With less than one week to go until the first England v Samoa Test in Wigan, we’ve taken a quick look at how our England players performed in their 2024 league seasons…
Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel Mikey Lewis represents Betfred Super League Grand Finalists Hull KR for the second consecutive Test series.
Magic Mikey Lewis helped to guide the Robins to a historic top two finish in 2024, while enjoying an incredible season on an individual level – finishing as Super League’s top points scorer and second top try assister.
The England squad includes five Warrington Wolves with Matty Ashton, John Bateman, Ben Currie and Danny Walker named in addition to England Captain George Williams.
An acrobatic Ashton has lit up the Betfred Super League in 2024 with his searing pace and agility. Warrington’s winger is Super League’s second top try scorer and his club’s top try scorer with 25 tries.
Making over 4000 metres and 35 line breaks, Ashton certainly knows his way to the try line and how to make the yardage – could he do the same against Samoa?
Bateman is also set to feature in an England shirt once again. He joined Warrington mid-way through the season and made an instant impact in the side, producing 306 tackles and progressing all the way to a Super League Semi-Final.
Workhorse, Currie, made 50+ tackles in each of his last two games alone and has averaged 32 tackles per game this year. He emerged as the club’s top tackler with 814 tackles made – will he produce two more massive stints in the upcoming Test series?
Walker has also enjoyed a sensational season, and fans will look forward to seeing Williams back in action, who has been Wire’s star man in 2024. He’s got 21 try assists and eight tries to his name and will bring all the experience required, as the England side eye up revenge on the Samoans.
The England squad includes two uncapped players, who were both Grand Final winners with Wigan Warriors – Junior Nsemba, the 20-year-old talent who was named Betfred Super League Young Player of the Year, and the competition’s top try-scorer for 2024, Liam Marshall.
Another Wigan youngster, prop Ethan Havard, is also included after making his international debut back in 2023 in the mid-season victory over France. Luke Thompson and general Harry Smith are the other quadruple winners in Wane’s squad - although Thompson will miss the first Test Match through suspension.
Thompson has been a star signing for the Warriors in 2024 and established himself as arguably one of the best forwards in the league. His first year with Wigan has been the ultimate dream – and he played a pivotal role in the pack with his 3285 metres and 751 tackles.
And if his Grand Final performance is anything to go by – where he made a whooping 48 tackles and 145 metres - then fans should be excited to see him finally pull on an England shirt in Test 2.
Jack Welsby is one of four St Helens players involved after recovering from injury ahead of the Super League Play-Offs. Welsby has contributed 12 tries and 17 try assists throughout Saints’ campaign.
Joining him in the England side are Daryl Clark, Matty Lees and Morgan Knowles. Clark has been one of Saints’ key men in 2024 with seven tries and six try assists under his belt, while Lees has been a consistent performer. Knowles also made a fantastic comeback from injury and has rightfully earned another England call-up.
There are also sole representatives from three Betfred Super League clubs – Leeds centre Harry Newman, and experienced props Mike McMeeken and Chris Hill. Hill has been a standout performer for the Giants in 2024 and joins this year’s England camp with over 30 international caps to his name and valuable experience.
Sydney Roosters duo Dom Young and Victor Radley are amongst the six Australian-based players in Wane’s squad alongside Morgan Smithies of Canberra Raiders, Newcastle Knights’ Kai-Pearce Paul, Dolphins centre Herbie Farnworth and South Sydney Rabbitohs and England veteran Tom Burgess.
They have all made 20+ appearances for their respective sides in 2024, with Young and Radley helping the Roosters to a Preliminary Final, and Young finishing as the NRL’s third top try scorer with 20 tries.
Smithies has also had a fine start to life Down Under, and has been recognised for his exceptional defensive efforts - a mammoth 909 tackles over the course of the season.
And Burgess is left to fly the flag for England Rugby League with his brothers George and Sam, former England internationals, having both retired from playing.
England v Samoa's first Test will take place on Sunday 27 October at The Brick Community Stadium in Wigan (K.O. 2.30pm), followed by the second Test at AMT Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds, on Saturday 2 November (K.O. 2.30pm).
Both will be televised by BBC Sport domestically and on SuperLeague+ overseas.
Have you got your tickets yet?
Tickets for the England v Samoa two-game Test series are available to buy now at rugby-league.com/tickets with prices starting per test match from £25 Adults and £12.50 Under 16s.
The new England RL shirt can also be purchased now from Oxen’s Elite Pro Sports online store.
