WARRINGTON Wolves’ England contingent will be looking to impress head coach Shaun Wane this week ahead of the first Test against Samoa.
Five members of The Wire’s 2024 squad – of whom all bar John Bateman will be returning next year – were named in Wane’s 24-man party for the two-Test series, which starts at Wigan’s Brick Community Stadium next Sunday.
The series then concludes at Headingley on Saturday, November 2, and there’s potential for plenty of Warrington involvement in both games.
Here, we assess the chances of each Wire player and the competition they face for a spot in the side…
GEORGE WILLIAMS
A shoo-in as skipper, Williams is the first name on Wane’s teamsheet and is one of the only players seemingly guaranteed a spot.
It would seem only injury would stop the Wire star from starting in both matches, but the debate around who partners him is a live one.
Wane has tended to prefer Wigan Warriors’ Harry Smith but Hull KR’s Mikey Lewis – the newly-crowned Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel – has made himself tough to ignore.
MATTY ASHTON
Warrington’s leading try-scorer for the year appears to find himself in one of the most intriguing head-to-head selection battles.
Sydney Roosters flyer Dom Young appears to be a sure bet for one of the wing spots, leaving Ashton and Wigan’s Liam Marshall – the two Super League Dream Team wingers this year – to battle it out for the other.
Marshall, who is uncapped internationally, appears to have the edge in most key metrics this year but Ashton has credit in the bank with Wane having impressed during last year’s series against Tonga, scoring three tries in two matches.
As we have seen with the selection of former Wire captain Chris Hill, that can sometimes tip the balance.
DANNY WALKER
As one of only two recognised hookers picked by Wane, Walker is another player set to be heavily involved.
The decision will be whether he starts or comes off the bench, with his former Wire teammate Daryl Clark providing the other option.
Walker came off the bench in all three Tests against Tonga last year with Clark starting, but Wane could opt to use a half-back on the bench – Lewis was used among the interchanges during the mid-season international against France.
BEN CURRIE
Currie’s displays having switched to loose forward in the early stages of 2024 were superb, so much so that he was named as The Wire’s player of the year.
He faces strong competition from NRL stars Victor Radley and Morgan Smithies as well as St Helens’ Morgan Knowles for that role with England, but Wane is known to be fond of Currie’s utility value.
Indeed, he impressed in the centres during the third Test against Tonga and with only two recognised centres named in the squad in Herbie Farnworth and Harry Newman, Currie could be the man Wane turns to there again if needed.
JOHN BATEMAN
There is also strong competition for places in Bateman’s preferred second-row position, with breakout young star Junior Nsemba having burst onto the scene while Kai Pearce-Paul enjoyed a strong first season in the NRL with Newcastle Knights.
As with others in the squad, however, Bateman has plenty of credit in the bank with Wane and having started all three Tonga Tests in the back row, he is the man in possession.
Like Currie, Bateman offers precious utility value – he has played internationally in the centres on several occasions and has also been used in the middle of the field.
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