Two uncapped Wigan players, Junior Nsemba and Liam Marshall, have been selected for the England squad, announced by head coach Shaun Wane for the upcoming two-Test series against Samoa. The duo, along with their teammates Ethan Havard, Luke Thompson, and Harry Smith, are part of the 24-man squad.
The matches against Samoa are scheduled to take place in Wigan on October 27 and in Leeds on November 2. The last time England faced Samoa was during the World Cup semi-final in November 2022, where they suffered a stunning golden-point loss at the Emirates Stadium.
Junior Nsemba, who was named this season’s Super League young player of the year, and Liam Marshall, who topped the try-scoring charts with 27 tries, played pivotal roles in Wigan’s recent Grand Final win over Hull KR.
Among the selected players, there are eight members from the squad that faced the heartbreaking 27-26 defeat in the World Cup semi-final match, including Dom Young and Victor Radley from Sydney Roosters. Additionally, Mikey Lewis from Hull KR, the newly crowned Super League Man of Steel, is the sole representative from his team.
The squad includes five players from Warrington, including captain George Williams, Matty Ashton, John Bateman, Ben Currie, and Danny Walker. Shaun Wane expressed his excitement about the squad selection, highlighting the tough challenge expected against Samoa, emphasizing the history between the two teams from the previous World Cup encounter.
Wane praised the players for their form in the Betfred Super League and NRL over the past year, expressing confidence as they prepare for the series opener in Wigan next week. This selection reflects a mix of experienced players and promising talents, aiming to deliver strong performances in the upcoming tests.