Rugby League: Nsemba Overlooked for England Debut, but Firmly on National Team’s Radar
In a recent development, Junior Nsemba was overlooked for a potential England debut this week due to a lack of experience at the Super League level. However, Andy Last, who will be deputizing for Shaun Wane as the national team’s head coach for the upcoming Test match against France in Toulouse, has confirmed that Nsemba is firmly on the national team’s radar moving forward.
Nsemba has been a standout performer for the Wigan Warriors in the new Super League season, playing a pivotal role for Matt Peet’s side. Many had viewed him as a likely candidate for a first international call-up, but the England coaching staff felt that Nsemba needs more game-time in the domestic league before making the next step.
“He’s only a young lad. He’s around that ten to 12 game mark in Super League (this year), and being considered for international honours after 12 games or so is a credit to him. But we want to see him play consistently for more games and then there could be an opportunity for him in this environment.”
According to Last, the decision to leave Nsemba out of the squad was purely a selection decision, and not due to injury. He acknowledged the young forward’s impressive performances for Wigan, but emphasized the need for him to continue playing consistently at the Super League level before being considered for international honors.
Last will be taking charge of the national team setup while Wane recovers from surgery, with the England head coach remaining in constant communication with his staff and being involved in the team selection process.
Despite the disappointment of missing the Toulouse Test, Last believes the situation will only serve to motivate Wane even more for the upcoming Samoa Test series.
🔗 Source
