Watch: Leigh Leopards star sends a message to Shaun Wane

England Head Coach Shaun Wane today names a 40-player extended England Men’s squad to prepare for international Rugby League in 2023.

Drawn from eight Betfred Super League clubs, the squad includes a total of 20 players who are previously uncapped for England, although 13 of those have featured for England Knights in the last four years as focus turns to youth with the next Rugby League World Cup – being hosted in France in 2025 – on the horizon.

The current Steve Prescott Man of Steel leader George Williams is one of eight players named from the in-form Super League table-toppers Warrington Wolves, with Josh Thewlis, Matty Nicholson and Danny Walker all being selected after featuring for England Knights last season.

Also promoted from the Knights set-up are Hull KR duo Mikey Lewis and Jez Litten, who join Jordan Abdull as three Rovers representatives in the squad. Abdull – who is hot on the heels on Williams in the Man of Steel race – debuted for England back in 2021 in Perpignan.

However, another of Super League’s in form players was not included and he could have taken the number of clubs represented up to nine.

That is of course Super League’s top try scorer Josh Charnley.

The Leigh winger, a former Wigan Warriors star under Shaun Wane, and formerly of the Warrington Wolves, is in sensational form.

He is also chasing Danny McGuire’s record number of 247 Super League tries with Charnley becoming only the second player to pass the 200 marker last season.

He scored twice today against Wakefield Trinity but he also came up with two assists. His best came when teeing Lachlan Lam up for a try with a sensational break.

Charnley had set up Gareth O’Brien up for the opener after getting on the outside of Wakefield.

Here is that assist:

teamwork 🤝 @LeighLeopardsRL 🤩#SLWakLei pic.twitter.com/QWyOSzUhov

— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) April 16, 2023

But his second was the best:

Lachlan Lam through the sticks 🏟️#SLWakLei pic.twitter.com/YqQ3PEHfdP

— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) April 16, 2023

Then he of course got his customary try capitalising on the mess.

Do we expect anything less from @Joshuacharnley @LeighLeopardsRL ? ✨#SLWakLei pic.twitter.com/qTMv1cRUs1

— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) April 16, 2023

He later added a second in a 32-0 win as he sent Shaun Wane a message with that performance that he should have been included in the England squad.