Mikey Lewis call made as England predicted to make five changes to starting XIII for second Ashes Test

Shaun Wane has made three changes to his 19-man squad for the second rugby league Ashes Test but we’re predicting more changes to the starting XIII, with Super League Grand Final Man of the Match Mikey Lewis set to drop to the bench.

Lewis played in the number seven role in the first Test and it clearly doesn’t suit him as well as being the maverick playmaker that we see at Hull KR. His time on the ball was limited with his role reduced more to kicking, as opposed to running.

George Williams showed creative sparks in the first half and as England captain, he’s unlikely to be dropped so with Harry Smith one of those called up to the 19-man squad, it looks like Lewis’ time in the starting XIII is over.

However, he’s expected to play as the utility on the bench with Shaun Wane set to abandon a back-up hooker and use Lewis in that role as he did in the Test series against Samoa back in 2023, when England avenged their Rugby League World Cup semi-final loss with a 3-0 series win.

Lewis had played at six for the first two Tests due to George Williams’ ban but reverted to a utility role in the third Test, proving very destructive from the bench.

As well as naming Harry Smith to his 19-man squad, Shaun Wane called up Kallum Watkins and Morgan Smithies with the trio of Jack Welsby, Ethan Havard and John Bateman dropped, with the latter not being 100% fit.

So much position versatility in the England squad makes it hard to predict who plays where but here’s our best guess at how England will line up for Saturday’s must-win Test match.

How England could line up in the second rugby league Ashes Test

Full-back: AJ Brimson (Gold Coast Titans)

With Jack Welsby dropped from the squad, it seems inevitable that this change is made and it’s one that plenty of people had called for but not many thought would happen given Shaun Wane’s loyalty to Jack Welsby. The St Helens man is the only player to play in every game since that 2022 Rugby League World Cup but his run stops now, with speedy NRL man Brimson set to earn his debut.

Winger: Dom Young (Newcastle Knights)

No need for a change on the wing with Young carrying very strong out of backfield as his giant frame imposed itself on the Australian tacklers.

Centre: Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins)

He’s arguably the best centre in the world and despite one shout from down under for him to play at full-back, it seems daft to play square pegs in round holes. Farnworth was among England’s best in the first Test and you can expect the same at Everton on Saturday.

Centre: Jake Wardle (Wigan Warriors)

The Wigan man saw his break on the left thwarted when Reece Walsh batted down his pass to Mikey Lewis but he’ll get another go this week as one of just two centres named in the 19-man squad.

Winger: Tom Johnstone (Wakefield Trinity)

Australia tested Johnstone early on with three high kicks, all of which he defused and from that point onwards, the Kangaroos seemed to kick to the right. The Wakefied man made over 100 metres and another strong performance is on the cards.

Stand-off: George Williams (Warrington Wolves)

If Williams can replicate his first 20 minutes across the full 80 then England will have a good chance as his creative work, including a grubber kick early in the tackle count, did test the Australians.

Scrum-half: Harry Smith (Wigan Warriors)

Harry Smith is a big game master, he rarely has a bad performance on the big stage and that is what this is. The Everton fan will play at his club’s home ground and be tasked with pinning Reece Walsh deep and helping England win the territory battle.

Prop: Matty Lees (St Helens)

Played with a broken eye socket last week and brought it to the Kangaroos early on. No reason why the Saints man can’t do the same again but for longer periods as England need to compete better up front.

Hooker: Jez Litten (Hull KR)

He’ll sharing kicking duties with Harry Smith but as a starter and the only natural hooker, there will be a lot of pressure on Jez Litten but as the ‘best hooker in Super League’ according to Shaun Wane, he should have no problem doing that.

Prop: Owen Trout (Leigh Leopards)

This position could be a number of players with Ethan Havard’s starting role needing to be filled. Trout can and likely will spend time in the second-row but he might be tasked with starting at prop so that the first rotation of props can bring the impact of those on the bench.

Second-row: Kai Pearce-Paul (Wests Tigers)

England’s biggest metre maker in the pack last week and Shaun Wane will want the same again from the leggy second-rower.

Second-row: Morgan Smithies (Canberra Raiders)

Smithies encapsulates the physicality and grit that England missed last week and whilst his preferred position would be loose forward, he could get unleashed in the second-row.

Loose forward: Morgan Knowles (St Helens)

Knowles was asked to play with the ball a lot last week. Hopefully that has changed and he can get back to doing what he did best for St Helens, being a tackle machine. He didn’t fair bad in that department last week though as he topped the tackle count.

Interchange: Mikey Lewis (Hull KR)

As mentioned above, England will look to Mikey Lewis for their spark from the bench with the Hull KR man capable at hooker but also an option in the halves if a change is required.

Interchange: Mike McMeeken (Wakefield Trinity)

Started from the bench last week whilst he may start this week, Shaun Wane will be wanting impact from the big Wakefield man.

Interchange: Kallum Watkins (Leeds Rhinos)

This could be a toss-up between Watkins and his Leeds teammate Mikolaj Oledzki but with a lack of established second-rowers, Watkins could be the man to fill the role. He’ll still have nightmares about the last time England played Australia before last week, the 2017 Rugby League World Cup Final where a Josh Dugan ankle tap stopped him from scoring a vital try.

Interchange: Alex Walmsley (St Helens)

England’s toughest prop to tackle just because of his running style and size but he’ll have to improve on last week’s performance if England are to level the series up.

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