WANE'S GAP YEAR

ENGLAND remain in the dark as to whether they will play another fixture between today’s final Ashes Test and next year's World Cup.

- BY JOSH MCALLISTER AND MATT SHAW

“Tve heard nothing’ head coach Shaun Wane said, regarding a potential mid-season Test, a fixture that was scrapped this year and has left England unsure about their 2026 campaign.

With Super League preparing to expand to a 14-team competition next year, the chances of a window opening for an international Test appear slim.

England were restricted to only off-feet sessions - conditioning workouts that build cardiovascular fitness - ahead of this year's Ashes and only managed to train on-field together less than two weeks ahead of the first Test at Wembley. The result: two defeats to Australia, the Kangaroos sealing the series with a game to spare.

“Td love to get all the players together for more than an off-feet session. I didn’t even have that,” said Wane.