England know it’s a must-win game in the second Test of the rugby league Ashes and their team versus Australia has been confirmed.
Following defeat in last week’s opener at Wembley, Shaun Wane was encouraged to make changes by many pundits with the Australian voices particularly scornful regarding England’s performnace.
Among those calls was a strong one for AJ Brimson to feature at full-back and Wane’s 19-man squad indicated that would be the case with Jack Welsby dropped, leaving the Gold Coast Titans man set for his England rugby league debut at Everton.
Other changes included the recall of Harry Smith, Morgan Smithies and Kallum Watkins, as John Bateman, Ethan Havard and Welsby all dropped out.
Shaun Wane hinted during the week that Smith would partner captain George Williams in the halves again with Mikey Lewis as a bench option, but the full matchday squad has now been confirmed.
Mikey Lewis confirmed on the bench for England as Kallum Watkins earns start
As expected, AJ Brimson starts at full-back in an otherwise unchanged back line with Harry Smith now joining George Williams in the halves.
The other big decision in the spine is Jez Litten being named as hooker with Daryl Clark left out of the 17 completely. Both he and Owen Trout miss out from the initial 19-man squad.
In the pack, McMeeken starts as the Havard replacement with Watkins serving as the John Bateman replacement. Lees, Pearce-Paul and Knowles all retain their starting spots.
Mikey Lewis is on the bench as expected and he’s joined by Alex Walmsley, Morgan Smithies and Mikolaj Oledzki, with the latter pair making their first appearance this series.
England XIII: 1. AJ Brimon, 2. Dom Young, 3. Herbie Farnworth, 4. Jake Wardle, 5. Tom Johnstone, 6. George Williams, 7. Harry Smith, 8. Mike McMeeken, 9. Jez Litten, 10. Matty Lees, 11. Kai Pearce-Paul, 12. Kallum Watkins, 13. Morgan Knowles
England interchanges: 14. Mikey Lewis, 15. Alex Walmsley, 16. Morgan Smithies, 17. Mikolaj Oledzki
Australia had confirmed their 17-man squad earlier in the week with their only change being captain Isaah Yeo out after failing a HIA at Wembley. Harry Grant took the captaincy whilst Patrick Carrigan shifted to lock, Lindsay Collins to prop, with Linday Smith called up to the squad.
Australia XIII: 1. Reece Walsh, 2. Mark Nawaqanitawase, 3. Kotoni Staggs, 4. Gehamat Shibasaki, 5. Josh Addo-Carr, 6. Cameron Munster, 7. Nathan Cleary, 8. Lindsay Collins, 9. Harry Grant, 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, 11. Angus Crichton, 12. Hudson Young, 13. Patrick Carrigan
Australia interchanges: 14. Tom Dearden, 15. Lindsay Smith, 16. Reuben Cotter, 17. Keaon Koloamatangi
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Eric T Cat
November 1, 2025 at 2:12 pm
Sack the coach. He hasn’t got a clue, if one was mailed to him he’d hide behind the sofa pretending to be out, or refuse to accept it as it’s not from his preferred delivery person.
I watched a thing with Willie Mason, he nearly dropped his beer when Kallum Watkins was suggested as playing! The players the Australians fear, genuinely fear, are on holiday, sat warming the bench, or 18th man.
In the interests of the sport we need Australia to hand out an object lesson and thrash England today, by 50 points or more!