Star-studded Australia are favourites for the first Ashes series in more than two decades, but England winger Dom Young believes his side offers a real threat.
This will be England and Australia’s first clash since the 2017 Rugby League World Cup final, which Australia won 6-0, and their first meeting on home soil since a 36-18 defeat at London Stadium in 2016.
The Dewsbury-born winger said playing as an Englishman in the NRL gives him and the other players in the squad – Herbie Farnworth, Kai Pearce-Paul, John Bateman, and AJ Brimson – a definite advantage.
Young currently plays for Newcastle Knights, having spent two seasons with Sydney Roosters, so knows his opponents well from club level.
“I’m coming against guys that I play week in week out,” said the 24-year-old.
“There are a lot of people in this team who the Aussie team probably don’t know too much about us.
“Everyone’s kind of speaking about the Aussie team, but you know, we’ve got a lot of threats in our team.”
Young – who made his international debut at the 2022 Rugby League World Cup – will be placed in a decisive pairing with Australia’s Mark Nawaqanitawase, who replaced him as the Sydney Roosters’ go-to outside back.
While Young brings edge with his NRL experience, Nawaqanitawase is a rugby union convert. Both are mavericks, standing at 6ft 7 and 6ft 4 respectively, and hold the potential to turn half-chances into points.
The Kangaroos’ matchday squad was announced earlier than expected, and included four debutants, while Wane waited until Thursday to name Young and Tom Johnstone on the wing.
Young, with six caps and nine international tries under his belt, is looking forward to playing with centre Farnworth, who he claimed was “one of the best players in the world”.
Around 60,000 are expected at Wembley Stadium before the series moves on to sell-out Tests at Everton’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium and Leeds’ Headingley on successive Saturdays.
All three matches kick off at 2.30 pm and will be broadcast live on BBC One.
Feature image of rival captains George Williams and Isaah Yeo at Wembley. Picture: RLPix courtesy of Rugby League Commercial
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