George Williams on his Ashes hopes - and reuniting with Shaun Wane

Wane gave Williams his big chance in Super League and helped develop him into one of the competition’s biggest stars before his switch to the NRL this year. And the two are set to be united in the national squad after Wane succeeded Wayne Bennett as coach.

England are set to host Australia in an Ashes series this autumn, though the RFL is waiting for confirmation from their counterparts Down Under that it will go ahead.

Either way, Williams – who was used sparingly by Bennett – is looking forward to seeing Wane put his fingerprints on the England team.

The 25-year-old said: “It was a strange one with Wayne, people mention him and think I may criticise him or something, but we got on really well.

“He always told me he liked the way I played but he never picked me! But we get on well and I’ve got a lot of time for him.

“Obviously Waney has the job now and if I get picked it’d be good to play under him again. He’s great for the job, he’s got all the attributes to do a good job.

“I think some of the boys will be quite shocked by what he wants from them but they’ll love him once they get to know him.”

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