This post basically does what it says on the tin. On our recent podcast episode, me and Ian discussed squad selection for the Ashes series, and just so those who don’t follow the podcast (and why wouldn’t you?! It’s up for free on Youtube. Our channel can be found here.) I thought I’d write down my selections as well as an explainer for some of my choices, so here, for your viewing pleasure, is the England team I would select for this autumn’s Ashes series.

Full Back: Max Jowitt (Wakefield Trinity)

With first-choice England full-back Jack Welsby out of commission for the year, the number 1 jersey is up for grabs in the England squad. There are several worthy candidates, with Hull KR’s Jack Broadbent being one, although his lack of specialisation makes it difficult to select him. Hull FC’s Will Pryce is another, but injuries have hampered his season and it still remains to be seen how he will come back towards the end of the campaign, and you George Flanagan Jr from Huddersfield could also be considered an outside bet, but his inexperience works against him.

So I’ve plumped for Wakefield Trinity stand-out Max Jowitt as my pick for England full-back. Wakefield have enjoyed a successful, if occasionally inconsistent, return to the Super League, and Jowitt is one of the sides bright lights, making the step-up from the Championship look like child’s play in the process. He should feel very hard done to if he isn’t at least considered by Shaun Wane come October.

Winger: Liam Marshall (Wigan Warriors)

Although this is a squad made up of players whom I think should be picked, rather than who I think will be picked, there is some overlap between the two, one of which being the selection of Liam Marshall on the wing. It’s not been an outstanding season all-round for Wigan or Marshall, but the overall quality he brings to a squad, along with his finishing ability, should see him picked on one wing or another.

Centre: Jake Wardle (Wigan Warriors)

Much the same as the above, really. Wardle and Marshall are familiar with each other from their club experience and that partnership should be exploited by England against the Aussies this year.

Centre: Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins)

How could you not? Farnworth is possibly the best in the world in his position right now, proving his quality week in and week out in the NRL, he’s one of the first names that should be on the team sheet. Special mentions go to Harry Newman & Harry Robertson (St Helens) who are likely to make the wider training squad, and Oliver Gildart (Hull KR) who was on spectacular form before his season was derailed by injury.

Wing: Joe Burgess (Hull KR)

Here’s one of the selections which seriously diverts from the should/will be selected argument. Dom Young is a shoo-in to get one of the wing positions in the Ashes, but truthfully, his performances in the NRL this season have been lackluster (even seeing him demoted to the second-string team at one point) and there are more deserving people currently playing in the Super League right now. For me, it’s a straight shoot-out here between Joe Burgess and Lewis Martin, and I’ve plumped for Burgess, not because of my own allegiances, but on big game experience. Martin isn’t quite the finished product, Burgess has already played and proved himself at the highest level. Martin should make the squad, but Burgess should start.

Stand-Off: Mikey Lewis (Hull KR)

It’s back-to-back Robins in my squad as reigning Man of Steel Mikey Lewis makes my team at number six. Still being in the hunt for MoS again this year, Mikey has produced more magic on the field in 2025 as Hull KR currently sit at the top of the table. Current MoS leader Jake Connor misses out by virtue of their just being too much competition in his position, although in a just world, he should make the squad, he won’t supercede Williams, Smith, or Lewis for a half-back role, and his best chance is being picked as a full-back, in my opinion.

Scrum Half: Marc Sneyd (Warrington Wolves)

There is no place in my squad for either Harry Smith or George Williams, despite them being almost certain to be the half-back combination for the competition, I think they simply haven’t done enough to deserve the nod ahead of Lewis and Sneyd (I’d even take Connor over either Smith or Williams). Sneyd has been on imperious form for two struggling sides this season, and with time running out for him to make his mark on the international stage, the time is right to give him the chance to prove he can hang with the big boys.

Prop: Mike McMeeken (Wakefield Trinity)

I won’t lie, the pack posed a challenge for me. Some selections were easy (see my picks later on) but some were much more difficult. Do I go with established names like Thomson and Walmsley, or do I make some riskier calls? In the end, I chose to stick my neck out and go with some fresher names in the starting XIII, starting with the Wakefield Trinity captain Mike McMeeken, who is enjoying a stellar season in West Yorkshire and is thoroughly deserving of a place here.

Hooker: Jez Litten (Hull KR)

Both of my selections for hooker (this one and the one I’ve chosen on the bench) and are interchangeable, and have arguments which could be made for them starting. My selection for the bench (dropping no hints) has struggled with injury and his form has been just below that of Litten’s so he narrowly gets the nod to start at number 9 in my team.

Prop: Mikołaj Olędzki (Leeds Rhinos)

Again, I’ve gone for a more left-field selection here. Luke Thomson and Alex Walmsley will both have claims on a starting berth at prop, but I don’t think either of them are having as good a season as the Rhinos man.

Second Rower: Kai Pearce-Paul (Newcastle Knights)

It’s predominantly NRL players from here on in, starting with Pearce-Paul, who currently plies his trade with the Knights Down Under. The former Wigan man has secured another big-money NRL deal with the Wests Tigers for next season, and is a certainty to feature for his country in the Ashes.

Second Rower: Morgan Knowles (St Helens)

Just making the cut ahead of John Bateman, Morgan Knowles is due to make the move to Australia himself in 2026, joining fellow England international Herbie Farnworth at the Dolphins. Knowles has enjoyed a good season with the Saints in 2025, and will be hoping to nail down a starting berth for England before jetting off Down Under. Special mentions here go to the Hull KR duo of James Batchelor and Dean Hadley, who are both more than deserving of a place in at least the extended squad.

Loose Forward: Victor Radley (Sydney Roosters)

This is the selection which is most in doubt at time of writing, given that he has only just returned to the Roosters playing squad following concussion issue. If those issues are under control by October, it would be a great surprise to not see Victor Radley claim the number 13 jersey for the Ashes. If his fitness were to falter before then, however, Elliot Minchella (Hull KR) could be considered as a replacement, as could Morgan Knowles with someone else taking his place in the second row.

The Bench: Brad O’Neill (Wigan Warriors), Junior Nsemba (Wigan Warriors), Luke Thomson (Wigan Warriors), Elliot Minchella (Hull KR)

It’s an almost-entirely Wigan-based bench here, but it’s hard to put together a team and not include the names listed above. O’Neill is entirely interchangeable with Litten, as mentioned in the hooker section, I wouldn’t argue strongly for one or the other but those two would be my definite choices. Nsemba isn’t having a stand-out season like he enjoyed in 2024, but still offers quality in the pack from the bench, which is much the same story for Luke Thomson, whereas Elliot Michella works as a forward player who can fill any gap in the pack, although ostensibly a loose forward, could just as easily slot in as a second rower or prop forward. It’s a bench with firepower and skill.

Here is a list of other players who I think should be at the very least considered for the extended squad, and could very well make an argument for inclusion towards the end of the season. Any asterisks’ indicate injury concerns.

Other players in the squad:

• Danny Walker* (Warrington Wolves)
• Daryl Clark (St Helens)
• Will Pryce* (Hull FC)
• Jake Connor (Leeds Rhinos)
• Alex Walmsley (St Helens)
• Owen Trout (Leigh Leopards)
• Kallum Watkins (Leeds Rhinos)
• James Batchelor (Hull KR)
• Dean Hadley (Hull KR)
• John Bateman (North Queensland Cowboys)
• George Williams (Warrington Wolves)
• Harry Smith (Wigan Warriors)

Who would make your Ashes squad? Do let us know in the comments!

Written by Nathan Major (Site editor & Hull KR fan)