Hull KR star set for Ashes audition as Jack Welsby injury raises key question

It’s been confirmed that St Helens star Jack Welsby will miss the next 16 weeks through injury and could be heading into the Ashes undercooked, and that could see a Hull KR man thrust into the limelight.

For the last decade the question of who is England’s second-choice full-back has been largely irrelevant, in part due to the lack of international fixtures but also because of the chokehold that Sam Tomkins and then Jack Welsby had on the position.

However, that question must now be asked in fear that Welsby’s recovery process could take longer than the stated 16 weeks he’s set to miss due to his knee injury, or the fact that he’d be lacking game experience on account of his lengthy lay-off.

Recently, NRL star and former State of Origin man AJ Brimson changed his national allegiance to England so he would be an obvious candidate but closer to home there are a number of options.

With a serious lack of starting English full-backs in Super League, one option is Hull KR utility back Jack Broadbent, a man who Willie Peters has previously compared to State of Origin man Connor Watson.

How Hull KR man could use Challenge Cup Final as perfect chance to launch Ashes bid

As it happens, Broadbent can put himself bang in the frame this weekend with Hull KR facing Warrington Wolves in the Challenge Cup Final at Wembley, the same venue which will host the first Ashes Test.

Whilst Broadbent has played in the centres, on the wing and even in the halves in 2025, he’s played a number of times at his natural role of full-back and that’s where he’ll play for the Robins on Saturday.

With Arthur Mourgue cup-tied, Willie Peters will once again call on Broadbent to play full-back and that gives the 24-year-old a prime opportunity to impress Shaun Wane.

Even if Welsby is back and firing, which all England fans will hope is the case, there’s an argument to be made that Broadbent could be the ultimate squad player given his versatility – something that Willie Peters lauded earlier this year.

“The thing about Jack is Jack can play so many different positions,” Peters said back in April, adding: “He is of such value to us as a team. He can play pretty much any position. He can play full-back, wing, centre, he can play in the halves. You can put him in hooker. I haven’t used him in 13 yet, but could he be a link 13? I’m not gonna say no, because he’s a footy player.

“There’s so much value to that that he brings to the team. He’s like our Connor Watson. Connor Watson is now getting recognised for his utility value for playing Origin and things like that. He’s very similar. I’ve worked with Connor and they’re very, very similar players.”