Shaun Wane has named his 19-man England squad for the second and final Test against Samoa, set to be played at Headingley on Saturday, with two Wigan Warriors men earning call-ups.
The two nations faced off this past Sunday at Wigan Warriors’ Brick Community Stadium and it was the hosts who came out on top with Wane overseeing a 34-18 victory.
He was initially somewhat critical as he labelled it as a performance that ‘would not trouble Australia’ but when speaking to the media this week, confirmed his opinion had changed on second viewing.
“I was more impressed when I watched it back,” he said. “When I saw it again, we did a lot more really good things. I am really satisfied, I was impressed with a lot of the detail and a lot of gameplan stuff. I was a lot happier.”
In that same presser, he also confirmed that the previously suspended Luke Thompson would ‘definitely’ play, whilst revealing Matty Ashton and Dom Young were two of ‘four or five’ with knocks.
Now, 48 hours ahead of kick-off at Headingley, he has named his 19-man squad.
Wigan Warriors pair earn call-up
Announcing the squad, an RFL statement has confirmed that both Luke Thompson and Super League’s top try-scorer Liam Marshall have received call-ups with the Wigan Warriors duo replacing Dom Young and Tom Burgess.
In addition to Burgess and Young dropping out, Danny Walker, Chris Hill and Morgan Smithies have not featured in either of the matchday squads.
The statement read: “Wigan Warriors duo Liam Marshall and Luke Thompson have been called into the England squad for Saturday’s ABK Beer International against Toa Samoa at AMT Headingley.
“Thompson is set to win his eighth cap after he was ruled out of England’s 34-18 win over the Samoans on Sunday by a one-match suspension, and Marshall is in line to make his full international debut as a replacement for the Sydney Roosters star Dominic Young, who suffered a hand injury during the opening match.
“Marshall, who was the leading try-scorer in the Betfred Super League in 2024, wore the England jersey against Fiji in a warm-up match before the 2022 Rugby League World Cup, but that match did not have full international status.
“A third Wigan player, the 20-year-old second-row Junior Nsemba, is also in the running to make his international debut alongside Marshall, having retained his place in the 19-man squad alongside the Warrington Wolves utility player Ben Currie, was an unused 18th player at the weekend.”
🏴 Your 19-man #EnglandRL squad for the @ABKbeer International Test 2 against Samoa!
👀 Catch all the action this Saturday, 2 November AMT Headingley Stadium, Leeds. Tickets still available 🎟️ pic.twitter.com/zF8q5aE6s8
— England Rugby League (@England_RL) October 31, 2024
Eric T Cat
October 31, 2024 at 5:49 pm
Is Shaun Wane tethered by a rope that only lets him attend Wigan, St Helens, and the occasional visit under guard to a Warrington match? It seems no matter how good a player is the odds on being picked seem to go Wigan 100%, St Helens 100%, Warrington 80%, play in Australia 75%, the rest 1%. There are exceptions, if your name is Liam Marshall then you’re relying on an outbreak of plague on wingers, centres, fullbacks, or half backs who could give it a go. If picking on form then wingers based in the UK it should be pick two from Liam Marshall, Matty Ashton, Josh Chanley, and Ryan Hall, with Umlya Hanley as a younger option. Marshall is the form winger in the British game, Charnley is in superb form, Hall has been an absolute monster for Rovers, and Hanley has developed massively over the season, Ashton is the only one to get his chance. We need a coach with broader vision.