LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
The England rugby league team for the upcoming Ashes series against Australia includes six players from the NRL, but notably absent is Jake Connor, the recipient of the Super League's Man of Steel award.
The 24-man squad was revealed on Monday, excluding the Leeds Rhinos halfback, who was recognized for his outstanding performance during the 2025 season, guiding his team to a top-four finish.
At 30 years old, Connor has not participated in Test rugby league since his appearance for Great Britain in 2019 and will have to wait for another chance.
England's coach, Shaun Wane, has selected Mikey Lewis, Harry Smith, and captain George Williams as the chosen halfbacks instead.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Wane explained that the Man of Steel award did not influence his squad selections.
"When I'm picking a squad, the thing you will never hear from me is 'he's won the Man of Steel he needs to be in'," Wane stated. "I don't even know who picked the Man of Steel, I don't know what goes into it. The Dream Team, I don't even know who's in the Dream Team, so that never comes into my reckoning. Them things that are important to other people."