Australian rugby league legend, Matty Johns has revealed he was left “amazed” by England’s team selection for the Ashes, and has picked two players who he would have had in the squad – both of whom have ties to Wigan Warriors.
An NRL veteran, Johns is a man with over 200 appearances in the Aussie competition, and was a Grand Final winner with the Newcastle Knights in 1997.
On the representative stage, he played for the Kangaroos nine times and New South Wales four times, so he has plenty of experience in featuring in the biggest of matches.
Speaking on the podcast he presents with his son, Cooper, the player-turned-pundit gave his thoughts on England’s Ashes series, with Johns questioning the home nation’s decision making before a ball had even been kicked.
Two key selection omissions left the ex-half-back bewildered, with him saying both names would have been some of the first on his team sheet.
Canberra Raiders’ Matty Nicholson and Wigan Warriors’ Junior Nsemba were those players, with the back-row pair being left out in favour of John Bateman, Kai Pearce-Paul and Kallum Watkins.
He said: “A couple of players that were left out of the England squad amazed me.
“Two of the first forwards I would have picked if I was Shaun Wane would have been Matty Nicholson, and a young bloke a Wigan back rower, Junior Nsemba.
On the Wigan starlet, he added: “He is a very, very special player on the up.
“He maybe went off a little bit as far as his form, but when we were in Vegas, I tipped him to people, and said ‘mate you watch this kid, he’s just a powerhouse’.”
“I was amazed that neither of those players were picked.”
In relation to Nicholson, he explained: “Up until when he got injured at Magic Round, was the back rower in the competition. Outstanding player, Matty Nicholson. I couldn’t believe it.”
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Eric T Cat
November 11, 2025 at 7:27 pm
They don’t have “credit in the bank” with Shaun Wane, so alongside Jake Connor, Liam Marshall, they aren’t playing. We could start to build a team of English players Wane won’t pivck, and build up a decent side, plus a few outliers, up and coming players, to round it out.
1. Jowitt (Wakefield)
2. Martin (Hull FC)
3. Hanley (Wigan)
R. Gildart (Hull KR)
5. Marshall (Wigan)
6.connor (Leeds)
7. Sneyd (Warrington)
8. Trout* (Leigh)
9. Walker (Warrington)
10.Mulhern (Leigh)
11. Nsemba (Wigan)
12. Nicholson (Canberra)
13. Minchella (Hull KR)
Subs 14. Broadbent (Hull KR), 15. Gannon (NZ Warriors), 16. Hadley (Hull KR) 17. Max King (Canterbury)§
* – should have been playing, not sat watching.
§ – played original, might not get picked again, so could be tempted.
I reckon they’d give Wane Credit Bank XIII a real game! It might be better to play a match against those who would relish the chance to rub his nose in his selections. Lancashire vs Yorkshire doesn’t work, what about Probables vs Possibles?
Please put your own side forward! Maybe the journos could pick a better team?