England Head Coach Shaun Wane has made several changes to his 19-player squad to face the Kangaroos in the second ABK Beer Rugby League Ashes Test on Saturday 1 November at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
AJ Brimson – who successfully changed his international eligibility earlier this year – is in line to make his England debut following an impressive season with Gold Coast Titans in the NRL.
Fellow NRL star Morgan Smithies comes into Wane’s squad after a season which saw him lift the Minor Premiership with Canberra Raiders whilst veteran Leeds Rhinos forward Kallum Watkins could earn his 30th England cap this weekend.
Wigan Warriors half-back Harry Smith is also selected after missing out on the opening test at Wembley. Smith had previously featured in the last six England fixtures against Tonga, France and Samoa.
Head Coach Shaun Wane said: “I needed to make some changes to the side that lost last week at Wembley and I have done that.
“The beauty of having such a strong squad is that we are bringing some really talented players into the side ahead of this weekend’s game, but the fact remains we simply need to be better this time around.
“I want us to show the very best of us, play at the level I know we can and ultimately level this Ashes Series.
“We are heading to a sold-out Hill Dickinson Stadium at Everton and I have no doubt the English supporters will get behind the team and be that 18th man for us on Saturday afternoon.”
The Hill Dickinson Stadium is completely sold out for Saturday’s Ashes Test, however supporters can watch all the action live on BBC One from 230pm with build-up from 2pm.
England Squad v Australia, Test Two, Saturday 1 November, Hill Dickinson Stadium, 230pm
AJ Brimson (Gold Coast Titans)
Age: 27. England caps: 0
Daryl Clark (St Helens)
Age: 32. England caps: 14 (2 tries). Great Britain caps: 2 (1 try)
Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins)
Age: 25. England caps: 7 (6 tries)
Tom Johnstone (Wakefield Trinity)
Age: 30. England caps: 6 (7 tries)
Morgan Knowles (St Helens)
Age: 28. England caps: 9. Wales caps: 4 (1 try)
Matty Lees (St Helens)
Age: 27. England caps: 10 (1 try)
Mikey Lewis (Hull KR)
Age: 24. England caps: 6 (2 tries)
Jez Litten (Hull KR)
Age: 27. England caps: 2
Mike McMeeken (Wakefield Trinity)
Age: 31. England caps: 12 (1 try)
Mikolaj Oledzki (Leeds Rhinos)
Age: 26. England caps: 2
Kai Pearce-Paul (Newcastle Knights)
Age: 24. England caps: 4 (2 tries)
Harry Smith (Wigan Warriors)
Age: 25 England caps: 7 (1 try, 34 goals)
Morgan Smithies (Canberra Raiders)
Age: 24 England caps: 1
Owen Trout (Leigh Leopards)
Age: 26. England caps: 1
Alex Walmsley (St Helens)
Age: 35. England caps: 7 (1 try). Great Britain caps: 4
Jake Wardle (Wigan Warriors)
Age: 26. England caps: 2 (1 try)
Kallum Watkins (Leeds Rhinos)
Age: 34. England caps: 29 (14 tries)
George Williams (Warrington Wolves)
Age: 30. England caps: 21 (10 tries, 1 goal). Great Britain caps: 1
Dom Young (Newcastle Knights)
Age: 24. England caps: 6 (9 tries)
