WIGAN WARRIORS have twelve players in the squads for next month’s Academy Origin series, the most of any club.
The two-match Under 18 series between Lancashire and Yorkshire will take place over consecutive weekends.
Warrington’s Halliwell Jones Stadium will host the opener on the weekend of September 19-20, with an exact time still to be decided, before the teams head east on Saturday, September 26 to play at Castleford’s OneBore Stadium.
Wigan’s Shane Eccles has picked eleven Warriors players in his squad, including Shea O’Connor and Lewis Daniels who have made Super League debuts this season.
Warrington Wolves have eleven players involved, seven of them for Lancashire.
Leeds Rhinos lead the way in selection for Yorkshire, coached by Castleford’s Rob Nickolay, with seven players included.
Paul Anderson, who oversees the series as head of England pathways, said: “We’re delighted to get this group of young men together for the two-match Origin series.
“There’s some very talented players at our disposal across the competition and there have been some tough choices to make with some excellent players missing out.
“Those that have been selected will now get the chance to step up to the next level.
“The Academy Origin has consistently proved to be a crucial building block for many, with the likes of England international Junior Nsemba and fellow current Super League players Harry Robertson, Logan Moy, Presley Cassell, George Whitby and Noah Hodkinson all coming through this pathway.”
Lancashire: Sam Dickenson, Shea O’Connor, Lucas Fetherston, Victor Omodele, Tom Farrimond, Lewis Daniels, Evan Buckley, Harrison Pearson, Zak Bielecki, Matthew Halton, Charlie Jeffrey-Stott (all Wigan Warriors), Oliver Bishop, Leyton Hadrell, Edward Williams, Jack Pendlebury, Jamie Coop, Cameron Cooper, Alfie Poles (all Warrington Wolves), Jack Campbell, Tyler McGann, Tyler Mills, James Patterson, Oscar Knox, Toby Bottell (all St Helens)
Yorkshire: Jacob Tooala, Thomas Richardson, Seth Marchant, Alfie Steel, Zak Lloyd, Robin Smith, Sonny Hetherington (all Leeds Rhinos), Isaac Holdsworth, Brady Bottomley, Bailey Lund, Tommy Rhodes (all Warrington Wolves), Alex Gorman, Theo Middlemass (both Hull KR), Fin Davies, Caleb Paleaaesina (both Hull FC), Lewis Jagger, Jude Jackson (both Huddersfield Giants), Sean Coughlan, Max Grinhaff (both Castleford Tigers), Corey Abraham, Robbie Brook, Zack Clegg (both Wakefield Trinity), Jovi Bentley-Elliott (Wigan Warriors), Chris Matagi (St Helens)