SIX Warrington Wolves players are in contention to feature in England’s post-season Test series against Samoa.
England skipper George Williams leads the Wire contingent named by head coach Shaun Wane in his extended 31-man performance squad for the two-Test series.
Matty Ashton, John Bateman, Ben Currie, James Harrison and Danny Walker are the other players named by Wane among those at the forefront of his thinking for Test matches at Wigan’s Brick Community Stadium on October 27 and Headingley on November 2.
However, there is no place for Matty Nicholson, who started and scored in the mid-season Test win over France in Toulouse, while Wire teammates Toby King and Josh Thewlis also miss out.
The squad features players from both Super League and the NRL, with six Australia-based players in line to feature.
Only Wigan Warriors, who boast seven players in the squad, are better represented than The Wire in the selection with eight Super League clubs represented in all – St Helens have had four players picked, Hull KR have three and Catalans Dragons two while there is one representative for each of Huddersfield Giants, Leeds Rhinos and Leigh Leopards.
Former Warrington players Chris Hill, Daryl Clark, Robbie Mulhern and Jake Wardle are also named, while Wire icon Lee Briers will once again be one of Wane’s assistant coaches for the series.
“I’m pleased to have been able to put together a strong and talented squad as we look ahead to the end-of-season Test Matches against Samoa,” Wane said.
“There have been several players who have been performing consistently in both the Betfred Super League and the NRL and it has given me some real competition for places.
“With a few weeks still left in both domestic campaigns, I am expecting these players to continue to stand up at the business end of the season and earn their place in the final squad I assemble to face Samoa.
“There is definitely a bit of history and rivalry between ourselves and the Samoans following the Rugby League World Cup in 2022, and we will be hoping people come out to support us as we look for a series victory on home soil.”
England performance squad for Samoa Test series
Matty Ashton, John Bateman (both Warrington Wolves), Tom Burgess (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Daryl Clark (St Helens), Ben Currie (Warrington Wolves), Tyler Dupree (Wigan Warriors), Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins), James Harrison (Warrington Wolves), Ethan Havard (Wigan Warriors), Chris Hill (Huddersfield Giants), Tom Johnstone (Catalans Dragons), Morgan Knowles, Matty Lees (both St Helens), Mikey Lewis, Jez Litten (both Hull KR), Liam Marshall (Wigan Warriors), Mike McMeeken (Catalans Dragons), Elliot Minchella (Hull KR), Robbie Mulhern (Leigh Leopards), Junior Nsemba (Wigan Warriors), Harry Newman (Leeds Rhinos), Kai Pearce-Paul (Newcastle Knights), Victor Radley (Sydney Roosters), Harry Smith (Wigan Warriors), Morgan Smithies (Canberra Raiders), Luke Thompson (Wigan Warriors), Danny Walker (Warrington Wolves), Jake Wardle (Wigan Warriors), Jack Welsby (St Helens), George Williams (Warrington Wolves), Dom Young (Sydney Roosters)
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