John Asiata and Mikey Lewis calls made as England and Samoa name Test sides
England and Samoa head coaches Shaun Wane and Ben Gardiner have named their sides for Sunday's first international Test match at Wigan's Brick Community Stadium. Wane has selected Hull KR star Mikey Lewis on the bench, while Gardiner has opted to start with new Hull FC recruit John Asiata.
Asiata will earn his fifth international cap, while Lewis will wait for fourth after breaking onto the Test scene against Tonga last year. Wane has selected Harry Smith alongside George Williams in the halves.
Meanwhile, NRL-based trio Dom Young, Herbie Farnworth, and Victor Radley are all back on the Test scene after debuting at the World Cup two years ago. They all start, with Wane also selecting Kai Pearce-Paul, Tom Burgess, and John Bateman.
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The other big call is Junior Nsemba, who doesn't make the matchday squad. Wane has paired Pearce-Paul with John Bateman.
As for the opposition, Samoa will hand out seven debuts, most notably Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, once of New Zealand. He is joined by Jeral Skelton, Junior Pauga, Deine Mariner, Shawn Blore, Jeremiah Nanai, Blaize Seuala-Talagi, and Lazarus Vaalepu. Jerome Luai captains the side.
The two sides meet for the first time since the 2022 Rugby League World Cup, a contest Samoa won 27-26. Kick-off is 2:30pm, with our live blog underway here.
England Starting XIII: 1. Jack Welsby. 2. Dom Young, 3. Harry Newman, 4. Herbie Farnworth, 5. Matty Ashton, 6. George Williams, 7. Harry Smith; 8. Ethan Havard, 9. Daryl Clark, 10. Matty Lees, 11. Kai Pearce-Paul, 12. John Bateman, 13. Victor Radley.
Interchange: 14. Mikey Lewis, 15. Mike McMeeken, 16. Morgan Knowles, 17. Tom Burgess. 18th Man: 18. Ben Currie
Samoa Starting XIII: 1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck*, 2. Jeral Skelton*, 3. Izack Tago, 4. Junior Pauga*, 5. Deine Mariner*; 6. Anthony Milford, 7. Jarome Luai; 8. Francis Molo, 9. Jazz Tevaga, 10. Terrell May; 11. Shawn Blore*, 12. Jeremiah Nanai*; 13. John Asiata
Interchange: 14. Blaize Seuala-Talagi*, 15. Luciano Leilua, 18. Gordon Chan Kum Tong, 17. Lazarus Vaalepu*. 18th Man: Keenan Palasia
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