Shaun Wane facing five key England selection headaches ahead of first Samoa Test
Shaun Wane named his 24-man England squad to take on Samoa this autumn on Wednesday. The Samoans will travel over to England for a two-Test series with the first being held at the Brick Community Stadium on October 27.
The two nations will go head to head once more at Headingley on November 2 in a decider and England will be determined to right the wrongs of their 2021 Rugby League World Cup semi-final loss to Samoa.
Wane might know his best 17 at this point, but on the face of it he has plenty of selection headaches going into the first Test in Wigan. Here’s a look at some of the dilemmas he might encounter when picking his first line-up.
Wane cut Tom Johnstone from his initial squad, but he still has three top quality wingers vying for two available slots. In Liam Marshall and Matty Ashton he has the top two scorers in Super League this season, with Marshall touching down on 27 occasions, while Ashton managed 21. Dom Young has hardly had a quiet year in the NRL either with the Sydney Roosters man scoring 20 times in 22 games.
It’s probably fair to say Young has done it at a higher level, but the numbers posted by Marshall and Ashton ensure they are hard to ignore. All three players provide fire power and finishing ability, but in international rugby league, it might come down to what they can offer the team in hard yardage.
Elliot Minchella has every right to feel hard done by after being left out of Wane’s 24-man squad having earned a Dream Team spot this season and helped Hull KR to their first ever Grand Final. However, Wane still has an embarrassment of riches in the loose-forward slot, with Morgan Knowles, Victor Radley and Morgan Smithies all fit and available.
Knowles probably hasn’t had his best season by his own high standards with St Helens but he’s still a high quality international player, while Smithies and Radley have been doing in week in, week out in the NRL. It’s a tough call but it’s the type of call Wane will be pleased to have to make as he looks ahead to next year’s Ashes tour and the World Cup the year after that.
Junior Nsemba might not have been in this debate a few months ago, but right now, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him given a starting spot in Wigan come October 27. He’s been one of the stars of the Super League season and that could put him in contention to pip John Bateman and Ben Currie to a starting role.
Kai Pearce-Paul has done well Down Under this season and he’ll fancy his chances of getting the nod, too. Experience is something both Bateman and Currie have in abundance, though, and that might play it’s part.
Front-row
Wane cut Tyler Dupree, Robbie Mulhern and James Harrison from his squad this week and that leaves him with six high quality props to choose from. Luke Thompson will be suspended for the first game, but is expected to play in the second, while Tom Burgess and Matty Lees seem like likely inclusions in both 17s.
Chris Hill is a surprise choice but he carries plenty of international experience and even though he turns 37 next month, he doesn’t lack heart and desire. Ethan Havard has enjoyed himself in the Wigan front row this season, while Mike McMeeken adds size and presence, too. It’s a tough call and that’s without the likes of Alex Walmsley, who hasn’t even been selected.
Leave a Reply