Wigan Warriors prop airs England belief as Shaun Wane vow made - 'We want to do him proud'
Wigan Warriors prop Ethan Havard says he and his England teammates are determined to restore pride and reward coach Shaun Wane as they aim to avoid an Ashes series whitewash against Australia.
England are currently preparing for the third and final Test against the touring Kangaroos at AMT Headingley – home of Leeds Rhinos – on Saturday afternoon.
Havard was left out of Wane’s squad for last weekend’s 14-4 defeat in the second Test, which handed Australia an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, seeing them retain the Ashes.
But despite the defeat at Hill Dickinson Stadium, Havard believes England showed plenty of heart against the world champions.
"I was really proud of the way (the lads) went after them in the second Test,” Havard told Wigan Today. “I think we showed our English spirit and grit. I’m really proud of the way they went about it, and we were a bit unfortunate not to be on the right side of the scoreboard.”
With the Ashes series out of reach with a game to spare, Wane’s side is now focused on finishing strongly and salvaging some pride in front of a sold-out crowd in Leeds, and Havard insists the motivation to deliver for their coach is strong as ever.
"I think Waney always shows how much he cares, and he is definitely a coach you want to play for,” Havard explained. “He wears his heart on his sleeve and is a proud Englishman like we all are, so we want to do him proud every time.”
Havard featured in the opening Test at Wembley but missed out on selection in the second Test, so he is hoping to earn a recall for the final Test this weekend.
“I’d love to be part of it,” he said. “It’s going to be a special occasion, it always is when you play for England. I’m sure it’s going to be a packed-out crowd and a special atmosphere.”
The 25-year-old, who was born in Bulgaria’s capital Sofia, has worked closely with both England boss Shaun Wane and Wigan head coach Matt Peet over the years, and he says their shared passion for their work makes them a joy to play under and learn from.
“It’s great – I love playing for both of them,” Havard said. “They are both coaches who wear their hearts on their sleeves, and they’re passionate about their jobs, so I just love turning up for them.”
Having made his international debut in 2023, Havard won his fourth England cap in their defeat to Australia in the capital a fortnight ago, and the Wiganer had a small army of support under the famous Wembley arch.
“Yeah, all my family came down watching me,” he said. “I got 10 tickets – they’ll travel anywhere to come and watch me – so despite the result, it was still a proud day for me.”
Facing reigning World Cup holders Australia for the first time was a major step in Havard’s stellar career, and he admits the challenge was everything he expected.
“They are just big, physical fellas,” he said. “Nathan Cleary marshals them around the field and they are just big, athletic, smart players – they are the best in the world for a reason.”
Despite being 2-0 down in the series, Havard insists confidence remains high in camp as England aim to avoid a series whitewash this weekend.
“Definitely,” he said. “The boys are training well this week and we’ve got a clear focus, so I’m looking forward to seeing it."
Tickets sold out months in advance for Saturday’s third and final Test at AMT Headingley, but it will be available to watch live on BBC One, 2:30pm kick-off.