Leeds Rhinos duo on England Ashes stand-by - players from Castleford Tigers and Wakefield Trinity also included

Leeds’ Luke Gale and Harry Newman are among 31 prospective Ashes candidates invited to a players’ gathering at Old Trafford on Monday, March 23.

The list also includes Castleford’s Paul McShane and Liam Watts, plus Tom Johnstone and Reece Lyne of Wakefield.

Rhinos’ Kruise Leeming, Mikolaj Oledzki, Cameron Smith and Jack Walker have been invited to the same venue as possible members of Paul Anderson’s England Knights squad.

That group also includes Mike McMeeken, Danny Richardson and Jake Trueman from Castleford.

The Rugby Football League say invites have been issued “on the basis of Wane’s observations during the opening rounds of Betfred Super League and on insight gained from his discussions with club coaches”.

NRL-based players John Bateman, Josh Hodgson, Ryan Sutton, Elliott Whitehead and George Williams (all Canberra Raiders), Tom Burgess (South Sydney), James Graham (St George Illawarra Dragons) and Kallum Watkins (Gold Coast) have been named on a “watch list” ahead of the Ashes series.

Wane said: “It’s too early to be selecting Ashes squads, a lot can happen between now and the end of the season, but I’ve invited a group of players who are uppermost in my thoughts right now.

“I want to tell them face to face and share with them my plans for the rest of the year."

Leeds Rhinos winger Ash Handley, who was a member of the England nines squad last year and flew to Papua New Guinea as injury cover for Great Britain Lions, is not included in either squad.

Wane added: “I realise there are some notable exceptions at this stage.

“I would say to those players the door is never closed and outstanding form will be rewarded.”

Senior invites: Josh Charnley, Daryl Clark, Mike Cooper, Ben Currie (all Warrington Wolves), Niall Evalds (Salford Red Devils), Liam Farrell (Wigan Warriors), Luke Gale (Leeds Rhinos), Oliver Gildart (Wigan), Josh Griffin (Hull FC), Zak Hardaker (Wigan), Chris Hill, Jack Hughes (both Warrington), Tom Johnstone (Wakefield Trinity), Josh Jones (Hull), Jonny Lomax (St Helens), Reece Lyne (Wakefield), Jermaine McGillvary (Huddersfield Giants), Paul McShane (Castleford Tigers), Tommy Makinson (St Helens), Dom Manfredi (Wigan), Harry Newman (Leeds), Mark Percival (St Helens), Joe Philbin, Stefan Ratchford (both Warrington), James Roby (St Helens), Dan Sarginson (Salford), Scott Taylor (Hull), Luke Thompson (St Helens), Sam Tomkins (Catalans Dragons), Alex Walmsley (St Helens), Liam Watts (Castleford).

England Knights invites: Matthew Ashton (Warrington Wolves), Jack Ashworth (St Helens), Jake Bibby (Wigan Warriors), Robert Butler (London Broncos), Tom Davies (Catalans Dragons), Matty English (Huddersfield Giants), Ethan Havard (Wigan), Toby King (Warrington), George Lawler (Hull KR), Matty Lees (St Helens), Kruise Leeming (Leeds Rhinos), Darnell McIntosh (Huddersfield), Mike McMeeken (Castleford Tigers), Liam Marshall (Wigan), Masimbaashe Matongo (Hull FC), Greg Minikin (Hull KR), Adam O'Brien (Huddersfield), Mikolaj Oledzki (Leeds), Oliver Partington, Sam Powell (both Wigan), Danny Richardson (Castleford), Aaron Smith (St Helens), Cameron Smith (Leeds), Harry Smith, Morgan Smithies (both Wigan), Jake Trueman (Castleford), Danny Walker (Warrington), Jack Walker (Leeds), Jake Wardle (Huddersfield), Jack Welsby (St Helens), Matthew Whitley (Catalans Dragons), Oliver Wilson (Huddersfield Giants).