Shaun Wane has named five St Helens players in his matchday squad ahead of the first ABK Beer Rugby League Ashes Test stating “whittling it down for the first Ashes Test Match in 22 years wasn’t easy”.
Included in the 19 man squad is Morgan Knowles, Matty Lees, Alex Walmsley, Daryl Clark and Jack Welsby. Saturdays fixture against the Kangaroos is the first since 2017, the last meeting being the 2017 World Cup Final where England suffered a 6-0 defeat.
Following a 22 year absence the three Test Match series against Australia continues with the first of the trio kicking off at Wembley Stadium on the 25th of October.
The following tests will be held at the new Merseyside spectacle that is Everton’s Hill Dickinson stadium before the national side heads up North to the AMT Headingley Stadium in Leeds.
Wembley is close to a sold-out fixture with the other two tests already a completely sold-out event.
Wane stated:
“I am confident the players selected can challenge the Kangaroos this weekend.
“We’ve had two fantastic weeks in camp preparing and we are now in touching distance of what will be an historic fixture under the Wembley arch.”
Morgan Knowles has been named in the matchday squad for the 2:30 kick off, playing multiple positions the versatile player has represented both Wales and England internationally whilst remaining at the Saints since joining at the age of 14.
Knowles will leave the Saints however following his 11th senior season at the club in which he impressed, being named in the 2025 Betfred Super League Dream Team before his departure to NRL side The Dolphins for next season.
Before his move down under Knowles joins the matchday squad following a season in which he amounted eight tries across 24 appearances.
Hooker Daryl Clark also joins the matchday squad for Saturday’s fixture, the Man of Steel winner joins four of his club teammates in Shaun Wane’s side.
Clark has achieved over 400 career appearances alongside scoring 5 tries across 24 matches in the 2025 season. Since the hooker’s move to St Helens from Warrington Wolves in 2024 he has impressed being a consistently integral piece of the Saints side.
Clarks commitment to the club has been recognised and rewarded with a contract extension until at least the end of the 2027 season.
Matty Lees follows his team-mates to the English squad with the 27-year-old already recording 9 England caps alongside 1 try for the national side.
With 25 appearances in the 2025 season Lees continues to impress and will hopefully remain to do so for the Saints until the end of the 2029 season following a contract extension of four years which was agreed in February 2025.
The prop joins the national side with an impressive catalogue of accolades across his 166 appearances for the Saints. With Lees winning both silverware for the club but also individual trophies such as three end of season awards in the 2024 season (one of which being Player of the Year).
Joining Lees in the prop position for the national side is Alex Walmsley. At 35 years of age the heavily experienced number eight joins Wane’s side to add to his six England caps.
The giant standing at 6ft 5 and weighing around 115kg will help to suppress the danger of the Kangaroos attack in Wembley with the prop being heavily aware of pressure, winning multiple Super League Grand finals and a Challenge Cup for the Saints.
The Dewsbury born prop will bring a physical edge to the national side in hopes to claim a victory in the first test.
Jack Welsby will accompany the squad travelling to Wembley, the half back is already heavily familiar with National experience with 12 England caps at just age 24 with four tries across the appearances.
With 138 Super League appearances for the Saints his chemistry with the four other players joining the side should be something which Wane and the English faithful should be excited for.
Alongside the influence of St Helens players on the England team, George Williams of Warrington Wolves captains the squad who will line-up to face the Australians with the half back ready to walk out a side with the leadership of Wane who has lost just one competitive game whilst managing the international side.
Whilst many favour the Kangaroos in terms of odds the addition of five St Helens players and a Warrington Wolves half back will certainly help the Wall of White in the first test of the 2025 ABK Rugby League Ashes Series.
