Latest news with #ShaunWane
South Wales Argus
17-07-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Welsby: England have the right tools to down Australia in the Ashes
The 24-year-old St Helens man is currently out with a long-term knee injury suffered during his side's 34-4 loss at the hands of Hull KR in May. But despite being told the recovery time would be 16 weeks, the full-back, who can also play at stand-off, wing and centre, was included in head coach Shaun Wane's preparation squad for the upcoming series and Welsby is confident his recovery is ahead of schedule. Having been named man of the match when Saints defeated Penrith Panthers 13-12 to win the 2023 World Club Challenge, Welsby knows what success against Australian opposition looks like. And the multiple Super League winner feels results such as that, as well as Wigan's win over the same opposition in the World Club Challenge a year later and recent English international triumphs, have helped build towards autumn's Ashes battle. 'We know if we go out there and perform on the day, we're more than capable of beating them,' he said. 'Us at St Helens beat Penrith over there, and they've got some good players who will probably be playing for Australia. 'Obviously Wigan have the done the same, and as England, we've beaten Tonga and Samoa in two really good test series. 'It all feels like it's been building to this and we are giving ourselves the best opportunity.' Beginning in Clapham - home of one of London's largest populations of expat Aussies - and finishing at the iconic Wembley Stadium, the tour saw the Ashes Trophy travel through the capital's streets aboard a classic London bus, giving fans and passers-by a glimpse of the 97-year-old trophy as it approached the Wembley arch. The three-Test contest will see England face Australia on home soil for the first time since the 2017 Rugby League World Cup Final and will also be the first Ashes Series since 2003, when the Kangaroos last toured the UK under the Great Britain banner. And claiming a first Ashes series victory since 1970 is at the forefront of Welsby's mind. 'That's all we're focusing on,' he added. 'We've had a good couple of meetings now with Waney [Shuan Wane] and the extended squad. 'Those conversations have been about how good would it feel to do it [beat Australia] and how we're going to go about doing it. 'Everyone in the league will be concentrating on getting to Old Trafford and winning the Grand Final but in the back of all our minds, we're all thinking that we need to be in the best possible shape to beat the Aussies when that time comes.' Welsby was speaking during a launch event in London to mark 100 days to go until the 2025 Ashes Series begins. The series kicks off at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 25th October, before heading to Liverpool a week later on Saturday 1st November where a sold-out Bramley-Moore Dock will take centre stage. Leeds Rhinos' Headingley Stadium is the venue for the third and final Test on Saturday 8th November which is also a sellout. Over 60,000 tickets were sold on the first day of the priority sales window, which was a record-breaking figure for any Rugby League series launch, and ticket sales for Wembley are continuing at pace. The prospect of playing in three such iconic venues was not lost on Welsby, who revealed being fit for the Ashes was helping drive his recovery. He added: "It's a massive motivator for me to play for my country in the biggest Test series we've had for two decades. I definitely want to put myself in the frame to play." Marking the milestone with a '100 days to go' London Trophy Tour were Rugby League legend Martin Offiah MBE, current England captain George Williams, star player Jack Welsby, and Aussie comedian and Rugby Football League President, Adam Hills MBE.
BBC News
14-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Oledzki out for two months with fractured cheekbone
Leeds Rhinos prop Mikolaj Oledzki is set to be out for up to eight weeks after fracturing his suffered the injury in the Rhinos' 6-0 defeat at home to St Helens on also injured his eye socket and will require surgery, but that can only take place once some facial swelling has gone England international then faces between six and eight weeks out depending on the success of the 26-year-old was part of England head coach Shaun Wane's get-together earlier this month, but he will hope to recover well ahead of the three-match series with Australia which starts on 25 October.
The Sun
04-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Owen Trout aiming to show England class with Leigh displays ahead of Battle
OWEN Trout has already made one good decision this week – not writing off his England phone call as someone chasing money. Now to prove it was the right move by shining in the heat of Battle as he knows he will be a target. 3 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. 3 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. 3 '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!'
BBC News
02-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Wane wants higher Super League intensity to prepare England for Ashes
England head coach Shaun Wane wants Super League's big names to ramp up the intensity of club matches to aid preparation for the autumn Test series against 60-year-old has selected a 32-strong Super League-based squad to help embed his messages for the series against the world champions, before his contingent of Australia-based National Rugby League (NRL) players bolster the ranks come the end of the club is using the gathering to show players what he expects and what he wants them to do better, getting them in to understand his demands at the elite plenty of individuals have impressed in Super League this season, with six uncapped additions to the group on the basis of individual form, the overall standard at times has left the coach wanting more."I look at the St Helens and Leeds game from the other week, and that was intense," Wane told BBC Sport. "But, I need a lot more Test match standard games."That's what the [Super League] coaches want and it's what they're striving for. But what I need is more low-scoring [matches], teams going at it, where there aren't many errors and mistakes and no penalties. That's the preparation we need for the Ashes."England face Australia at Wembley on 25 October, Everton's new Hill Dickinson Stadium on 1 November and AMT Headingley on 8 November (all 14:30 kick-offs) - with all three matches televised live in the UK on the BBC. I hope Australia are in disarray, jokes Wane While Wane grapples with his own issues, notably a lack of time on the field with his players, there are still plenty of things for their autumn opponents to sort out before they board the flights for the 'Old Dart'.Firstly, a coach needs to be appointed, after long-standing boss Mal Meninga left his role to take up the position at new NRL franchise Perth Bears, who do not enter the competition until 2027 but for whom an entire roster needs to be there are the logistics, which still need fixing if former captain Brad Fittler's interview with Australian radio station 2GB is to be believed, citing a need to sort accommodation, training facilities, kit and other tour ruled himself out of the job, citing his media commitments, and the most recent links have suggested Cameron Smith, another former Kangaroos, could take it of who picks up the baton, Wane expects high-quality opposition come October."I hope they are in some disarray, that would perfect! Any help I can get the better," Wane joked."But, they've got a great team, some great players to pick from, they'll be competitive and whoever the coach is so when they come over here in October they'll be ready to play."If we can have a full stadium to make it as harsh as we can at Wembley, that'll do for me."The recent State of Origin representative series - which will come to a head on 9 July in Brisbane - is locked at one game each between New South Wales and Queensland, and has helped the England coaches get a flavour of what to expect."I'm Whatsapping my staff, Lee Briers and Andy Last, during the game with things I want them to clip up - I look at it a different way," Wane added."I've watched the Origin five or six times now and I can't wait for the next one." The joys of that England call While the six newcomers are far from guaranteed a spot when it comes to running out against the Green and Gold at Wembley on Saturday, 25 October, there is still something special about receiving the call for your forward Owen Trout has played for England academy and was also a Knights representative - a side made up of those on the fringes of selection - but this is his first time in the full-senior Wakefield-born packman was proud to be able to call his family and tell them the good news, but nothing quite compared to the reaction he got from Adrian Lam, his head coach at club level."When I first told him, he jumped up and down and smiled with joy, said he had goosebumps," Trout said."He probably reacted more excitedly than what my dad did. My dad's not really an emotional guy. My dad was like 'Oh yeah, that's good' - yeah, very mellow."Adrian's a very emotional guy and I knew he'd be chuffed to bits and I'm glad."Super League leaders Hull KR's pursuit of glory in 2025 has brought them the Challenge Cup, and one of their unsung heroes has been back-rower James saw his brother Joe capped by England in 2022 and win domestic honours with St Helens, and the opportunity to follow suit and become a full international is a major carrot for the rest of 2025 - as is the lure of facing the Kangaroos."When I was growing up, we'd be getting up at five or six in the morning to watch those internationals," Batchelor told BBC Sport."It was Great Britain more often back then against Australia but as you got older it became England v Australia and those big games."Seeing that rivalry and making sure it's still there, it's the same as in any sport, England versus Australia is a big deal and I definitely want to be part of that."
BBC News
26-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
We need some Ashes glory in colour, says England's Wane
Having studied the sepia-tinged tapes of the last Ashes series win against Australia, England head coach Shaun Wane hopes his 2025 side can end a long wait for Test success in glorious have to go back to 1970 to find such television footage, when the late Johnny Whitley's Great Britain team, led by Frank Myler, won the last two Tests to come out 2-1 winners down the announcement that Mal Meninga's Kangaroos are heading over to face England at the end of the regular season, Wane has quickly turned his focus to writing new history in a famous old rivalry."I'm a very, very competitive person, and I want to be the coach of the first team to win it for decades," Wane told BBC Sport."We've not won one for many, many years - last time we won was 1970. I've watched those games, but they're in black and white."Now we need a colour memory, and this is our chance." 'Chance to face world's best is phenomenal' Securing the Ashes series this autumn gives England the chance to test their mettle against the world champions, after an eight-year last meeting was in the 2017 World Cup final, which Australia won. Since then, the Kangaroos have won the world crown again, doing so in England in 2022."The chance to go up against the best in the world is phenomenal," Wane added, describing the chance to lead the team out as his "coaching highlight". "The RFL and RL Commercial have done a great job to get this on because it's not been straightforward."To get three Ashes Test matches at fantastic grounds is so exciting for me. I'm going to make sure I work hard and make sure the players are prepared."Wane believes the final game at rugby league hotbed Headingley will be a "perfect finish" given the facilities on offer and the loyalty shown at previous events, but is equally excited by the venues that highlight the ambition shown in marketing this tour."As for Wembley - it's iconic for us," he added. "I've played there, been there as a coach, watched games, watched Test matches there."I was brought up with Great Britain versus Australia and England versus Australia matches."Everton is a brand new ground. I've seen the views of it, it looks fantastic and I'm excited for that. Now it's secured as a venue I'll be taking an even closer look." 'Stay in grind, with English style' - Wane plots success England's struggles against Australia have been hard to bear - with a long wait to try to put things right since that 2017 Dugan's ankle-tap on a runaway Kallum Watkins - to deny a try-scoring chance in dramatic fashion - ended England's best chance of challenging in that final, and the memory remains meant even the 'supercoach' Wayne Bennett would join Brian Noble, Mal Reilly, Ellery Hanley and Eric Ashton as coaches unable to break the Aussie with Wigan and St Helens enjoying recent World Club Challenge success against NRL opposition, and the upper end of Super League looking strong, Wane has a blueprint with which to seek glory."It is a real Test for us," Wane added. "They've got so many good players. And I've watched over the years when we've got close to Australia and lost in the last few minutes - it's heartbreaking."You need to go set-for-set like they're used to in the NRL - and if we can do that, there are a few technicalities in how we do things that are very different for the NRL players and that's going to be our advantage."If we can match them in the grind of international sport with a little bit of difference in English style, hopefully we can challenge them."
