England Head Coach Shaun Wane has named his 24-player squad for the upcoming three-game series against Tonga.
This historic series – the first between the two nations and their first meeting since the epic 2017 World Cup semi-final in Auckland – will see England host Tonga this Sunday at St Helens’ Totally Wicked Stadium, before meetings at Huddersfield’s John Smith’s Stadium (Saturday 28 October) and at the AMT Headingley
Rugby Stadium, Leeds, on Saturday 4 November. All games will kick off at 2.30pm.
Wane names five NRL players who also featured in last autumn’s World Cup campaign, including winger Dom Young – the NRL’s leading try-scorer in his last season with Newcastle Knights – John Bateman, Tom Burgess, Victor Radley and Elliott Whitehead.
Another free-scoring winger is also included: Catalans Dragons’ Tom Johnstone, who scored a hat-trick on his first and only appearance for England against France in 2018.
Since moving to Perpignan, the 28-year-old has put behind him two career-threatening ACL injuries and topped the Betfred Super League try-scoring charts this year as the Dragons reached last Saturday’s Grand Final but fell short against Wigan Warriors. Dragons teammate Mike McMeeken is also selected.
Wigan’s Grand Final-winning captain Liam Farrell returns to the squad for the first time since 2021, alongside teammates Tyler Dupree, Toby King and Harry Smith.
And after being called up to the wider performance squad just a fortnight ago, Leigh Leopards forward Robbie Mulhern also earns a call-up following an impressive season which saw him lift the Betfred Challenge Cup at Wembley Stadium in August.
Elsewhere there are four St Helens players selected – among them Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel nominee Jack Welsby – whilst Chris Hill, Harry Newman and Mikey Lewis represent Huddersfield Giants, Leeds Rhinos and Hull KR respectively.
Skipper George Williams is one of five Warrington Wolves players selected, although the extent of his involvement could be determined by a disciplinary tribunal hearing being held this evening (Tuesday 17 October).
