Owen Trout aiming to show England class with Leigh displays ahead of Battle
Now to prove it was the right move by shining in the heat of Battle as he knows he will be a target.
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The Leigh star was one of six uncapped players selected for Tuesday's get together as preparations for the Ashes series stepped up.
And putting on a starring show as Wigan arrive for the Battle of the Borough tonight will be the perfect way of showing national boss Shaun Wane he can do it.
But there were doubts when his phone rang as the news of his elevation was delivered.
'Honestly, England was the last thing in my head, really,' said Trout about the moment Wane called. 'I thought, 'Oh, it's probably another Bill or something like that.'
'I was just at home, just chilling out, then I noticed I had a WhatsApp call and obviously I didn't have Shaun's number saved.
'I was wondering, 'Who's this?' but as soon as I heard his voice, he's really distinctive, I knew it was good.
'And I never thought it was one of the other lads winding me up. If it was, it was a really good impression.
'I was a bit shell-shocked when Shaun rang me. I felt like I couldn't really get my words out and I probably enjoyed telling my mum and dad more than I did receiving the news!
'Now people are going to be coming after me more but I'll just raise my game. I enjoy that, playing against the best brings out the best in me.'
Trout's England call is recognition for fine performances as Leigh once again compete at the top end of the Super League table.
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That started from day one of the season as the Leopards triumphed in a now famous opening game at Wigan, which finished 1-0 after golden point extra time!
A repeat of that defensive effort, with more points in attack, would go down just fine – as the same will be needed if he faces the Aussies.
The 25-year-old added: 'One thing that Leigh prides itself on is that we've always got each other's backs.
'That'll be the same when it comes to the end of the year with England. Everyone's going to have each other's backs. And they're going to do everything they can to get the win.
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'That's what it was like on that night. Everyone was doing everything and we just couldn't break each other.'
Now trout is in the England reckoning, he will not have ti look far for someone who can give him tips on Australia, Leopards coach Adrian Lam is a former Kangaroos assistant.
But it may take some persuading as he conceded: 'It depends how loyal his blood is, doesn't it? I might have to ask him for a few.
'I'll have to keep telling him he's from Papua New Guinea. Make sure he knows his PNG blood!'
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Metro
18 minutes ago
- Metro
Chloe Kelly sends pointed message to her doubters after England's Euro 2025 win
Chloe Kelly has thanked those who 'wrote her off' and gave her extra motivation to help inspire England to a penalty-shootout win over Spain in the Women's Euro 2025 final. For the third time on the trot, the Lionesses were forced to come from behind to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat after Mariona Caldentey had given Spain a first-half lead in Basel. Just as they had done against Sweden and Italy previously, the holders dug deep to find an all-important equaliser, with Alessia Russo heading home Kelly's exquisite cross to make it all square in the 57th minute. Kelly – who scored a last-gasp winner for England in the semi-finals – had earlier been introduced from the substitutes bench after Lauren James was visibly struggling with an ankle injury, which she had suffered four days earlier in the semi-final. The two teams could not be separated after extra-time and it was England who eventually prevailed after another dramatic shootout, with Kelly converting the decisive spot-kick to seal a 3-1 win for the holders. The Lionesses' latest triumph represents the first time in history that an English team have won a major tournament on foreign soil, three years on from the side's European Championship heroics last time out at Wembley. It is also the third time in succession that Sarina Wiegman has clinched the title, with the 55-year-old steering the Netherlands to the trophy back in 2017 before being appointed by the FA. 'No, I can't believe it!' an emotional Wiegman told BBC Sport in the immediate aftermath of England's triumph. 'We said we can win by any means and that's what we have shown again today. I am so proud of the team and the staff. It is incredible.' Asked if she was shocked to win the trophy for a second time on the spin with England, Wiegman replied: 'Yes, yes. 'I just can't believe it. I have a medal around my neck and we have a trophy. 'It has been the most chaotic tournament on the pitch – all the challenges we had on the pitch against our opponent. 'From the first game it was your first game and becoming European Champions is incredible. Football is chaos.' Kelly's magnificent campaign in Switzerland is made all the more remarkable by the fact the 27-year-old came close to quitting football during a 'dark time' in her career at the start of the year. Shortly after forcing through a loan move to Arsenal having struggled for regular game-time at Manchester City, Kelly admitted: 'It has been tough mentally and it has been draining at times. 'But I think for me, I know I'm a professional and I know I hold myself to a high level, but I think as a human, it was a tough time for me and I'm ready to move forward now. 'It was still a dark time for me because I didn't know how my future looked.' But just half-a-year on, Kelly is a two-time European champion with the Lionesses. Facing the media shortly after England's win, the forward used the opportunity to send a pointed message to those who had doubted her in her sticky patch. 'There were a lot of tears at full-time, especially when I saw my family, because they were the people that come me through those dark moments,' Kelly said. 'I am so grateful to be out at the back end, but if that's a story to tell someone who maybe experiences something the same, then tough times don't last and just around the corner was a Champions League final. 'I won that and now a Euros final, I've won that, so, thank you to everyone that wrote me off, I'm grateful.' Kelly also made sure to thank 'incredible woman' Wiegman for showing faith in her and providing 'hope' when she 'probably didn't have any' earlier in the year. 'She is bloody amazing,' Kelly added. 'She is an incredible woman. What she has done for this country, we should all be so grateful for. More Trending 'What she has done for me, individually, she gave me hope, when I probably didn't have any. She gave me an opportunity to represent my country again.' Kelly continued: 'I knew that I had to get game-time, because representing England is never a given. 'But what she has done for the women's game, not just in England, she has taken it to a whole other level. 'The work doesn't go unnoticed from the staff that are behind her, they are incredible people and I am so grateful to have worked with such amazing people.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Spain manager and star player emotionally speak out on 'cruel' England loss MORE: Sir David Beckham and Amanda Holden lead rowdy celebrations after Lionesses' Euros triumph MORE: Ian Wright names 'major favourite' for 2027 Women's World Cup after England win Euros
The Independent
18 minutes ago
- The Independent
Sarina Wiegman to keep on dancing after ‘chaotic and ridiculous' Euro 2025 win
England boss Sarina Wiegman promised to 'do some more dancing' after the Lionesses completed their third successive comeback to defend their European crown with a 3-1 penalty shootout victory over Spain in Basel. Substitute Chloe Kelly, whose extra-time winner at Wembley secured the Lionesses their first major trophy three summers ago, was once again the hero, coolly converting in the shootout with the World Cup holders following a 1-1 extra-time stalemate. Wiegman has now led teams – first the Netherlands, now England – to the trophy at the last three European Championships, though none, admitted the Dutchwoman, was more 'chaotic' and 'ridiculous' as this. 'I'm very happy,' said Wiegman. 'I actually can't believe it myself. It was like, 'how can it happen?' but it happened. I am so incredibly proud of the team and the staff.' Wiegman was spotted busting a move after Kelly once again rose to the highest occasion, and plans to keep letting loose – perhaps to the chagrin of her phone, which twice reminded the England boss during her post-match press conference that she was due a workout. 'I'll do some more dancing,' said Wiegman. 'And I'll have a drink, but I don't think I will drink as much as the players.' Though the Lionesses insisted they had moved on, Sunday's triumph also avenged the 2023 World Cup final, where England were beaten by Spain 1-0 in Sydney in their first global showpiece final. Spain were first-time finalists in this competition but the favourites, and came one step closer to the title when Arsenal's Mariona Caldentey nodded home a 25th-minute opener. But Kelly teed up Russo for a header of her own and 57th-minute equaliser, while two spectacular saves by Hannah Hampton in the shootout opened the door for Kelly to write more history as the Lionesses became the first senior English football team to lift a major trophy on foreign soil. 'I must admit that this is the most chaotic and ridiculous tournament we have played,' Wiegman added. 'Every time we could come back, in the quarter-final and the semi-final and the final, we came from behind. Of course we have players that have talents, and the togetherness of this team is really, really incredible, but also the belief that we can come back. 'The players say we can win by any means, and we just never, ever give up.' England's title defence was hanging by a thread following their 2-1 opening defeat to France, but group stage victories over the Netherlands then Wales kept their title defence alive. Lucy Bronze and Michelle Agyemang scored late in their Sweden quarter-final, ultimately setting up a chaotic, error-strewn shootout, won by Bronze with England's seventh try. It took Kelly's extra-time winner from off the bench in their Italy semi-final to book their place in the Spain showdown – after 19-year-old standout Michelle Agyemang had netted another incredible equaliser. Even before her heroics in Basel, Kelly, at these Euros, had come in with the joint-most chances created (eight) and most successful crosses (10) of any substitute in a single tournament since Opta started analysing major women's tournaments in 2011. And while Wiegman conceded there had been moments in this campaign – and particularly the Sweden and Italy matches – Sunday's comeback was never in doubt. Asked if there was a moment her belief had wavered, Wiegman replied: 'To be honest, tonight, I didn't.'
The Independent
18 minutes ago
- The Independent
Agony turns to ecstasy for England fans as Lionesses retain Euro 2025 title
Jubilant England fans celebrated across the country on Sunday night as the Lionesses retained their Euros title after a nail-biting penalty shootout win over Spain. Chloe Kelly scored the vital spot-kick following two incredible saves from goalkeeper Hannah Hampton - sending supporters in fan zones into frenzied celebrations. Hundreds of fans turned out at Shoreditch Boxpark in East London to watch Leah Williamson 's side take victory in the back-and-forth battle between the tournament's two best sides. After going into overtime, and then into penalties, England brought the trophy home in a 3-1 shootout, prompting wild celebrations as people launched pints in the air and hugged. Hours before victory, Catherine Adamson, 58, told The Independent that she had a hunch. In her dream last night, the Lionesses edged the game and won it 2-1. Ms Adamson, who watched the game from Shoreditch Boxpark, said before kickoff: 'I had a dream last night, 2-1, and Kelly didn't get the winner, sorry, she didn't get the winner, I think Williamson got the winner.' She was right about the score, but not about Chloe Kelly, who scored the penalty shot that brought England to victory. The crowd at Boxpark venue was buzzing with fans who were decked out in England's colours from head to toe hours before the match started. After Spain scored the opener, a definite sense of nervousness was in the air, but the mood never broke, and people continued singing and dancing throughout the game. During the penalties, Adamson was pacing up and down the venue's hallway, too afraid to watch what would happen, she said. 'My nerves were shot to pieces.' It was her first time at Shoreditch's Boxpark and she said she would be watching the Euros from there on out, describing the atmosphere as 'electric'. She said it was amazing to see everyone come together. 'Seeing that, it's lovely…you don't even know those people and they're cuddling, having so much fun. 'Well done England, I'm so proud.' Jade Young, 34, and her son Ernie Johnson, 11, were also amongst the crowd, having travelled from Cheshire to support the team. Johnson said he was very proud of the girls but admitted he was 'very stressed' during penalties. 'The keeper was the best, the keeper saved the goalscorer and the Ballon D'Or winner.' Young said: 'I cried. 'Chloe, I knew she'd come through with it, she smashed it. We've come here and we didn't know what to expect but it's been absolutely mega.' Renée Addo, 22, who was joined by her football team, felt 'ecstatic' when England won. She said: 'It took courage, it took wit, it took strength but England nation we did it again, twice in a row, it doesn't get any better than this.' Addo admitted the penalties were hard to watch, but she didn't lose faith in the Lionesses. 'I believe in my girls, I believe in (manager) Serena (Wiegman), I believe in her tactics, I believe in her work, and it paid off. 'During the penalties, I felt like my mum, she always turns off the TV so I wanted to turn off the TV because I couldn't bear to watch.' Joined at Boxpark by her teammates, she said it was amazing to see the kind of community that women's football had given them. 'I wouldn't wish to spend it with anyone else apart from my girls today. 'We did it, we said we'd do it.' At Brandon Groves Community Club in Essex, star striker Michelle Agyemang's former team, fans sang loudly and waved flags cheering the team on throughout the game. Agyemang, 19, who had one England cap before the tournament, scored crucial equalisers in the Lionesses' quarter-final and semi-final comebacks. There was non-stop applause in her home town of South Ockendon as fans saw the Arsenal forward step through a guard of honour to pick up her award. Supporters at her old club Brandon Groves AFC danced a conga line to the sounds of Vindaloo after England's victory.
