

“They didn’t really offer them too much in attack. They came up with a couple of good opportunities, but they failed to capitalise on the opportunities. The last pass or the last bounce of the ball really failed to stick.”

His views have been echoed by another NRL great, Laurie Daley, who spoke to Fox Sports to have his say.

The former NSW coach believes there is a reluctancy for England to play the likes of Brimson, who is only eligible due to heritage reasons, and instead select Super League players to try and prove a point that they can compete with the Aussies.

“It is because they don’t want to put too many Australians in, but they are playing for England, so they are eligible to play for England,” said Daley.

“They have probably got this thing where, they are Australians playing in the NRL and we will show them how good the Super League is, well no.”

Fox Sports pundit Michael Ennis, who knocked up 273 NRL games in his career, agreed with Smith and Daley, adding that Brimson will give England some extra attacking flair they evidently lacked at Wembley.

He said: “AJ Brimson [being named at] 18th man being left out of the side was really surprising and the other one Mikey Lewis, who has been great for Hull KR this year, really struggled to have an impact on the game, so it will be fascinating to see what Shaun Wane does.

“I think Brimson has to come into the side and through that middle part of the field is where he is most suited, so I would play him at fullback.