It has been 22 years since the last Ashes Tour and the anticipation in England for Australia’s long-awaited arrival is matched by an intense desire to beat the star-studded Kangaroos.
Back in 2003, Australia took on Great Britain in three Ashes Tests during a Kangaroos tour also spanning games against France, Wales and England A, but the growth of the international game since has seen England branch out on their own.
The fact that it is now Australia vs England only adds to an intense rivalry between the two nations forged in a number of sports for over a century. And now, rugby league gets the chance to take centre stage once again.
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NRL and Super League legend James Graham played a staggering 53 Test matches for Great Britain and England from 2006 to 2019, as well as 237 games for St Helens and 186 games for the Bulldogs and Dragons. Perhaps no player is more qualified to comment on rugby league in both hemisphere..
After more than two decades of waiting, England won’t just be making up the numbers against Australia, Graham warns.
The announcement of Shaun Wane’s Ashes squad threw up a number of surprises, with former Bulldogs enforcer Luke Thompson and Man of Steel winner Jake Connor two notable omissions. It speaks to a new depth of quality.
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England coach Shaun Wane has picked a side based on form.Source: Getty Images
“I think what people are speaking about with the England team is everybody’s got a different opinion on who should be in the squad, who shouldn’t be in the squad and who’s missed out,” Graham told foxsports.com.au.
“These are fantastic conversations for us to be having. Luke Thompson misses out. I’ve got huge raps on Luke Thompson, but that’s the strength of the England team right now. Man of Steel Jake Connor misses out.
“This is a strong core of 30 to 35 England players that could put their hands up and many people would have had different squads.
“That’s always the same with Australia. People have different players in the mix there. You can’t pick them all, but it speaks about where this England rugby league team are actually at, because the strength there is in the players that aren’t in the team.”
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While Graham is confident in the strength of the England squad, he conceded they are coming up against one of the most gifted Kangaroos sides in recent memory.
But he used the Queensland Origin side’s ongoing triumphs over NSW — having won four of the past six series, when the Blues arguably had better players — as an example that the best team on paper doesn’t always guarantee success.
“Look, rugby league isn’t played on paper, it’s played on grass,” Graham said.
“You look at that Australian side and my goodness me, Walsh, Munster, Cleary, Grant, Moses, Edwards, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, the names speak for themselves.
“Many focus on who’s not there, but let’s make no mistake, this is an incredibly strong side on paper, but the game is not won on paper.
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Cowboys star Johns Bateman will turn out for England.Source: Getty Images
“England are going to have to tap into different areas of team collision sport that get you victories.
“Like we’ve seen time and time again with Queensland in Origin, on paper they are not supposed to win, but they do many times.
“Now, there’s multiple reasons as to how and why that happens, and that is exactly what England will need to tap into.”
One area that Queensland use to level the playing field is the home ground advantage. While they scored a rare upset in Brisbane this year despite going on to lose the series, many star-studded Blues teams have marched into Suncorp Stadium only to limp out with their tails between their legs.
Graham urged the England team and its fans to create a similar hostile environment at Wembley, Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium and Headingley in Leeds.
A life-long Everton fan, Graham knows the difference a home crowd can make and wants the crowd to be England’s 18th man.
“It’s great that we’re at home, that is a huge advantage for us and not that many players having to travel over there,” Graham said.
“The NRL England representatives would have gone nice and early. They will be accustomed to the conditions, not so much jet lag.
“The crowds, the conditions, the weather, there’s lots that go into it.”
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Despite the many intangibles, Graham did admit that England have to produce their best game of rugby league twice to win the series.
But he knows Shaun Wane won’t be devising a game plan that his players can’t execute.
“England are going to have to play their absolute best game to upset Australia and deny them momentum, deny them attacking opportunities and shut down their star players,” Graham said.
“But I think Shaun Wane is not going to ask them to do anything that they’re not capable of doing, so that gives me a lot of confidence.”
But don’t expect England to rely solely on fire and brimstone, grit and passion from their players and supporters.
Graham noted some of the players in the England team are the best in the world at their position, led by a current Dolphins NRL star.
Herbie Farnworth is a genuine superstar for England and the Dolphins.Source: AFP
“Herbie Farnworth is one of the best centres in the world, if not the best, and he will improve England’s chances,” Graham said.
“I’m sure every NRL fan would agree with what he has achieved over the past three to four seasons and what he has cemented himself to be at the Broncos and now the Dolphins.
“He is absolutely first class, so he is a real jewel in the crown that lovers of the NRL will know and recognise and one to certainly look out for when it comes to England’s prospects of springing a huge upset in the Ashes.”
England will be without gun lock Victor Radley due to suspension, but they have recruited another X-factor defector in former Origin star and current Titans fullback AJ Brimson.
Brimson chose to put his ambitions of a Queensland recall to one side to chase his dream of representing England heading into the next World Cup.
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While Graham doesn’t think he will wear the No.1 for England, he says Brimson could play a significant part in the series in a new role.
“He brings a lot of versatility, I have heard Shaun Wane speak about the importance of that, so he is a great option,” Graham said.
“Fullback is his best position although I can’t see anyone but Jack Welsby being the fullback. AJ would be a strong candidate to come off the bench, inject himself into a contest like all good No.14s do.
“He’s made it clear his ambition and desire to play for England, which I think is fantastic.”
AJ Brimson was picked for his England debut.Source: Getty Images
The sceptics will point to Brimson’s selection and Radley’s before him as evidence that England are desperate and need to bring NRL players over from Australia to stay competitive.
However, Graham knows that Wane would never put anything above the passion of playing for your country and Brimson would have been vetted intensely before getting the green light to join the England camp.
“Shaun Wane is no pushover,” Graham said.
“He would have needed convincing of his absolute commitment to the cause.
“I trust Shaun Wane in his selection, so I’m delighted that AJ is representing England and in Shaun Wane, I trust.”
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Leadership and a strong playmaker duo at the scrumbase will also be crucial to beating the Kangaroos.
Despite his disappointing season in the Super League, former Raiders halfback George Williams is the man to lead England into battle, Graham says.
“I’m pretty sure George will be a guaranteed starter and will be the England captain,” he said.
“He’s achieved so much. He’s had a quiet year at Warrington. They’ve been disappointing, but George stands up in an England shirt. He’s our captain. He will be there, I’m sure of that.”
George Williams is expected to be England’s halfback and captain.Source: Getty Images
Williams’ halves partner is less certain, but Graham is tipping grand final hero and Hull KR playmaker Mikey Lewis to get the nod.
“Who his partner is I guess remains to be seen, but Mikey Lewis was absolutely lighting up the competition, winning the grand final,” Graham said.
“He had an amazing game in that big game at Old Trafford, so he is probably a big chance to start.”
England have some classy backs in Welsby and Farnworth and finishers like Knights star Dom Young who can produce tries for England, if Williams and Lewis get them good early ball.
However, Graham knows the key to beating the Kangaroos is winning the battle up front first.
Patrick Carrigan, Isaah Yeo, Hudson Young, Angus Crichton and Fa’asuamaleaui are just a few of the names that present a huge challenge for England’s pack.
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However, Graham earmarked a couple of players from his old club St Helens that can more than hold their own against Australia’s intimidating middles.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the likes of Morgan Knowles, who comes over to the Dolphins next year and Alex Walmsley as well, they are two St Helens players with a lot to offer in the engine room,” Graham said.
“Walmsley is very unorthodox to tackle. Matty Lees is another St Helens front-rower. Morgan Smithies from the Raiders, I think he’s been fantastic down in Canberra.
“They’ve got a good solid forward pack there that can do an amazing job. They’re going to have their hands full, but there’s plenty of good quality front-rowers in that pack that can certainly do a job for England.”
Morgan Smithies has been in hot form for the Raiders in 2025.Source: Getty Images
One thing is for certain: interest in the Ashes tour is building. The players and English fans will give Australians a reason to set their alarm clocks and watch.
With the tour originally scheduled for 2020 before the Covid pandemic hit, England fans have been forced to wait long enough to watch their heroes go toe-to-toe with Australia in their backyard.
“This is a huge tour in the history of rugby league,” Graham said.
“It’s been such a long time between drinks. Unfortunately Covid just delayed it and kicked it a little bit down the track. Not much we could do as a game, as a sport, as a nation about that.
“But it has built the anticipation even more and now it’s here. I’m delighted. I know the English rugby league fans are delighted.
“The Aussie fans are starting to gather their interest now as well, so this is huge for the game in England and huge for the international game as well and really genuinely as a fan, I’m looking forward to watching these games. I’m super excited.”
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Graham sees the Ashes Tour as an opportunity to bring the two hemispheres of the sport together on the international stage outside of the World Cup.
And with the World Club Challenge facing being cancelled for the second straight season due to logistical problems surrounding the Las Vegas NRL season-opening weekend, Graham is hopeful that too can return to the NRL calendar on a more consistent basis.
“Look, I understand the difficulties because of Hull KR and their agreement to go to Las Vegas next year, so I don’t know what we can do about it,” Graham said.
“I don’t know what the absolute answer is, but I’d love to see the World Club Challenge back on the centre stage. I loved playing it for St Helens.
“Obviously, it brings a lot of eyeballs. It’s something a little bit different. I hope it can be put back in the calendar, but I understand that it’s not as easy as just saying we want it. There are complexities around the fixture scheduling.
“But I’m a big supporter of the World Club Challenge and I think it brings the two hemispheres of rugby league together, just like this Ashes tour is doing.”
Hull KR and England half Mikey Lewis, with the Rob Burrow Award and the Super League grand final trophy.Source: Getty Images
SCHEDULE
First Test
England vs Kangaroos, Sunday October 26 at Wembley Stadium, 1.30am AEDT
Second Test
England vs Kangaroos, Sunday November 2 at Hill Dickinson Stadium 1.30am AEDT
Third Test
England vs Kangaroos, Sunday November 11 at Headingley 1.30am AEDT
ENGLAND ASHES SQUAD
John Bateman (North Queensland Cowboys)
AJ Brimson (Gold Coast Titans)
Joe Burgess (Hull KR)
Daryl Clark (St Helens)
Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins)
Ethan Havard (Wigan Warriors)
Morgan Knowles (St Helens)
Matty Lees (St Helens)
Mikey Lewis (Hull KR)
Jez Litten (Hull KR)
Mike McMeeken (Wakefield Trinity)
Harry Newman (Leeds Rhinos)
Mikolaj Oledzki (Leeds Rhinos)
Tom Johnstone (Wakefield Trinity)
Kai Pearce-Paul (Newcastle Knights)
Harry Smith (Wigan Warriors)
Morgan Smithies (Canberra Raiders)
Owen Trout (Leigh Leopards)
Alex Walmsley (St Helens)
Jake Wardle (Wigan Warriors)
Kallum Watkins (Leeds Rhinos)
Jack Welsby (St Helens)
George Williams (Warrington Wolves)
Dominic Young (Newcastle Knights)