St.Helens players Daryl Clark, Morgan Knowles, Matty Lees, and Alex Walmsley have been named in the England 19-man squad that will take on Australia in the third ABK Beer Rugby League Ashes Test this Saturday, 8th November, at AMT Headingley Stadium in Leeds.
It is the final fixture of the three-match Test series, and it has been sold out for months with supporters quickly snapping up the tickets for the game in West Yorkshire – which kicks off at 2:30pm.
Australia won the first two Tests, firstly at Wembley 6-26, and then at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium last Saturday afternoon, 4-14, confirming an Ashes series victory for the Kangaroos.
England head to Headingley looking to avoid a series whitewash, and Head Coach Shaun Wane has made some changes to his matchday squad.
St.Helens players Morgan Knowles and Matty Lees both started in the First Test, with Alex Walmsley coming off the bench. They hold their places in the 19-man squad, as does Daryl Clark, who did not feature in the game in Liverpool.
Joe Burgess is named in the 19 for the first time in the series and could make his first England appearance since a 2015 series victory over New Zealand, he will replace Dom Young, who suffered a broken foot late in last Saturday’s loss to the Kangaroos at Everton.
Leeds centre Harry Newman is also selected and could feature for the first time in the series on his home club ground. John Bateman remains side-lined after rolling his ankle in the lead-up to the Second Test.
Head Coach Shaun Wane said: “Of course we are disappointed not to be going into this final game with the opportunity to win The Ashes, but the goal now is to come away from the series with a victory.
“We did a lot of good things last week but ultimately, we need to be even better if we want to get a win this weekend.
“It will be great to see Joe Burgess and Harry Newman in action this weekend. Joe has had a great season with Hull KR and Harry has been a consistent performer for me in an England jersey.
“I’ve no doubt the England supporters will get behind us once more as they have in previous seasons at Headingley – and hopefully we can give them something to celebrate come Saturday evening.”
Saturday’s Third Test at AMT Headingley Stadium is completely sold out but supporters can watch the game live on BBC One with coverage from 2pm.
England Squad v Australia, Test Two, Saturday 8 November, AMT Headingley Stadium, 2:30pm
AJ Brimson (Gold Coast Titans)
Age: 27. England caps: 1
Joe Burgess (Hull KR)
Age: 31. England caps: 3 (1 try)
Daryl Clark (St Helens)
Age: 32. England caps: 14 (2 tries). Great Britain caps: 2 (1 try)
Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins)
Age: 25. England caps: 8 (6 tries)
Tom Johnstone (Wakefield Trinity)
Age: 30. England caps: 7 (7 tries)
Morgan Knowles (St Helens)
Age: 28. England caps: 10. Wales caps: 4 (1 try)
Matty Lees (St Helens)
Age: 27. England caps: 11 (1 try)
Mikey Lewis (Hull KR)
Age: 24. England caps: 7 (2 tries)
Jez Litten (Hull KR)
Age: 27. England caps: 3
Mike McMeeken (Wakefield Trinity)
Age: 31. England caps: 13 (1 try)
Harry Newman (Leeds Rhinos)
Age: 25. England caps: 7 (1 try)
Mikolaj Oledzki (Leeds Rhinos)
Age: 26. England caps: 3
Kai Pearce-Paul (Newcastle Knights)
Age: 24. England caps: 5 (2 tries)
Harry Smith (Wigan Warriors)
Age: 25 England caps: 8 (1 try, 36 goals)
Morgan Smithies (Canberra Raiders)
Age: 24 England caps: 2
Owen Trout (Leigh Leopards)
Age: 26. England caps: 1
Alex Walmsley (St Helens)
Age: 35. England caps: 8 (1 try). Great Britain caps: 4
Kallum Watkins (Leeds Rhinos)
Age: 34. England caps: 30 (14 tries)
George Williams (Warrington Wolves)
Age: 30. England caps: 22 (10 tries, 1 goal). Great Britain caps: 1
