Wane Makes Two Changes to England Squad for Final Ashes Test
England coach Shaun Wane has announced two changes to his 19-man squad for Saturday’s third and final Ashes Test against Australia. Hull KR winger Joe Burgess and Leeds Rhinos centre Harry Newman are set to make their first appearances in this autumn’s Ashes series.
Squad Replacements
Burgess and Newman join the squad in place of the injured Dom Young, who broke his foot in last week’s 14-4 defeat in the second Test, and Wigan Warriors star Jake Wardle.
Players' Backgrounds
- Joe Burgess, born in Wigan, will return to the England team after nearly a decade, last playing in a 2015 series win over New Zealand.
- Harry Newman previously took part in England’s 2-0 series victory over Samoa last year.
Other Squad Updates
Leigh Leopards forward Owen Trout and St Helens hooker Daryl Clark, who were 18th and 19th men respectively in the last game, may be reconsidered for selection. Meanwhile, John Bateman remains out due to an ankle injury sustained before the second Test.
Wane's Comments on the Remaining Match
“Of course, we are disappointed not to be going into this final game with the opportunity to win the Ashes, but the goal now is to come away from the series with a victory,” said Wane.
“We did a lot of good things last week, but ultimately, we need to be even better if we want to get a win this weekend.”
Despite Australia having already secured the series, England is determined to finish strongly in front of a sold-out crowd at AMT Headingley.
Wane is focused on ending the Ashes series on a high, emphasizing the need for improvement to secure a final win.