THE countdown is very much on for Wembley on Saturday – and even though I’m disappointed, although not surprised, by the omission of Jake Connor from the squad, I would so love to see England win the Ashes for the first time since 1970.

My various Great Britain teammates and I had six attempts at it between 1984 and 1994, and in 1990 (in particular) and 1992, it was a case of so near yet so far as Australia kept hold of the crown in third and deciding Tests.

Trying to win the Ashes for the first time in 55 years is tremendous motivation for the current England squad.

But then not being the team to lose the Ashes for the first time in 55 years is a powerful force for the Kangaroos, and as I said in last week’s column, my trip Down Under earlier this year only reinforced how much they enjoy beating us, and how badly they want to do it again.

When I asked what would happen to the players if they don’t return victorious, I was told ‘they’ll be put in prison’. That’s how seriously Australians are taking it.

Of course they arrive as firm favourites, and you can see why.

They have the Lionel Messi of Rugby League in Nathan Cleary and the Cristiano Ronaldo of Rugby League in Reece Walsh.

It’s popular these days to talk about the spine of a side, and when you add in the likes of Dylan Edwards, Cameron Munster, Harry Grant and Isaah Yeo, new coach Kevin Walters can call on the best in the world – and has other very good options as well.

There’s talent, skill, power and a nice balance throughout the squad, and facing the Aussies is quite a prospect for any other international side.

More than passion is needed

Shaun Wane likes to talk about patriotism and passion, and they are both important and valuable – but they ain’t going to win a Test match on their own.

I don’t see processes and patience cutting it against these tourists either, because it will be hard to out-muscle them over 80 minutes.

For me, the key is creativity combined with a plan that will both surprise and frustrate them, give them something different to think about and knock them out of their stride.

That’s where a bit of a maverick like Jake Connor would have come into his own.

Plenty of us suspected Waney wouldn’t pick him, but his explanation doesn’t stack up in my eyes.

“When picking a squad, the thing you will never hear from me is ‘he’s won the Man of Steel’. I don’t pay attention to stuff like that. I don’t know who is in the Dream Team,” he said.

Really? Does he not go to matches, listen to the things people are talking about and use every selection tool he can?

Okay, he may disagree with other people’s opinions, and he is the man who picks the team and stands or falls by his choices.

But the Man of Steel award especially reflects not just ability, but consistency and good form throughout a season, and Shaun insists he looks at those things.

As a proud former Man of Steel winner, I found his comments a bit disrespectful, not to say contradictory, since plenty would question the form of such as George Williams, Jack Welsby, Harry Smith and Dom Young, who are all in, while Connor, and come to that, Elliot Minchella, missed out.

Jake not only has creative skills, the likes of which only George Williams of the squad members has, because Mikey Lewis, great player that he is, is more of an individual.

He also has the ability to pull off something a bit different, and as well as that, offers great utility value since he can play fullback, centre and both halfback roles.

I also found Waney’s comment of “I spoke to him and he’ll be available for the World Cup next year” curious.

If he’s a consideration, then why wouldn’t you involve him in this series to find out whether he can cut it? It’s not as if there are loads of internationals in which to do that, and the Ashes, while huge, is also part of the build-up to the big tournament in 2026.

I’m sure the Aussies will be looking at it that way.

Mind you, if England lose this series 3-0, then Waney might well not be in post for the trip Down Under.

As well as Minchella, a great ball-playing loose-forward, I thought Luke Thompson unlucky not to be named and Kallum Watkins a little fortunate to make it, because I’m not sure he still has what’s needed at international level. Time will tell.

Of the NRL contingent, AJ Brimson certainly offers us something special, Herbie Farnworth is clearly a class act and Morgan Smithies is a real grafter who will have added to his game since joining Canberra.

My match prediction

We can talk about it all we want, and it’s been good discussing international Rugby League while I’ve been out and about, but as I said, Waney’s the man who picks the squad, and we are where we are.

From the names in the frame, for Wembley I would go with Brimson at full back and Young, Farnworth, Harry Newman and Tom Johnstone as the threequarters, then Williams and Lewis in the halves.

My props would be Alex Walmsley, who I’d have on the pitch from the start to help lay a platform, and Matty Lees, with Daryl Clark at hooker and a back row of Kai Pearce-Paul, John Bateman and Morgan Knowles, with a bench of Mikolaj Oledzki, Jez Litten, Welsby and Smithies.

While my first club Hull FC have invited me to the second Test at Everton and I will be a guest of Hunslet at the third Test at Headingley, there has been no invitation from the RFL for Wembley, so I’ll be watching from my sofa.

I can’t wait for the Ashes to kick-off, and I’d be delighted to be wrong, but I’m tipping Australia to win 32-10 in London.