RATHER than pursue a move to the NRL at this current time, Matty Nicholson should instead stay with Warrington Wolves and help guide them to silverware.

That is the view of England head coach Shaun Wane, who insisted he “genuinely felt” the talented back-rower was better off remaining in Super League.

The 20-year-old is expected to leave The Wire at the end of the current season, with Canberra Raiders expected to seal his signature to – in theory – replace another English second-rower in Elliot Whitehead, who has confirmed 2024 will be his last year in the Australian capital.

Nicholson would be the latest in a raft of English players to have played for the Green Machine including Whitehead, his current Wire teammate George Williams, John Bateman and Ryan Sutton.

However, Wane believes he should follow the lead of Williams, who piled up the silverware with Wigan before making the move to Australia.

When asked whether he would encourage Nicholson, who is likely to be in contention for a second England cap in the mid-season Test against France next weekend, to test himself in the NRL, Wane replied: “No I wouldn’t – I’d encourage him to stay with Warrington and win stuff with Warrington.

“George did that – he won stuff with us at Wigan and then went to the NRL. Ryan Sutton did similar.

“I’d like to see him do that. I think that’s quite important for Matty.

“He’s a good player – there’s no doubt about that – but staying with your club who you’ve signed for and winning stuff is important, then you can start looking at the NRL.

“I know that will be a bit controversial, but that’s genuinely how I feel.”

As he prepares to name his squad for the game at Toulouse’s Stade Ernest Wallon on June 29, Wane also declared himself impressed with Ben Currie’s embracing of the loose forward role with The Wire this season.

He hinted the 29-year-old, who has nine England caps to his name and played in the centres during England’s last game – the series whitewash-clinching win over Tonga at Headingley – was in his thoughts to play a similar role for his country.

“I feel like I know Ben,” he said.

“He came and played in the centres in that third Test and played outstandingly well.

“He’s just a good rugby player – whether he plays in the back row, the centres or wherever, he’s just a good player and I do like him.

“With the way he is around camp, he’s a credit to Warrington and he won’t be far off.

“His ball-playing from the middle is a real asset for Warrington and I see it being the same with England.”

Wire winger Josh Thewlis has been touted for a potential debut next weekend having been a part of the past three England senior camps without making it onto the field.

However, Wane highlighted the strong competition for places in his position as he leans towards picking a younger side for this game.

The squad will be made up of Super League-based players, with England’s NRL contingent coming into consideration for the season-ending Test series against Samoa which was confirmed last week.

“I like Josh. He’s a really good player and a good talent, but I think we’ve got some good wingers coming through,” Wane said of Thewlis.

“Ash Handley’s a good player, Tom Johnstone killed it last year, but I will say again – we need more wingers coming through.

“If you look at someone like Zach Eckersley – I know he’s a centre but he can play wing – he’s another example of the good kids we’ve got coming through and it’s a positive.

“If you look at Super League and how the games are panning out, it’s exciting. There’s a lot of talent coming through and it’s exciting for me.”