Experienced ex-South Sydney prop, 32, has been a regular for his country for a decade but knows he must fight to face world champions Australia
Experienced ex-South Sydney prop, 32, has been a regular for his country for a decade but knows he must fight to face world champions Australia Experienced ex-South Sydney prop, 32, has been a regular for his country for a decade but knows he must fight to face world champions Australia
Tom Burgess is ready to fight for his spot to face the mighty Kangaroos.
He’s one of England’s most experienced players having been a mainstay of the squad since debuting against Australia in the 2013 World Cup. But there’s a growing band of young front-rows, such as Wigan’s Ethan Havard and Tyler Dupree, challenging him ahead of next year’s Ashes series with the Green and Golds. Burgess, who turns 33 in April, played off the bench in England’s first Test win over Samoa last month.
But he didn’t make the 17 for last Saturday’s second Test victory at Headingley. Burgess admitted: “We’ve a great crop of young lads coming through and doing great things. It just shows how much great competition there is.
“We saw Ethan Havard come in this series. He got injured on Saturday but it was great to see him come in and then there’s Luke Thompson who’s been great for Wigan all year. I’m glad they got to get a shot and I definitely know there’s competition.”
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Hannah Peters)
On potentially facing Australia for the first time since the 2017 World Cup final loss, the ex-South Sydney ace continued: “I always look forward to being able to represent England. I’m not getting any younger and obviously I have to earn my place in the side as always.
“But I can’t wait to try and make my mark in the Super League again, giving Waney [coach Shaun Wane] no doubts that I’m still right to go. I’m looking forward to getting going with Huddersfield and showing what I can do.”
St Helens’ Dream Team prop Matty Lees, 26, started both Tests against Samoa alongside Havard, 24, while Wane also used Wakefield-bound Catalans front-row Mike McMeeken, 30, off the bench and Wigan’s Thompson, who came in for Burgess after serving a one-game ban. Veteran Chris Hill was the other prop in the 24-man squad but he didn’t feature in either Test and turned 37 on Sunday so is now likely to have played the last game of his decorated international career.
Quadruple-winning Dupree, 24, didn’t make Wane’s autumn squad but is expected to fight back into contention in 2025 while St Helens’ duo George Delaney and Alex Walmsley – at different ends of the spectrum being aged 20 and 34 respectively – will also be keen to force their way into England’s plans for the world champions.
Mirror – Sport
